‘Ren & Stimpy’ Artist and Spümcø Co-founder Jim Smith Has Died, Age 70
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 9:08 pm
Storyboard and Layout artist, character designer and musician Jim Smith (born James Carl Jobb) died on Friday, May 2, of a heart attack at age 70. The animation veteran was perhaps best known for co-founding indie studio Spümcø with working partner John Kricfalusi, Bob Camp and Lynne Naylor and co-developing the influential Nickelodeon series The Ren & Stimpy Show in 1991. Smith was also an accomplished musician: He played the guitar on the Ren & Stimpy theme song, alongside Scott Huml and Chris Reccardi.