Michael John Roberts cause of death revealed: BoJack Horseman animator dies at 48, battling aggressively growing brain cancer

Michael John Roberts, the animator and director whose work helped shape popular adult animated shows such as BoJack Horseman and TripTank, has died at the age of 48. During his career, he worked on several television projects, including F Is for Family, Final Space and Strange Planet. He also co-created Comedy Central's animated sketch comedy series TripTank, which ran for two seasons. The cause of death of Roberts has now been revealed. The Canadian animator died on November 11, 2026, following a brief battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family, according to reports by The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.

What happened to Michael John Roberts?

Michael John Roberts' family announced his death through an obituary, remembering him as a gifted artist whose creativity extended beyond his work. The family said his illness came on suddenly and the time that followed was heartbreakingly short. “Although his illness came suddenly and the time that followed was heartbreakingly short, it cannot define the man he was,” the family wrote in the tribute, as reported by TheWrap. According to People, Michael had been diagnosed with glioblastoma before his death. The disease is an aggressive type of brain cancer that develops in the brain's supportive tissue. His family has not shared further details about his diagnosis or treatment.

Michael John Roberts' career

Born in Toronto, Canada, Michael began his animation career working on children's television shows, including Angela Anaconda and The Hoobs. He later moved into adult animation and became known for his work on several acclaimed television projects. He co-created and directed TripTank, which aired on Comedy Central between 2014 and 2016. His work on Netflix's BoJack Ho seman included animating the show's opening sequence and directing two episodes.


Roberts also directed episodes of F Is for Family and worked as the supervising director on the first season of Final Space. His other credits included Apple TV+'s Strange Planet and Clone High. In their tribute, his family described him as someone who could find something worth exploring in things others might overlook. They also asked people wishing to honour his memory not to send flowers or donations, but instead to “save your money and buy a cool car,” saying that was what Roberts would have wanted.