Alex Anderson (cartoonist)

Alex Anderson
Born Alexander Hume Anderson Jr.
(1920-09-05)September 5, 1920
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Died October 22, 2010(2010-10-22) (aged 90)
Carmel, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation Cartoonist

Alexander Hume Anderson Jr.[1] (September 5, 1920 in Berkeley, California – October 22, 2010)[1] was an American cartoonist who created the characters of Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Bullwinkle, and Dudley Do-Right, as well as Crusader Rabbit.[2] He was not directly involved in The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, however.

Biography

Anderson was born in Berkeley, California,[1] a nephew of Mighty Mouse producer Paul Terry, and began his career in 1938 at his Terrytoons animation studio.[1] Anderson and Jay Ward grew up together in Berkeley, California, and formed a business in the late 1940s to pitch cartoon ideas to television, including Crusader Rabbit, Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Dudley Do-Right. Only Crusader Rabbit was accepted, and after Anderson's other cartoon ideas failed to sell, he joined a San Francisco advertising agency, while Ward moved to Los Angeles to try to sell TV studios on a Bullwinkle series.

Following Jay Ward's death, Anderson, who had not received public recognition for creating Dudley Do-Right, Bullwinkle and Rocky, learned the characters had been copyrighted in Ward's name alone.[3] Consequently, Anderson sued Ward's heirs to reclaim creator credit.[1] In 1993[1] or 1996,[3] (sources differ), Anderson received a settlement and a court order acknowledging him as "the creator of the first version of the characters of Rocky, Bullwinkle and Dudley."[1] Ted Key, creator of the comic strip Hazel, had a similar situation with his characters Mr. Peabody and his pet boy Sherman.[4]

Death

Anderson died due to complications of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 90 on October 22, 2010, at a nursing home in Carmel, California.[1][5] He was survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Larsen Anderson, his third spouse following divorces from first wife Gail and second wife Beverly.[1] He had two children from his first marriage, sons Terry and Scott, and three stepchildren, Matthew Kennedy, Carolyn Kennedy, and Daniel Kennedy.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Alex Anderson, creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle, dies at 90". The Washington Post. October 24, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  2. ↑ McLellan, Dennis (October 26, 2010). "Artist created TV's Rocky and Bullwinkle". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Lopez, Daniel (October 22, 2010). "Alexander Anderson Jr., creator of 'Rocky and Bullwinkle,' dies at 90". The Monterey County Herald via The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010.
  4. ↑ McLellan, Dennis (May 6, 2008), "Magazine cartoonist created maid Hazel", Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on April 3, 2016, retrieved May 5, 2011
  5. ↑ Corliss, Richard (October 23, 2010). "Unsung Creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Alex Anderson Dies". Time. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2010.

Further reading

Kevin Scott Collier. The Hare Raising Tales of Crusader Rabbit. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018. ISBN 1723388726

  • Alex Anderson at Find a Grave
  • Province, John (2000). "Alex Anderson". 2 (4). (interview) Hogan's Alley. Archived from the original on October 26, 2010.
  • Alex Anderson at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television


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