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'{{short description|American caricaturist and comics artist|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}} {{Infobox comics creator | name = Mort Drucker | image = Mort Drucker.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Drucker in November 2000 | birth_name = Morris Drucker | pseudonym = Mort Drucker | birth_date = {{birth date|1929|03|22}} | birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|04|09|1929|03|22}} | death_place = [[Woodbury, Orange County, New York|Woodbury, New York]], U.S. | nationality = American | signature = | area = [[Cartoonist]], artist | notable works = [[Mad (magazine)|''Mad'']] | awards = | website = {{URL|adriansinnott.com/mortdrucker.html}} }} '''Morris''' "'''Mort'''" '''Drucker'''<ref name="NYT">{{cite web|last=Hoberman|first=J.|authorlink=J. Hoberman|publisher=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/arts/mort-drucker-dead.html|title=Mort Drucker, Master of the Mad Caricature, Is Dead at 91|date=April 9, 2020|accessdate=April 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqLGyberZmQC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&source=bl&ots=oixKqEi992&sig=ACfU3U0OOcR8usHyyL6lkI3wBFWWOXfzgQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwitydbH8NzoAhUBPH0KHXdLAZk4ChDoATAIegQICxAt#v=onepage&q=morris%20%22mort%20drucker%22&f=false|title=Index of Trademarks Issued from the United States Patent and Trademark Office|date=1995|accessdate=April 9, 2020|quote="DRUCKER MORRIS WOODBURY NY aka MORT DRUCKER and ERICK MITCHELL OCOEE FL 1,901,999 pub 4 4 1995 Int Cl 41"}}</ref> (March 22, 1929&nbsp;– April 9, 2020)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mad magazine illustrator Mort Drucker dies at 91 |url=https://apnews.com/f056b3dd4063745abd112e2192bef3b9|date=April 9, 2020|accessdate=April 9, 2020|publisher=The Associated Press |website=apnews.com}}</ref> was an American [[caricaturist]] and comics artist best known as a contributor for over five decades in ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'', where he specialized in satires on the leading feature films and television series. ==Personal life== Drucker was born in [[Brooklyn]], New York City,<ref name="mort">{{cite web |url=http://www.reuben.org/ncs/members/bios/Drucker.jpg|title=Mort Drucker bio|publisher=National Cartoonists Society|format=JPG|accessdate=August 31, 2010}}</ref> with some sources listing his birth date as March 22, 1929, and others as March 29.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tomrichmond.com/blog/2009/03/29/happy-80th-birthday-mort-drucker/ |last=Richmond |first=Tom |title=Happy 80th Birthday, Mort Drucker |website=Tom's MAD Blog! |publisher=MAD Magazine |date=March 30, 2009 |accessdate=April 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211224127/http://www.tomrichmond.com/blog/2009/03/29/happy-80th-birthday-mort-drucker/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was the son of Sarah (Spielvogel), a homemaker, and Edward Drucker, a businessman.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mort Drucker March 22, 1929 – April 8, 2020 |url=https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/mort-drucker-march-22-1929-april-8-2020/|website=www.firstcomicsnews.com |accessdate=11 April 2020 |date=9 April 2020}} (note death date anomaly in title)</ref> His family was Jewish.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lovers of Jewish humor will mourn closing of Yiddish-infused 'Mad' magazine|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/lovers-of-jewish-humor-will-mourn-closing-of-yiddish-infused-mad-magazine-594598|author=Hannah Brown |date= 4 Jul 2019}}</ref> He attended Brooklyn's [[Erasmus Hall High School]]. There he met his future wife Barbara, whom he married shortly after her graduation. The couple moved to [[Long Island]], living in [[Syosset, New York|Syosset]], where they brought up two daughters, Laurie and Melanie; their family eventually expanded with three grandchildren.<ref name="man">"Man Behind the Drawing Board", ''The Adventures of Bob Hope'' 87, 1963.</ref> ==Career== Drucker entered the comics field by assisting Bert Whitman on the [[Publishers-Hall Syndicate|Publishers-Hall]] newspaper comic strip ''Debbie Dean'' in 1947 when he was 18, based on a recommendation from [[Will Eisner]]. He then joined the staff of National Periodical Publications ([[DC Comics]]), where he worked as a retoucher. While at DC, Drucker also [[ghostwriting|ghosted]] "The Mountain Boys", Paul Webb's regular gag panel for [[Esquire Magazine]].<ref name="man" /> Early in the 1950s, Drucker left his DC staff gig and began doing full-time freelance work for a number of comic book publishers such as [[Dell Comics|Dell]], [[Atlas Comics (1950s)|Atlas]] and [[St. John Publications|St. John's]], as well as several humor and war titles for his former employer.<ref name="Mort Drucker, legendary caricaturist for Mad Magazine for more than 50 years, dies at 91">{{cite web |last1=Almasy |first1=Steve |title=Mort Drucker, legendary caricaturist for Mad Magazine for more than 50 years, dies at 91 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/09/entertainment/mort-drucker-mad-magazine-cartoonist-dies-trnd/index.html |website=CNN |accessdate=11 April 2020}}</ref> ===''Mad''=== In the fall of 1956, shortly after the departure of ''Mad''{{'}}s founding editor [[Harvey Kurtzman]], Drucker found his way to ''Mad''. His first visit to the magazine's offices coincided with a [[World Series]] broadcast, and publisher [[Bill Gaines]] told Drucker that if the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] won the game, he would be given a drawing assignment. The Dodgers won. Capricious though Drucker's alleged audition process may have been, it was a good anecdote. Years later, Gaines unsurprisingly confessed, "We would have hired him anyway."<ref name="Mort Drucker, Mad magazine artist who drew humor from American life, dies at 91">{{cite web |last1=Schudel |first1=Matt |title=Mort Drucker, Mad magazine artist who drew humor from American life, dies at 91 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/mort-drucker-artist-who-drew-humor-from-life-in-mad-magazine-dies-at-91/2020/04/09/e1a1dda0-7a6a-11ea-a130-df573469f094_story.html |website=The Washington Post |accessdate=11 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Celebrating the Life and Career of MAD and DC Artist Mort Drucker">{{cite web |title=Celebrating the Life and Career of MAD and DC Artist Mort Drucker |url=https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/04/09/celebrating-the-life-and-career-of-mad-and-dc-artist-mort-drucker |website=DC Comics |accessdate=11 April 2020}}</ref> Drucker had arrived at the ''Mad'' offices with pages from his [[Hopalong Cassidy]] comic book work for [[DC Comics]] and some of his "Mountain Boys" strips, as well as a humorous "little situation" featuring [[The Lone Ranger]] and [[Tonto]] that he had specifically drawn for the interview. Though this work was unlike the likenesses and continuities he would become best known for, the ''Mad'' staff reacted favorably. The first to review Drucker's portfolio was ''Mad'' associate editor [[Nick Meglin]], who admitted, "I didn't spot how great he was at caricatures. Not at first. But then, he wasn't that great then." Drucker said that he "just wanted to be an artist&nbsp;... to get paid for drawing anything," and only started focusing on caricature work, because he started getting more of those assignments. "That's when I realized I'd found my calling," said Drucker.<ref>Evanier, Mark, ''MAD Art'', Watson-Guptill Publications, 2002</ref> At the time of Drucker's arrival, ''Mad'' did not regularly feature television and movie satires. Editor [[Al Feldstein]] credited Drucker's style and ability for the decision to start featuring them in every issue. For well over a decade, ''Mad'' had difficulty obtaining promotional photos that Drucker could use as source material for his drawings.<ref>Jacobs, Frank, The Mad World of William M. Gaines, Lyle Stuart Inc., 1972, pgs. 45-46</ref> When he was illustrating ''Mad'' parodies, Drucker's colleague [[Angelo Torres]] brought a camera into movie theaters and snapped pictures of the screen. Eventually, a generation of ''Mad'' fans grew up and some became Hollywood publicists, making Drucker's research easier. By the time he wound down his ''Mad'' career 55 years later, Drucker held the longest uninterrupted tenure of any ''Mad'' artist. Drucker has the most bylined articles by any ''Mad'' artist who does not also write his own material, with more than 400.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://users.pfw.edu/slaubau/mad/madcontributor.htm|title=MAD Magazine Contributors|website=users.pfw.edu|accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> ===Other work=== Drucker also remained active for DC, illustrating ''War Stories'', among other titles. Beginning in 1959, he spent four years drawing DC's ''[[The Adventures of Bob Hope]]'' comic book.<ref name="man" /> Drucker credits this stint as a key moment in his career because it focused his work on caricature.<ref>MAD's Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker, 2012, Running Press, pg. 12</ref> In 1962, Drucker teamed with the prolific humor writer [[Paul Laikin]] on the highly successful ''JFK Coloring Book'' (Kanrom Publishers), which sold 2,500,000 copies. Two decades later, Drucker illustrated similar coloring books on [[Ollie North]] and [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref name="man" /><ref>''Pacific Stars and Stripes'', August 24, 1987.</ref> His film posters include [[Universal Studios|Universal]]'s ''[[American Graffiti]]'' (1973), directed by [[George Lucas]]<ref name="mort" /> with Drucker also drawing the [[high school yearbook]] pictures in the [[film trailer]]. Drucker also pursued assignments in television animation, movie poster art and magazine illustration, including covers for ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', some of which are in the [[National Portrait Gallery (United States)|National Portrait Gallery]] of the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. His album covers include art for the pop band [[The Bears (band)|The Bears]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adrianbelew.net/|title=The Official Site of Adrian Belew|website=Adrian Belew|accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> and the [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]] album ''[[State of Euphoria]],'' as well as humor albums in the vein of his own "JFK Coloring Book" including "The LBJ Menagerie" and "The New First Family, 1968." In addition to books collecting his own work, he has provided illustrations for numerous books by others, including [[children's literature|children's books]], humor books and satire. He drew the prop cartoons used in the 1957 Broadway musical comedy, ''[[Rumple (musical)|Rumple]]''.<ref name="man" /> Between 1984 and 1987, Drucker collaborated with [[Jerry Dumas]] (and [[John Reiner]]) on the daily comic strip ''Benchley''. Set in the [[White House]], the plot revolved around the fictive character Benchley who acted as the assistant and admirer of contemporary president [[Ronald Reagan]]. Dumas commented, "Nobody ever did a strip about the government. It's a wonderful place to set a strip. There's so much room for humor in the White House."<ref>"Comic strip set in White House", ''Lethbridge Herald'' ([[Lethbridge]], [[Alberta, Canada|Alberta]], Canada), July 5, 1984.</ref> ''Benchley'' was syndicated by the [[Register and Tribune Syndicate]].<ref name="(editor)">{{cite book|author=Gary Dowell, Greg Holman, Don Mangus, James L. Halperin (editor)|title=HCA Comics Dallas Auction Catalog #824|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FcK3PE35EkC|publisher=Heritage Capital Corporation|isbn=978-1-59967-133-8|page=268 ([https://books.google.com/books?id=8FcK3PE35EkC&pg=PA268&lpg=PA268&dq=Benchley+Jerry+Dumas+Mort+Drucker link])}}</ref> In 1990, Drucker designed the Supercup for [[Target Corporation|Target]]. The following year, for the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Drucker and executive Mitchell Erick created the Frugies (pronounced ''fru-jees'') to promote June as National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. The campaign included such characters as Lord Mushroom, Pepe L'Pepper, Penelope Pear and Adam Apple.<ref>''Frederick News-Post'', June 12, 1991.</ref> == Style == In 2012, Drucker discussed his art style, and how he applied it to his ''Mad'' assignments: <blockquote style="font-size: 100%;">I've always considered a caricature to be the complete person, not just a likeness. Hands, in particular, have always been a prime focus for me as they can be as expressive of character as the exaggerations and distortions a caricaturist searches for. I try to capture the essence of the person, not just facial features&nbsp;... I've discovered through years of working at capturing a humorous likeness that it's not about the features themselves as much as the space between the features. We all have two eyes, a nose, a mouth, hair, and jaw lines, but yet we all look different. What makes that so is the space between them.<br /><br />The artist is actually creating his own storyboard for the film. I become the "camera" and look for angles, lighting, close-ups, wide angles, long shots&nbsp;— just as a director does to tell the story in the most visually interesting way he can. My first sketches are as much composition and design ideas as they are character and action images&nbsp;... I don't want to get too involved in the juicy parts since some of what I'm doing will be modified or discarded as I get further involved in the storytelling. I then stand back and look at the page as a complete unit to make sure it's designed well: "Hmmm, three close-up panels in a row of characters talking. Better change that middle panel to a far shot. Maybe make that panel an open vignette." ... &nbsp;Then I place the facing pages together and look at how the spread holds together, and sometimes make changes based on that.<ref>MAD's Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker, 2012, Running Press, pg. 13</ref></blockquote> == Praise == When the magazine's parody of ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' was published in 1980, drawn by Drucker, the magazine received a [[cease and desist]] letter from [[George Lucas]]' lawyers demanding that the issue be pulled from sale, and that ''Mad'' destroy the printing plates, surrender the original art, and turn over all profits from the issue. Unbeknownst to them, George Lucas had just sent ''Mad'' an effusive letter praising the parody, and declaring, "Special Oscars should be awarded to Drucker and [[Dick DeBartolo|DeBartolo]], the [[George Bernard Shaw]] and [[Leonardo da Vinci]] of comic satire."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/drucker_mort.htm|title=Mort Drucker|website=lambiek.net|accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>Taylor, Chris, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, Hachette Books, 2015, pg. 122</ref> Publisher Gaines mailed a copy of the letter to Lucas' lawyers with a handwritten message across the top: "That's funny, George liked it!"<ref>[https://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/article212487744.html MAD magazine editor Nick Meglin, an influence on cartoonists and satire, has died], by David Menconi, in ''[[the News & Observer]]''; published June 4, 2018; retrieved April 9, 2020</ref> There was no further communication on the matter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/mad-about-star-wars|title=MAD about Star Wars|date=June 23, 2014|website=StarWars.com|accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> Drucker had also worked on the advertising campaign for Lucas' earlier film ''[[American Graffiti]]''. In his introduction to the ''Mad About Star Wars'' book, Lucas wrote, "I have always defended ''Mad'' from my lawyers."<ref>Mad About Star Wars, Del Rey Publishing, 2007, pg. iii in foreword</ref><ref>Clark, Mark, Star Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies, Applause Books, 2015</ref> In a 1985 ''[[Tonight Show]]'' appearance, when [[Johnny Carson]] asked [[Michael J. Fox]], "When did you really know you'd made it in show business?" Fox replied, "When Mort Drucker drew my head."<ref>MAD's Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker, 2012, Running Press, pg. 7</ref> Meglin called Drucker "number one in a field of one." [[Charles Schulz]] wrote, "Frankly, I don't know how he does it, and I stand in a long list of admirers&nbsp;... I think he draws everything the way we would all like to draw." In 2012, referring to Drucker's splash page for ''Mad''{{'}}s parody of ''[[The Godfather]]'', the Comics Reporter's [[Tom Spurgeon]] wrote, "The way he draws [[James Caan]]'s eyebrow is worth some folks' entire careers."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/bundled_tossed_untied_and_stacked052212/ |title=Bundled, Tossed, Untied And Stacked |first=Tom |last=Spurgeon |date=May 22, 2012 |website=The Comics Reporter |publisher=Tom Spurgeon |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}</ref> ==Awards== Mort Drucker's ''Time'' covers are in the collection of the [[National Portrait Gallery (United States)|National Portrait Gallery]]. He was recognized for his work with the [[National Cartoonists Society]] Special Features Award (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988), its [[Reuben Award]] (1987), [[Eisner Award]] Hall of Fame (2010) and induction into the Society's Hall of Fame (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reuben.org/ncs/awards.asp|title=National Cartoonists Society Awards|accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalcartoonists.com/2017/06/10073/|title=Mort Drucker inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame|accessdate=April 9, 2020}}</ref> Drucker was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Boston. ==Death== Drucker's daughter Laurie announced that he died on April 9, 2020, in his [[Woodbury, New York]] home.<ref name="NYT" /> She reported to [[Associated Press]] that the previous week he had experienced respiratory problems and had trouble walking, but she did not give the cause of his death. Laurie added that her father had not been tested for the [[coronavirus]].<ref>Pineda, Dorany, "Mort Drucker, the iconic Mad magazine cartoonist, dies at 91," ''Los Angeles Times'', April 9, 2020, https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-04-09/mort-drucker-mad-magazine-cartoonist-dead</ref> ==Bibliography== *''MAD's Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker'' by Mort Drucker. Running Press, 2012. {{ISBN|978-0-7624-4713-8}} *''Tomatoes from Mars'' by Arthur Yorinks and Mort Drucker. Di Capua, 1999. {{ISBN|978-0-06-205070-0}} *''Whitefish Will Rides Again!'' by Arthur Yorinks and Mort Drucker. Di Capua, 1994. {{ISBN|978-0-06-205037-3}} *''Draw 50 Famous Caricatures'' by Mort Drucker and Lee J. Ames. Doubleday, 1990. {{ISBN|978-0-385-24629-3}} *''The Ronald Reagan Coloring Book'' by Mort Drucker and Paul Laikin. Andrews and McMeel, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-8362-1826-8}} *''Familiar Faces: The Art of Mort Drucker'' by David Duncan and Mort Drucker. Stabur Press, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-941613-03-3}} *''The Ollie North Coloring Book'' by Mort Drucker and Paul Laikin. Andrews McMeel, 1987. {{ISBN|978-0-8362-2099-5}} *''Benchley, Book 1'' by Mort Drucker. Blackthorne, 1987. {{ISBN|978-0-932629-24-1}} *''Mort Drucker's MAD Show-Stoppers'' by Mort Drucker. EC, 1985. {{ISBN|978-99987-8607-3}} *''What to Name Your Jewish Baby'' by Bill Adler and Mort Drucker and Arnie Kogen. Dutton, 1969. {{ISBN|978-1-936404-64-3}} *''My Son, the Daughter'' by Mort Drucker. Kanrom, 1964. ASIN: B000J1M1WK *''Political Wind-Ups'' by Alexander Roman and Mort Drucker. Kanrom, 1962. ASIN: B000ZLP4MS *''JFK Coloring Book'' by Alexander Roman and Mort Drucker. Kanrom, 1962. {{ISBN|978-1-936404-48-3}} ===Illustrations for books by others=== *''A Book of Jean's Own'', [[Maria Schneider (cartoonist)|Maria Schneider]] writing as Jean Teasdale. St. Martin's Griffin, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-312-64268-6}} *''Christopher Lee's Treasury of Terror'', edited by [[Russ Jones]]. Pyramid, 1966. ASIN: B000B8GC3A ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.adriansinnott.com/mortdrucker.html Mort Drucker official site] *[http://madcoversite.com/ugoi-mort_drucker.html Mort Drucker's ''Mad'' contributions] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120911180649/http://www.tomrichmond.com/blog/2006/09/29/the-mort-drucker-caricature-story/ Tom Richmond: "The Mort Drucker Caricature Story"] *[https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/drucker_mort.htm Lambiek Comiclopedia article.] * {{Discogs artist|Mort Drucker}} {{Mad magazine}} {{Madcontribs}} {{Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Drucker, Mort}} [[Category:1929 births]] [[Category:2020 deaths]] [[Category:American cartoonists]] [[Category:American caricaturists]] [[Category:20th-century American artists]] [[Category:American comic strip cartoonists]] [[Category:American comics artists]] [[Category:Film poster artists]] [[Category:Album-cover and concert-poster artists]] [[Category:Mad (magazine) cartoonists]] [[Category:Artists from Brooklyn]] [[Category:Jewish American artists]] [[Category:Reuben Award winners]] [[Category:People from Woodbury, Nassau County, New York]] [[Category:Erasmus Hall High School alumni]] [[Category:Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductees]] [[Category:Parodists]]'