Jules Feiffer, ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’.Photo:Getty; Bullseye Books
Getty; Bullseye Books
Jules Feiffer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and illustrator ofThe Phantom Tollbooth,has died at his home in Richfield Springs, New York, from congestive heart failure. He was 95.
Feiffer, a lifelong New Yorker, got his start as an assistant to Will Eisner in the 1940s whom he helped write and illustrate famed comic strip, “The Spirit.” Nearly ten years later, he helmed his own comic strip, “Feiffer,” withThe Village Voice. He published his first collection of satirical cartoons,Sick, Sick, Sick,in 1958, but many know him for his contributions to beloved children’s book,The Phantom Tollbooth.
Jules Feiffer.Dick DeMarsico/Underwood Archives/Getty Images
Dick DeMarsico/Underwood Archives/Getty Images
Feiffer wrote nearly 30 books, plays and films in his lifetime, including children’s bookBark, George, Tony award-nominated playKnock, Knockand his memoirBacking into Forward. Just last year, he published his first graphic novel for young readers,Amazing Grapes.
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In anexclusive interview with PEOPLEahead of its release, Feiffer described his inspiration as “an internal gut thing.”
Michael di Capua Books
The creative added that “one of the privileges of old age or getting older” is losing the need to control, which he called an illusion.
“… just let things go and see where it takes you,” Feiffer shared. “Seeing where it takes me turns out to be far more interesting and more productive and more creative in a basic way than knowing in advance and making notes and writing down what’s gonna happen next.”
Jules Feiffer.JZ Holden
JZ Holden
TheCarnal Knowledgewriter — which starredJack Nicholson,Candice Bergen,Art Garfunkel,Ann-MargretandRita Morenowhen it premiered in 1971 — credits his creativity, in part, to his firing fromThe Village Voice,after 42 years.
“[Working there] had become hard work for me, and it took a while for playfulness to take over because I had a family and a living to make,” he explained.
“But things began to fall into place and thank God they did,” the artist continued. “But it turned out to be a door opening instead of a door closing, and doors have kept opening ever since, and I’m grateful for that.”
source: people.com
