Buzz
Whether clumsy, grumpy, spirited, or flamboyant, we often adore the exaggerated personalities of cartoon characters we grew up watching, rediscovered in reruns, or learned about from older generations.
While many of these cherished characters emerged purely from their creators' imaginations, others were modeled after real individuals or influenced by roles portrayed by comedians and actors on radio and TV.
10. W.C. Fields
Created by United Productions of America, the bald, irritable, and shortsighted Mr. Magoo became an instant success upon his debut in 1949. He appeared in 53 animated shorts and earned two Academy Awards. Mr. Magoo resonated with audiences, partly because he symbolized the nation’s post-war optimism.
Similar to comedian W.C. Fields, the visually impaired Mr. Magoo sported a bulbous nose and narrow eyes, often mumbling his words. Despite these parallels, Millard Kaufman, the writer behind the first Mr. Magoo cartoon, claimed Fields was not the initial inspiration for the character.
Dialogue director Jerry Hausner appeared to dispute Kaufman’s statement, noting that director John Hubley explicitly avoided having the character’s voice resemble Fields'. (Actor Jim Backus provided Mr. Magoo’s unique voice.)
Regardless of whether Fields was the original inspiration, his influence on Mr. Magoo became evident over time. After producing several films featuring the character, creative director Pete Burness revealed that he and his team studied W.C. Fields’ film performances for inspiration. For instance, they incorporated a scene where Fields uses his cane to “shoo away dogs and other nuisances.”
9. Frank ‘Rocky’ Fiegel
While many may not recognize his name, Frank “Rocky” Fiegel holds a unique distinction: he served as the real-life inspiration for Popeye the Sailor, a character introduced in 1929 by Elzie Crisler Segar for his Thimble Theater comic strip. Fiegel, a resident of Chester, Illinois, was known as a one-eyed, pipe-smoking sailor who frequently engaged in brawls, much like the beloved cartoon character.
Other figures in the Popeye universe were also modeled after Segar’s acquaintances from his hometown. Olive Oyl, Popeye’s love interest, was based on a slender shopkeeper named Dora Pascal. Similarly, Wimpy drew inspiration from William “Windy Bill” Schuchert, who managed the local opera house and had such a fondness for hamburgers that he would send staff to fetch them during show intermissions.
In 1977, a towering 183-centimeter (6’0″), 408-kilogram (900 lb) bronze statue of Popeye was unveiled. Positioned in Chester’s Segar Memorial Park, the statue depicts Popeye with hands on hips, a pipe clenched in his mouth, and eyes gazing into the horizon. Every year, starting the weekend after Memorial Day, Chester hosts a three-day Popeye Picnic, filled with festivities for all to enjoy.
8. Dennis Lloyd Ketcham
Dennis Mitchell, the mischievous star of comic strips, books, and a television series, was modeled after creator Hank Ketcham’s own son, Dennis Lloyd Ketcham. One day, when Dennis was supposed to be napping, his mother discovered him dismantling his bed, emptying dresser drawers, and tearing down curtains by removing their rods.
Frustrated, she exclaimed, “Your son is a menace!” This outburst sparked inspiration in Hank Ketcham, an artist, who quickly drew a dozen pencil sketches and sent them to his agent. Within ten days, he received a telegram from Bob Hall, president of Post Syndicate, expressing interest and requesting 12 additional sketches.
In 1950, Ketcham secured a lucrative, once-in-a-lifetime contract. By the year’s end, Dennis the Menace was featured daily in over 100 newspapers, each paying $3 to $5 weekly for the strip. However, the Chicago Tribune, due to its vast readership, paid $100 per week for the feature.
Ketcham introduced additional characters to the series. Dennis’s neighbor, Mr. Wilson, was modeled after Ketcham’s Sunday school superintendent. Margaret, Dennis’s friend, was inspired by Ketcham’s childhood crush. Other characters included Wade, based on a local grocer, and Gina, likely influenced by actress Gina Lollobrigida.
7. Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, and Lauren Bacall
The alluring cartoon character Jessica Rabbit drew inspiration from three iconic movie stars. As Roger Rabbit’s wife in the 1988 animated film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Jessica sparked debate due to her voluptuous figure, seductive presence, and occasionally risqué lines.
The movie centered on a down-and-out private detective trying to prove the innocence of his wrongly accused client, Roger. Animation director Richard Williams revealed his vision for Jessica: “I aimed to capture Rita Hayworth’s essence, styled her hair after Veronica Lake, and [Director Robert] Zemeckis insisted on incorporating Lauren Bacall’s signature look.”
6. Margaret Kerry
James M. Barrie’s fairy character, Tinkerbell, was traditionally depicted on stage as a “flickering light in motion.” However, for Disney’s 1953 animated film Peter Pan, she was reimagined as a winged pixie with a distinctly feminine silhouette.
Her shapely figure stirred controversy among fans of the original play, particularly fueled by rumors that Tinkerbell was inspired by the iconic Marilyn Monroe. In truth, the character was based on actress Margaret Kerry.
Kerry, like any aspiring actress, had to audition for the role. Her task was to embody a tiny, wordless fairy, requiring her to express the character’s essence through movement and expression alone.
Initially unsure how to approach the audition, Kerry improvised by choreographing Tinkerbell preparing breakfast while music played. Studio executives then tasked her with having Tinkerbell “land on Wendy’s dresser, measure her hips, and react with dissatisfaction at the results.”
Her performance impressed the executives, and she was offered the role. The following week, Kerry began work, contributing to the creation of Tinkerbell as one of Hollywood’s most memorable animated figures.
For half a year, Kerry’s role involved posing with props and delivering the facial expressions, gestures, and reactions that animators would translate into Tinkerbell’s movements, bringing the character to life.
5. Red Skelton’s Deadeye
Renowned actor and comedian Red Skelton created a host of memorable characters throughout his diverse career. Beginning in vaudeville during the 1930s, he transitioned to radio and later television with The Red Skelton Show, which ran weekly from 1951 to 1971. Among his creations was Deadeye, a Wild West character who took on roles such as a bumbling sheriff and a cowboy who “struggled to control his horse and occasionally even himself.”
Michael Maltese developed the storyline for Hare Trigger, a 1945 Warner Brothers cartoon starring the fiery, mustachioed, redheaded outlaw Yosemite Sam, whose oversized six-shooters and sombrero matched his larger-than-life personality. Maltese revealed that the character was partially inspired by director Friz Freleng, who shared traits like being “short, red-haired, and mustachioed.” However, Yosemite Sam’s primary inspiration later shifted to Skelton’s cowboy character, Deadeye.
4. Percy Crosby
Some cartoonists draw inspiration from their own lives. Percy Crosby, hailed as the “Rembrandt of American cartoonists,” crafted the mischievous character Skippy based on his own childhood experiences.
Skippy’s anxieties mirrored those of Crosby during his youth and resonated with children across generations. His prayer, “Oh, Lord, grant me the strength to brush my teeth every night, and if You can’t, at least spare me from worrying about it,” captures the universal dread of chores and the fears common among young children.
Skippy’s popularity led to a radio series, a 1929 novel, and a film starring Jackie Cooper. The character’s influence extended to toys, food products, and more. Just as Skippy’s adventures were drawn from Crosby’s childhood, they also reflected the experiences of countless American kids, cementing Skippy as a beloved figure.
3. Archie Andrews
Archie Andrews resided in Riverdale, attending high school alongside Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, Reggie Mantle, Big Moose Mason, Dilton Doiley, Midge Klump, Ethel Muggs, and Chuck Clayton. Adults, including the teens’ parents, Principal Weatherbee, homeroom teacher Miss Grundy, and Pop Tate, the owner of the local chocolate shop, also made occasional appearances.
However, Archie comics primarily revolved around Archie’s romantic entanglements with Betty and Veronica, his camaraderie with Jughead, his ongoing feud with Reggie, and his interactions with the rest of the Riverdale gang. The comic inspired a radio show, the TV series The Archie Show (1968–1969), numerous TV specials, sequels, and a vast array of merchandise.
Archie’s character was modeled after actor Mickey Rooney, who starred in silent films as early as 1926 and continued in “talkies” well into the 21st century. (Rooney passed away in 2014.) Archie Comics launched in 1939, coinciding with Rooney’s roles in teen-focused films like Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary (1941) and other entries in the series. Rooney’s portrayal in these films became the blueprint for Archie Andrews.
For John Goldwater, cofounder of MLJ Publishing, the popularity of the Archie radio show and Rooney’s films signaled an opportunity to diversify comic book offerings beyond superhero stories. He aimed to create comics that resonated with young readers by presenting “an idealized, sanitized depiction of 1940s American teenagers.” Over time, Archie comics evolved to incorporate modern themes, ensuring their relevance to new generations.
2. Classroom Lecture Sketch
Henry, the precursor to Little Lulu, also gained immense popularity, as evidenced by the nationwide syndication of his comic strip. A chubby, bald boy dressed in a red shirt, black shorts, and sneakers, Henry was an impromptu creation that resonated with audiences.
As a freelance illustrator, Carl Anderson contributed cartoons to prominent magazines like Judge, Life, Collier’s, and The Saturday Evening Post. He also produced regular comic strips. However, it wasn’t until he created Henry at the age of 67 that he achieved lasting financial stability.
Following the Great Depression, Anderson taught cartooning at a vocational school. During a lecture, he sketched Henry, and his students immediately took a liking to the character. Encouraged by their response, he submitted samples to The Saturday Evening Post, which began featuring the strip weekly in 1932.
Henry stood out as one of the rare cartoon characters who never spoke. Relying entirely on pantomime, he communicated through actions. He wasn’t afraid to stand up to Butch the Bully when necessary and cherished the company of Henrietta, who resembled Henry but for her pink hair ribbon, blonde curls, and pink dress. Henry also shared a close bond with his dog, Dusty.
1. Marjorie Henderson Buell
Marjorie Henderson Buell, known professionally as “Marge,” was a pioneering artist who based her iconic character, Little Lulu, on herself. Through Lulu, Buell became the first woman cartoonist to achieve global acclaim.
During high school, Buell worked from a repurposed chicken coop, creating cartoons she sold to the Philadelphia Ledger. By her mid-twenties, she had syndicated two comic strips, The Boy Friend and Dashing Dot, but it was Little Lulu that catapulted her to fame.
Little Lulu debuted in 1935 as a replacement for The Saturday Evening Post‘s Henry, which had moved to national syndication. Initially, Lulu was a silent character, expressing herself through actions rather than dialogue.
In one memorable strip, Lulu defiantly stood in line at a “Men Only” movie theater, disguised with a mustache. The cartoon was an instant success, leading to a wide range of merchandise featuring Lulu, from lunch boxes to pajamas.
Buell explained that she selected Lulu because “a girl . . . could pull off cheeky antics that might come across as rude if done by a boy.” She envisioned Lulu as a strong, independent figure for young girls—feminine and peaceful, yet spirited and bold.
