Ziggy Creator Tom Wilson 1931-2011 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 09-19-2011, 05:42 PM

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Tom Wilson, creator of the beloved bald, moon-faced Ziggy, died Friday at age 80 at a Cincinnati nursing home. The cause was pneumonia.

“Tom leaves behind a wonderful legacy in Ziggy, a hard-luck comics page hero who serves as a reflection of Tom’s endearing wit and optimism in the face of adversity,” John McMeel, head of Andrews McMeel Universal, whose Universal Uclick syndicates Wilson’s daily comic strip, said in a statement.

Ziggy currently appears in more than 500 newspapers, as well as books, calendars and greeting cards. In 1982, he starred in “Ziggy’s Gift,” a Christmas special that aired on ABC. Wilson created more than 1,200 drawings and shared an Emmy award for best animated special.

In 1972, the artist told The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland, “Is Ziggy me? I’m afraid so. Everybody is, to some degree.” Two years later, he told the city’s Sun Press “He’s such a small person in such a big world.”

Ziggy’s beginnings date back to 1969, when Wilson published a book of wordless cartoons called “When You’re Not Around,” featuring an anonymous, Ziggy-like character. It caught the eye of Kathy Andrews, a former Clevelander starting what was then Universal Press Syndicate in her basement in Leawood, Kansas, with her husband, Jim. She gave a copy of the book to him.

Two years later, looking for single-panel comics, the Andrews came across the book again and asked Wilson to add words to pictures.

“I settled on the name Ziggy,” he told the Sun Press, “because it started with a Z, and that seemed appropriate for this character.”

Wilson later took Ziggy to the card company American Greetings, where he spent 35 years and became president of the creative division. He also launched a subsidiary of American Greetings called Those Characters from Cleveland, which turned out popular characters like Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake.

catlover79 · 09-19-2011, 05:44 PM

I still have a stuffed Ziggy doll somewhere.

Marvo301 · 09-19-2011, 05:52 PM

Tom Wilson. My favorite "Ziggy" related memory is the Seinfeld episode in which Elaine creates what she believes to be an original cartoon for New Yorker magazine only to find out later she's plagiarized an old "Ziggy" cartoon.

MrCleveland · 09-19-2011, 07:28 PM

I hope his son will have a dedication comic soon.

Family Ties Forever! · 09-19-2011, 07:53 PM

RIP

Brian Damage · 09-19-2011, 10:41 PM

09-19-2011, 05:42 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,359	Ziggy Creator Tom Wilson 1931-2011 Link Tom Wilson, creator of the beloved bald, moon-faced Ziggy, died Friday at age 80 at a Cincinnati nursing home. The cause was pneumonia. “Tom leaves behind a wonderful legacy in Ziggy, a hard-luck comics page hero who serves as a reflection of Tom’s endearing wit and optimism in the face of adversity,” John McMeel, head of Andrews McMeel Universal, whose Universal Uclick syndicates Wilson’s daily comic strip, said in a statement. Ziggy currently appears in more than 500 newspapers, as well as books, calendars and greeting cards. In 1982, he starred in “Ziggy’s Gift,” a Christmas special that aired on ABC. Wilson created more than 1,200 drawings and shared an Emmy award for best animated special. In 1972, the artist told The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland, “Is Ziggy me? I’m afraid so. Everybody is, to some degree.” Two years later, he told the city’s Sun Press “He’s such a small person in such a big world.” Ziggy’s beginnings date back to 1969, when Wilson published a book of wordless cartoons called “When You’re Not Around,” featuring an anonymous, Ziggy-like character. It caught the eye of Kathy Andrews, a former Clevelander starting what was then Universal Press Syndicate in her basement in Leawood, Kansas, with her husband, Jim. She gave a copy of the book to him. Two years later, looking for single-panel comics, the Andrews came across the book again and asked Wilson to add words to pictures. “I settled on the name Ziggy,” he told the Sun Press, “because it started with a Z, and that seemed appropriate for this character.” Wilson later took Ziggy to the card company American Greetings, where he spent 35 years and became president of the creative division. He also launched a subsidiary of American Greetings called Those Characters from Cleveland, which turned out popular characters like Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

09-19-2011, 05:44 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I still have a stuffed Ziggy doll somewhere.
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09-19-2011, 05:52 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	Tom Wilson. My favorite "Ziggy" related memory is the Seinfeld episode in which Elaine creates what she believes to be an original cartoon for New Yorker magazine only to find out later she's plagiarized an old "Ziggy" cartoon.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

09-19-2011, 07:28 PM	#4
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I hope his son will have a dedication comic soon.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

09-19-2011, 07:53 PM	#5
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	RIP
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09-19-2011, 10:41 PM	#6
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107
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