Paul Coker
Born
Paul Coker Jr.

(1929-03-05)March 5, 1929
Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 2022 (aged 93)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Occupation(s)Comic artist, Illustrator
Signature

Paul Coker Jr. (March 5, 1929 – July 23, 2022)[1][2][3] was an American illustrator. He worked in many media, including Mad, character design for Rankin-Bass TV specials, greeting cards, and advertising.

Career

Coker was born in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Bernice (Rutherford) and Paul Coker.[4] One of his first professional works was in 1946 when he designed Chesty Lion, the mascot for Lawrence High School. His first appearance in Mad was in 1961; he went on to illustrate over 375 articles for the magazine. Beginning in 1967, Coker was a production designer on more than a dozen Rankin/Bass specials and shorts, including Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph's Shiny New Year and The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town. In 1968, he illustrated the Mad paperback "MAD for Better or Verse"; written by Frank Jacobs, it was the first of eight all-new paperbacks drawn by Coker. In 2002, the magazine also published a collection of "Horrifying Cliches", the long-running feature that featured Coker art. Coker collaborated with writer Don Edwing on two comic strips: "Lancelot" and "Horace and Buggy".

Works

Rankin/Bass Productions

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Greg (July 29, 2022). "Paul Coker Jr. Dies: Designer Of Rankin/Bass Classic Holiday Characters & Longtime Mad Magazine Illustrator Was 93". Deadline. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Lawrence native brings Frosty to life – in stores". Lawrence Journal-World. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Paul Coker (93) overleden". Strip Speciaal Zaak. July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  4. ↑ Sandomir, Richard (August 11, 2022). "Paul Coker, Cartoonist at Mad for Almost Six Decades, Dies at 93". The New York Times.
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