Walter Crawford Kelly (September 15, 1913 – October 18, 1973) was an American cartoonist, animator, and author best known for creating the comic strip Pogo. His work is recognized for its satirical humor, lyrical dialogue, and detailed wildlife characters, which often carried political and social commentary.
Early Life and Education
- Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a family of Irish descent.
- Attended the Art Students League of New York, where he studied illustration and painting.
Career
- 1930s–1940s: Began as an animator for Walt Disney Studios, contributing to films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Pinocchio (1940). Later worked for the Warner Bros. animation department.
- World War II: Served in the U.S. Army, where he drew for the Stars and Stripes newspaper, producing a popular comic strip called The Sarge.
- Post‑war: Joined the Chicago Tribune’s Chicago Tribune Syndicate and launched the comic strip Pogo on June 16 1948. The strip featured anthropomorphic characters—most famously the title character, a possum named Pogo Possum—living in the Okefenokee Swamp.
- Political Satire: Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Pogo was noted for its allegorical treatment of contemporary issues, including McCarthyism, civil rights, and the Vietnam War. The strip’s “We have met the enemy and he is us” quotation became widely cited.
- Later Work: After Pogo concluded in 1975 (posthumously), Kelly’s earlier cartoons, sketches, and published collections continued to be reprinted. He also authored several books, including The Pogo Papers (1950) and A Slightly Irrelevant History of the United States (1960).
Style and Influence
- Employed a blend of lyrical prose and visual wit, drawing influence from both American cartooning traditions and European illustration.
- Recognized for meticulous line work, expressive animal characters, and the integration of literary references.
- Influenced subsequent cartoonists and satirists, including Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury) and Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes).
Awards and Honors
- Received the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year (1964).
- Posthumously inducted into the Comic Strip Hall of Fame (1992).
Personal Life
- Married Selby Daley in 1939; the couple had three children.
- Lived in Connecticut during the height of his Pogo career.
Death
- Died of a heart attack on October 18 1973 in New York City at the age of 60. His papers and original artwork are archived at several institutions, including the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State University.
