Mell Lazarus

Melvin Lazarus (May 3, 1927 – May 24, 2016) was an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of two comic strips, '' Miss Peach'' (1957–2002) and '' Momma'' (1970–2016). Additionally, he wrote two novels. For his comic strip ''Pauline McPeril'' (a 1966-69 collaboration with Jack Rickard), he used the pseudonym Fulton, which is also the name of a character in his first novel, ''The Boss Is Crazy, Too''.

Biography

Lazarus was born in Brooklyn, to Sydney Lazarus, a successful glass-blower, and Frances (née Mushkin) Lazarus, nicknamed Frankie. Lazarus, who dropped out of high school, published his first cartoon at 16, and later enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

During his twenties, he worked for Al Capp and his brother Elliott Caplin at the Capp family-owned Toby Press. In the mid-1950s, he created two children's syndicated comic strips for General Features,Lazarus entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999''. Accessed Oct, 25, 2018. ''Wee Women'' and ''Li'l Ones''.

'' Miss Peach'' debuted on February 4, 1957, in the ''New York Herald Tribune'', and ended up running for nearly 50 years.

His comic strip '' Momma'' debuted on October 26, 1970. Although Lazarus based the title character on his own mother, she believed the character was based on his aunt, exclaiming, "You caught Aunt Helen to a tee!"

In 1964, Lazarus talked about his background and working methods:

Lazarus served as President of the National Cartoonists Society for two consecutive terms, from 1989 to 1993.

In 1992, Lazarus made a cameo appearance in the ''Murder, She Wrote'' episode "The Dead File".

Books

His novel ''The Boss Is Crazy, Too'' (Dial, 1963) concerns Carson Hemple, art director of a comic-book and confession-magazine publishing company, who is told by the owner to help force the company into bankruptcy, and who responds with inventive embezzlement schemes. The book was inspired by his time at Toby Press.

''The Neighborhood Watch'' (Doubleday, 1986) is about an impoverished Brooklyn writer who steals from his wealthy neighbors. Its protagonist, widowed father Loring Neiman, having turned to burglary when his book is rejected, discovers he has a knack for it. He prepares to give up the criminal life after becoming romantically involved with a married woman, but a criminally inclined neighbor coerces him into one purportedly final robbery. It was optioned for a movie.

Awards

Lazarus won the National Cartoonists Society's award for Newspaper Strip, Humor, in 1973 and 1979, both times for '' Miss Peach''.

He won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, for ''Miss Peach'', in 1981, and the organization's Silver T-Square Award in 2000.

On January 23, 2016, Lazarus became the second recipient of the National Cartoonists Society Medal of Honor, established the year before.

Personal life

Lazarus was married twice, first to Eileen Lazarus, which ended in divorce; then to Sally Mitchell, daughter of comic-strip gag writer Ed Mitchell. Lazarus lived in Los Angeles from the 1970s until his death on May 24, 2016. from complications from Alzheimer's. He had three daughters, Margie, Suesan and Cathie; six grandchildren and one great grandson.

In popular culture

He made a cameo appearance in the 1992 Murder She Wrote episode "The Dead File."

His membership in Mensa was mentioned in the 1999 episode They Saved Lisa's Brain of ''The Simpsons''.

References

External links

Mell Lazarus
at the Lambiek Comiclopedia

Tribute to Mell Lazarus
excerpted from the documentary film by Sari Armington
The Folks Behind the Funnies

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lazarus, Mell
1927 births
2016 deaths
20th-century American novelists
American comic strip cartoonists
20th-century American Jews
American male novelists
Reuben Award winners
People from Brooklyn
People from Los Angeles
20th-century American male writers
Novelists from California
Novelists from New York (state)
Mensans
21st-century American Jews