__NOTOC__ Roger (Rog) Bollen (July 27, 1941 – October 3, 2015) was an American writer and illustrator of comic strips and children's books, and a producer of television series that aimed at children.

Early life and death

Born in East Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated from Shaw High School and

Kent State University Kent State University (KSU) is a Public university, public research university in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio located in Kent State University at Ashtabula, Ashtabula, Kent State ...

. During his final years, he lived in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. After suffering from a stroke and heart failure, he died in Hillcrest Hospital,

Mayfield Heights, Ohio Mayfield Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,351 at the 2020 census. An eastern suburb of Cleveland, it is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area. History Mayfield Heights was initially built up ...

, on October 3, 2015. He was survived by his third wife Audrey Curran and his daughter Melissa Ellsworth.

Syndicated comic strips

From 1966 to 1980, Bollen drew a two-panel cartoon strip titled ''Funny Business'' (in 1975, it was changed into a one-panel cartoon). From 1967 to 1994, Bollen wrote and drew the comic strip ''

Animal Crackers An animal cracker is a particular type of cracker (food), cracker, baked in the shape of an animal, usually an animal either at a zoo or a circus, such as a lion, a tiger, a bear, or an elephant. The most common variety is light-colored and sli ...

'' (adapted into a 1997 animated TV series produced by Canada-based Cinar ow WildBrainand aired on Fox Family ow Freeform, his most successful feature which was translated into several languages. Bollen additionally drew the strip ''Catfish'' from 1973 to 1986.

Children's books

Together with his second wife

Marilyn Sadler Marilyn Sadler is a children's writer with a deadpan sense of humor. She was born November 17, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of her best known works was made into a television Disney movie, under the title '' Zenon: Girl of the 21st Centu ...

, Bollen produced more than 50 children's books. Their first book, ''Alistair's Elephant'', was published in 1983. Other notable books are the P.J. Funnybunny series and '' Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century'' (adapted into a live-action film series).

Television shows

Bollen and Sadler together wrote Disney's CGI-animated children's TV series ''

Handy Manny ''Handy Manny'' is an animated preschool children's television series that premiered on September 16, 2006, originally as part of Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney block, and aired until February 14, 2013. Created by Roger Bollen and Marilyn ...

'', where they also served as executive producers.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bollen, Roger 1941 births 2015 deaths American children's book illustrators American comic strip cartoonists American television producers People from Ohio People from Chagrin Falls, Ohio Kent State University alumni