Bil Keane

Self-taught comic artist Bil Keane started his career in the late 1930s, putting out a satirical magazine with a couple of friends: The Saturday Evening Toast. After high school, he got a job at the Philadelphia Bulletin. While serving in the Army in 1942-45, Keane drew for Yank magazine and he created the 'At Ease with the Japanese' feature for Pacific Stars and Stripes. After the War, he returned to the Philadelphia Bulletin. Here, he created 'Silly Philly', a weekly Sunday page based on William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia.

In 1954, Keane started his humorous 'Channel Chuckles' television cartoon, which ran for 23 years. Inspired by his own family life, Keane launched the 'Family Circus' cartoon panel in February 1960. This very popular panel is now widely distributed by King Features.