The Reluctant Dragon (1941) as Animation Department
Pinocchio (1940) as Animation Department
Short Info
Died
October 18, 1973, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Spouse
Helen DeLacey
Mark
Wore thick framed glasses
Fact
Recently released FBI files on Walt Kelly (via the Freedom of Information Act) reveal that he was suspected of sending some form of coded messages in the nonsense poetry and southern accents he peppered his strip with, and the FBI went so far as to have their cryptographers attempt to "decipher" the strip.
Walt Kelly was born on August 25, 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Walter and Mary Kelly. He had two brothers and one sister. Walt Kelly was educated at the Philadelphia public schools and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Walt Kelly’s career began as a cartoonist for the New York Daily News. He later worked for Walt Disney Studios, where he created the character Pogo. Kelly also worked as a writer and illustrator for Dell Comics. In 1950, he created the comic strip “Pogo,” which became one of the most popular comic strips of all time. Kelly won the Pulitzer Prize for his work on the strip in 1953.
Kelly retired from “Pogo” in 1975, and died of cancer on October 18, 1973.
Walt Kelly had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death. His salary was $12,500 per year.
Kelly was married to Margaret “Marge” Blume from 1940 until his death in 1973. The couple had three children: Walter Jr., Mary, and Carolyn.
General Info
Full Name
Walt Kelly
Died
October 18, 1973, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Profession
Animator
Education
Warren Harding High School
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Helen DeLacey
Accomplishments
Awards
Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame, Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, Jack Kirby Hall of Fame
Recently released FBI files on Walt Kelly (via the Freedom of Information Act) reveal that he was suspected of sending some form of coded messages in the nonsense poetry and southern accents he peppered his strip with, and the FBI went so far as to have their cryptographers attempt to "decipher" the strip.
2
Met his wife Selby during an animator's strike at Disney. He worked for Disney as a background artist, she as a cel painter.
3
The comic strip was also noted for unique speech balloons for select characters to give an impression as to what their "voices" would sound like. "P.T. Bridgeport", a con-artist bear and showman, had speech balloons resembling the type styles used in 19th century circus posters. "Sarcophagus Macabre", a vulture and mortician, had square, black framed speech balloons with script lettering in the style of funereal announcements. "Deacon Mushrat", an educated muskrat, had speech balloons with Old English lettering.
4
Created the renowned comic strip "Pogo", which featured an animal cast with adventures set in the Okefenokie Swamp. The strip was known for its biting political humor, and frequently attacked major political figures of the time, especially Senator Joseph McCarthy, who he depicted as "Simple J. Malarky", a shotgun wielding bobcat.
Movies
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Popeye the Sailor
1960-1962
TV Series animator - 21 episodes
Fun & Fancy Free
1947
animator - uncredited
Dumbo
1941
animator
The Nifty Nineties
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Little Whirlwind
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Reluctant Dragon
1941/I
animator - uncredited
Fantasia
1940
animator - segment "The Pastoral Symphony", uncredited
Pinocchio
1940
animator - uncredited
Mickey's Surprise Party
1939
Short animator - uncredited
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
I Go Pogo
1980
comic strip: "Pogo"
The Pogo Special Birthday Special
1969
TV Short comic strip "Pogo" / written by - as Mister Walt Kelly
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Pogo Special Birthday Special
1969
TV Short
P.T. Bridgeport
Albert
Howland Owl (voice)
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Pogo Special Birthday Special
1969
TV Short
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Pogo Special Birthday Special
1969
TV Short producer - as Mister Kelly
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Muppet Show
1977
TV Series lyrics - 1 episode
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Super-Rabbit
1943
Short shooting script - uncredited
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bird of Steel!
special thanks filming
American Splendor
2003
acknowledgment: the filmmakers acknowledge the creative work of
