American Cartoonist and Illustrator. Davis will best be remembered for his work on Mad magazine and his Bulldog drawings of the mascot for the University of Georgia (UGA). He attended UGA after serving in the U.S. Navy. After finishing school, he moved to New York and began doing freelance work for EC Comics, where his art appeared in 'Tales from the Crypt', 'Incredible Science Fiction' as well as other EC Comics publications. In 1952, he became one of the original artists for the satirical Mad magazine, where his work appeared for decades. His career included works that appeared in Time magazine, for which he did 36 cover illustrations, as well as TV Guide, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Reader’s Digest. His portfolio included movie posters for 'Bananas', 'The Long Goodbye', 'American Graffiti' and 'It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' and many others. In 1989, the U.S. Postal Service commissioned Davis to design a stamp honoring letter carriers. His work earned him several honors during his lifetime, including induction into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also a recipient of the National Cartoonist Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Davis received the National Cartoonists Society’s Advertising Award for 1980 and their Reuben Award for 2000. Davis, who in 2007 was honored by UGA with an Alumni Merit Award, died of natural causes.
American Cartoonist and Illustrator. Davis will best be remembered for his work on Mad magazine and his Bulldog drawings of the mascot for the University of Georgia (UGA). He attended UGA after serving in the U.S. Navy. After finishing school, he moved to New York and began doing freelance work for EC Comics, where his art appeared in 'Tales from the Crypt', 'Incredible Science Fiction' as well as other EC Comics publications. In 1952, he became one of the original artists for the satirical Mad magazine, where his work appeared for decades. His career included works that appeared in Time magazine, for which he did 36 cover illustrations, as well as TV Guide, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Reader’s Digest. His portfolio included movie posters for 'Bananas', 'The Long Goodbye', 'American Graffiti' and 'It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' and many others. In 1989, the U.S. Postal Service commissioned Davis to design a stamp honoring letter carriers. His work earned him several honors during his lifetime, including induction into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also a recipient of the National Cartoonist Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Davis received the National Cartoonists Society’s Advertising Award for 1980 and their Reuben Award for 2000. Davis, who in 2007 was honored by UGA with an Alumni Merit Award, died of natural causes.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
Family Members
Advertisement
