Gary K. Wolf | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1941-01-24)January 24, 1941 (age 85)[1] Earlville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Notable works | TheRoger Rabbit series |
| Spouse | |
Gary K. Wolf (born January 24, 1941)[2] is an Americanauthor. He is best known as the author ofWho Censored Roger Rabbit? (1981), which was loosely adapted into the hit feature-length filmWho Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
Wolf was born on January 24, 1941. He grew up inEarlville, Illinois, the son of Ed and Hattie Wolf. His father owned the town's pool hall and later had an upholstering business, while his mother worked in the school cafeteria.[3] As an only child, Wolf would occupy himself by readingcomic books andscience fiction stories. Wolf graduated from Earlville High School in June 1959.He later attended theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he earned aBachelor's degree in Advertising and aMaster's degree in Communications. He served as anAir Force Captain with the5th Air Commando Squadron in theVietnam War, where he won aBronze Star and twoAir Medals.[4]
Wolf and childhood friendJohn J. Myers, former Catholic Archbishop ofNewark, New Jersey, co-wrote a novel namedSpace Vulture, released by TOR books during 2008.[5] Wolf and co-author Jehane Baptiste have a story named "The UnHardy Boys in Outer Space" in the annual anthology of humorous science fiction,Amityville House of Pancakes Vol 3 (ISBN 1-894-95335-5).[6]
Wolf owns an extensive collection ofcarousel horses. Because of this, Wolf was featured on the cover of the September 4, 1976 issue ofPeninsula Living Magazine;[7] the magazine issue itself also showcased his collection.
Wolf resides with his wife of 50 years, Bonnie, and their cat, inBoston, Massachusetts.
Gary K. Wolf is best known for creating the comedic mystery series centered onRoger Rabbit, a cartoon character in an alternate universe where “toons” and humans coexist. The series began withWho Censored Roger Rabbit? (1981), which inspired the hit filmWho Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). In the original novel, Eddie Valiant, a hard-boiled detective, is hired by Roger Rabbit, a comic strip star, to investigate broken promises from his employers. The case spirals into a murder mystery exposing deception, a magical genie, and Roger’s true nature.
The series continued withWho P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit? (1991), retconning the original as Jessica Rabbit’s dream and aligning with the film. Eddie investigates new murders and Roger's scheming cousin, Dodger Rabbit, in a noir-inspired tale blending toons and human intrigue. InThe Road to Toontown (2012), Wolf collected short stories, including a new Jessica Rabbit narrative that delves deeper into the Roger Rabbit universe.[8] The series returned withWho Wacked Roger Rabbit? (2013), where Eddie Valiant protects actorGary Cooper during a Toontown film shoot, uncovering threats and sinister underworld schemes. InJessica Rabbit: XERIOUS Business (2022), Jessica Rabbit is reimagined as Jessica Krupnick, a human turned secret agent for the XERIOUS Organization, showcasing her intelligence and evolution beyond her femme fatale origins.
In 2001, Wolf suedThe Walt Disney Company for unpaid royalties. After appeals and hearings, Wolf prevailed in 2005, receiving $180,000–$400,000.[9][10] Wolf proposed a prequel toWho Framed Roger Rabbit in 2013, reimaginingThe Stooge with Roger andMickey Mouse, exploring Roger’s backstory and his relationship with Jessica Rabbit.[11] Roger Rabbit appeared as a cameo inDisney+’s 2022Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers film.[12]
In November 2025, Wolf announced that he had reacquired the rights to Roger Rabbit through a copyright termination clause that enables him to reclaim copyrights of the character 35 years since selling them to Disney.[13]
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