| Mell Lazarus | |
|---|---|
 Lazarus in 1973 | |
| Born | Melvin Lazarus (1927-05-03)May 3, 1927 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 24, 2016(2016-05-24) (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist, Novelist |
| Pseudonym | Fulton |
Notable works | Miss Peach Momma |
| Awards | Reuben Award (1981) Inkpot Award (1976)[1] |
| Spouse | Sally Mitchell |
| Children | Margie, Suesan, Cathie |
Melvin Lazarus (May 3, 1927[2] – May 24, 2016)[3] was an Americancartoonist, best known as the creator of twocomic strips,Miss Peach (1957–2002) andMomma (1970–2016). Additionally, he wrote two novels. For his comic stripPauline McPeril (a 1966-69 collaboration withJack Rickard), he used the pseudonymFulton, which is also the name of a character in his first novel,The Boss Is Crazy, Too.
Lazarus was born in Brooklyn,[4] to Sydney Lazarus, a successful glass-blower, and Frances (née Mushkin) Lazarus, nicknamed Frankie.[5][6] Lazarus, who dropped out of high school, published his first cartoon at 16, and later enlisted in theU.S. Navy.[6]
During his twenties, he worked forAl Capp and his brotherElliott Caplin at the Capp family-ownedToby Press.[5] In the mid-1950s, he created two children's syndicated comic strips forGeneral Features,[7]Wee Women andLi'l Ones.[5]
Miss Peach debuted on February 4, 1957, in theNew York Herald Tribune, and ended up running for nearly 50 years.[5]
His comic stripMomma debuted on October 26, 1970. Although Lazarus based the title character on his own mother, she believed the character was based on his aunt, exclaiming, "You caught Aunt Helen to a tee!"[8]
In 1964, Lazarus talked about his background and working methods:
I never actually graduated high school. My art teacher flunked me. I have since, however, attended many classes of one kind or another. I frequently lecture at colleges and to other groups around the country. I sold my first cartoon when I was 16. I did commercial art and edited children's magazines prior to February 4, 1957 when my comic,Miss Peach, was launched. The characters inMiss Peach are not actually modeled on real persons, with the possible exception of Lester, the skinny kid in the strip. Possibly the most loved character is Arthur, the dopey little kid. I make notes all week based on thoughts, conversational fragments, etc. I sift through all these notes on Monday mornings and select several to develop. I then write gags for them. I do six daily strips and aSunday page.[9]
Lazarus served as president of theNational Cartoonists Society for two consecutive terms, from 1989 to 1993.[10]
His novelThe Boss Is Crazy, Too (Dial, 1963) concerns Carson Hemple, art director of a comic-book and confession-magazine publishing company, who is told by the owner to help force the company into bankruptcy, and who responds with inventive embezzlement schemes.[11] The book was inspired by his time atToby Press.[3]
The Neighborhood Watch (Doubleday, 1986) is about an impoverished Brooklyn writer who steals from his wealthy neighbors. Its protagonist, widowed father Loring Neiman, having turned to burglary when his book is rejected, discovers he has a knack for it. He prepares to give up the criminal life after becoming romantically involved with a married woman, but a criminally inclined neighbor coerces him into one purportedly final robbery.[12] It was optioned for a movie.[4]
Lazarus won theNational Cartoonists Society's award for Newspaper Strip, Humor, in 1973 and 1979, both times forMiss Peach.[13]
He won theReuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, forMiss Peach, in 1981, and the organization's Silver T-Square Award in 2000.[13]
On January 23, 2016, Lazarus became the second recipient of the National Cartoonists Society Medal of Honor, established the year before.[14]
Lazarus was married twice, first to Eileen Lazarus, which ended in divorce; then to Sally Mitchell,[5] daughter of comic-strip gag writer Ed Mitchell.[3] Lazarus lived in Los Angeles from the 1970s until his death on May 24, 2016.[3][4] from complications fromAlzheimer's.[5][6] He had three daughters, Margie, Suesan and Cathie; six grandchildren; and one great grandson.[3]
He made a cameo appearance in the 1992Murder She Wrote episode "The Dead File."[15]
His membership inMensa was mentioned in the 1999 episode "They Saved Lisa's Brain" ofThe Simpsons.[16]
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