The Daily Cartoonist

Industry news for the professional cartoonist

Randy Glasbergen, one of the most prolific cartoonists ever, passes at age 58 (UPDATED)

Alan Gardner622 mins

Randy Glasbergen, who is perhaps one of the most prolific cartoonists in America, has passed away at the age of 58. During his career he was the cartoonist for The Better Half which he took over in 1982 and just retired last year to concentrate on his cartoon licensing operation Glasbergen Cartoon Service. He also did a panel called Glasbergen Cartoons that ran on GoComics, a panel called Thin Lines that launched through Creators Syndicate.

No details on the cause of death quite yet. My condolences to his family, friends and all who were touched by his life and work.

Randy-Glasbergen-bio-photo

Update Aug 12, 2015: I received an email from Randy’s wife, Karen, with some details regarding his health leading up to his passing. She writes:

He was fine on Thursday morning when I left for work, felt ill at 10:00, took him to the doctor?s at 2:00, one hospital by 4:00, transferred to another by 1:00 AM Friday. He had some kind of infection that they were trying to identify, at 9:30 Friday night he had a cardiac arrest that he did not recover from.

Randy leaves behind four children and seven grandchildren.

One last note. Karen and one of their daughters will continue to run Randy’s Glasbergen Cartoon Services business. No custom work will be done, but he’s left behind such a large catalog of work that they’ll be able to keep his work alive and in the public eye.

62 thoughts on “Randy Glasbergen, one of the most prolific cartoonists ever, passes at age 58 (UPDATED)”

  1. I’m stunned to read this. I only knew him through his work. Work that never, and I mean never, failed to make me smile if not laugh out loud.
    I remember subscribing to the old Cartoon World 30 years ago and he was already cranking away with one beautifully drawn gag panel cartoon after another. What an inspiration.
    Sincere sympathy wishes to his family and friends.

  3. Saddened to hear of Randy’s sudden passing…especially at such a young age. Was truly the gag master and model for all magazine tooners. God Bless and comfort to all those close to him.

  5. Very sad to hear this. I remeber when i was starting out with my interest in cartooning, i borrowed allot of how to books from the libraray. The ones i enjoyed using most were the ones by mr. Glasbergen. Wheb i started doing my webcomic i took allot of my style from the different cartoonists i learned from. But i especially remember how i drew the hands for my characters came directly from what I learned from Mr Glasbergen’s books. I’m friends with him on Facebook as are many other people who are fans of his. But I know that I for one will miss seeing his cartoons posted on Facebook everyday. Rest in peace Mr Glasbergen, you were truly an inspiration to me and many other cartoonist.

  11. Oh, no. He was one of my earliest heroes and influences, and he never stopped being a hero and an influence.

  12. What a workhorse. Man could craft a cartoon. There’s a big hole in the cartooning world right now. Damn.

  13. A great cartoon mind. And a great cartoon style! His volume of work was beyond belief. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered. Condolences to his family and to all who love the genre of the gag cartoon.

  15. So shocked and sad to hear the news of Randy’s passing. Way to young for such a talented and truly funny gentleman. Cartoonland is in mourning. My thoughts and prayers are with Randy’s family.

  16. Randy’s cartoons were some of the first I ever saw. He had a great style and a wonderful sense of humor. His cartoons seem to have been everywhere, which is a sign he was a great businessman as well. He’s already missed. RIP Randy.

  18. RIP Randy Glasbergen. He had a wonderful style and really knew how to open up and find new markets. I’ll miss seeing new work from him. Thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time.

  19. I never met Randy, but I knew his work. There are too few cartoonists who can consistently make you laugh and he was one f them. And he could be funny with words and pictures and could marry them together with the best of them. Peg and I send our love to his family and friends.

  20. Randy has been an inspiration as long as I can remember, growing up in the same town, having the same Art Teacher Fred Buhner and sitting in the same art classrooms only 6 years behind Randy, His influence is immeasurable, I always look up to Randy’s success and was proud to have had the blessing of knowing him.
    God Bless his Family and Friends, he will be missed.

  21. I am so sorry to read this! I never had the pleasure of meeting Randy, but I always loved his work! Especially on The Better Half for King Features. I even have a book collection of that feature. I will miss him. He made so many people smile each day.

  25. Oh My Gosh, this is horrible news. I am deeply saddened to hear this. He was so very talented and extremely prolific. In a world in need of laughter, Randy brought it in bucketfuls. He will be very much missed. Hugs and prayers go out to his family and friends.

  26. Very sorry to read the news about Randy. Always a gentleman anytime I had the pleasure of communicating with him.

  28. Stunned and very sad to hear of Randy’s passing. Hug those you love today and forever.

  31. Randy was my Dad. I take such comfort in reading all if your kind words. Thank you.
    Jennifer

  33. Very sad indeed 🙁 Although I never met Mr. Glasbergen his work inspired me daily. If not for his influence I would never have become a cartoonist. Thank you Randy. You will be greatly missed.

  34. i was deeply saddened to her of Randy Glasbergens passing. My sisters had his father as an elementary teacher. he was married to the sister of my High School classmate. I was always a fan and always proud to point out his comics to friends anytime I saw his work. So sad to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends. One of the great Cartoonists and Humorists of our time. RIP Randy

  35. This is so sad, My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. I’ve always admired Randy’s work, sense of humor, style and artistic energy, not to mention his entrepreneurial spirit. A one man dynamo. He lives on his incredible body of work and in the laughter and joy it will no doubt continue to bring to this world.

  36. I am so sorry to hear this news about Randy. He connected with me via social media a few times and he even sent me a couple of his books for guidance. Cool Brother, I will keep his family in my prayers.

  37. I never had the good luck to meet him, and I wish I had: I would’ve told him what a wonderful inspiration and help he was to me in my cartooning. His work was always so joy-filled, so energetic, so optimistic. And as a kid, I internalized so much of his kindly shared words of advice. He really paid it forward to the art of cartooning.

    I never met him, and yet am genuinely heartbroken: What a great gift to have known him through his art. What a loss that he’s gone. All love to his family and friends at this devastating news.

  38. Like everyone else, I’m saddened to learn his sudden death. I never got to meet him, but I wish I had. His passion and drive in cartooning never ceased to amaze me.

  39. This is not only a huge loss to the cartoon world but also to humanity. Randy has made me smile and laugh since we were kids. My heart breaks for the wonderful family Randy has left behind. Karen’s love, respect, and pride in Randy’s work is astounding and proven by her efforts to continue it. I think that is an amazing tribute to such a wonderful man. God Bless you all! My thoughts and prayers are with you.

  40. I’ve been a big fan of Randy’s over in Australia for many years and start every work day looking at his daily cartoon and work colleagues have gotten use to them turning up on notice boards. I payed to use some in a presentation a few years ago and his amazing incite to the human condition called life drew many laughs from am appreciative audience and his emails organising it were very thankful and supportive. His work was so prolific that when the same cartoon came up 2 days in a row I did a quick search and found the news of his passing. We have lost one of the best who through his cartoon didn’t make us laugh at the cartoon but at ourselves. To his family, from across the world in Australia, sincerest condolences. God Bless

  42. Randy was the first cartoonist I ever met back in 1979 when I had just made my perilous leap into full time cartooning. His enthusiasm, energy, ambition, and ability to chew through rejection like a pit bull became my own business model for professional cartooning. His love of the job was contagious, his humor was always bubbling like a volcano ready to erupt, and his ability to pull the most amazing, original ideas out of thin air will never be matched. As much as cartooning can make us suffer at times, cartooning itself is now suffering deeply in Randy’s absence. Thank you, Randy, for showing us how the pros do it.

  44. Such a sad loss! Though I never met him personally, he was kind enough to help me via emails in the cartooning biz when I was starting off. Very awesome cartoonist and great person. RIP Randy….

  45. Karen, my heart is breaking for you. Over the years of our professional association, then personal association which melded into warm friendship. I have often found myself in awe of the deep love you have had the privilege to share with Randy. Such a sweet, smart, funny man. I know you loved him dearly and he loved you as well. May he rest in peace and may you find peace during the trying times you face now. If there is ANYTHING I can do or if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask. From my heart … to yours.

  47. My mornings just got a bit dimmer. Randy’s daily cartoon online guaranteed a smile. He had a wonderful view of life and the world – both business and home. Like many others, I am thankful for all he shared with us. My condolences to his family.

  48. So terribly sad to hear about Randy’s passing. The cartoon community has lost a great one. My sincerest condolences to his family.

  49. RIP 🙁 I learned to draw cartoons from his book Toons, if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be cartooning today at all.

  50. My sincere condolences to Karen and family. Some years back, I used to tally the results of a purely fun weekly cartoon contest called “Cartoon of the Week” on the cartoonists discussion forum, The Wisenheimer (hosted by Ted Goff). The top three entries of COTW were determined by professional peer voting. I honestly lost track of how many times Randy placed in the top 3. One of the best compliments a cartoonist can ever receive is the grumble of a peer admitting, “*Darn* Wish I’d have thought of that one!”… Randy truly was a top notch cartoonist. He will be missed.

  51. I never met Randy. I seem to remember arguing with him from time to time on the old Wisenheimer, but I was always blown away by how easy he made cartooning look. His work was as close to perfect as they come.

  52. Really sad news. His work has been everywhere for so long. Very nice guy. Way too young to go.

  53. Although we share the same surname, we are not related (at least closely). I loved his cartoon Comic characters. The world has lost a wonderful talented man. My sympathy to his family and friends.

  54. What a shock to learn of Randy’s sudden passing. He was a big part of the cartooning community. Randy’s prolific output of art has left a lasting legacy.

  55. When my newspaper cartoon strip “Mr. Flugg” was cancelled by NEA Randy wrote to me how much he enjoyed it. I never met Randy personally but always had a warm feeling about him as a person and a cartoonist. He was a rarity and saddened with this news.

  56. Never met him, but I always respected him and I feel the loss. A niche unto himself ? a very broad one ? with that unique style and constantly great humor. You always knew a Glasbergen cartoon would be funny. Sad for the family but glad he’ll keep providing for them. The man was amazing.

  57. As many cartoonists, I was influenced a lot by Randy Glasbergen’s style and humour. He once brought me to The Wisenheimer cartoonists’ board and helped me to develope my own work. Although we never met I’ll miss this modest, brilliant cartoonist. My deepest condolences to his family.

  58. I can’t say anything here that already hasn’t been said about a giant in the industry. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Glasbergen family. His cartooning “family” will truly miss him.

  59. Every day I looked forward to seeing what Glasbergen cartoon would be in my email. His cartoons were simple yet spot on! Such sad news. I will miss his talent. RIP.

  60. So very sad to hear of Randy’s passing. He was a great talent and a wonderful person. I didn’t know him personally, but I knew him through his humor, art, books and interviews. I’m very proud to say we worked for some of the same cartoon outlets. I was always a fan, and I regret never having any communications or meetings with him. He will truly be missed.
    My deepest heartfelt sympathies and condolences to his family and friends. God bless.

  61. So sad to hear the news of Randy’s passing. My thoughts and prayers to the family! I looked forward every single morning to seeing what funny, witty cartoon was waiting. When they stopped, I was almost afraid to ‘Google’ his name for fear of what turned out to be true. Being born also in ’57 hits home just how much to soon a great talent was taken from us. Condolences

  62. Very sad to lose such a comic giant at such an early age. Truly, Randy was one of the good guys. God bless and keep Randy and his family.

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