Joe Messerli passes away at age 80

Ted Dawson notes over his blog that Joe Messerli has passed away at the age of 80. Ted writes:

Joe Messerli was a rare talent. Several days ago I wrote that someone should interview this interesting man, as his career spanned several important decades and venues in cartooning, animation and design. Mr. Messerli was one of the great unsung creative forces, a working man’s cartoonist.

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Mr. Messerli worked on The Flinstones, Yogi Bear, Warner Brothers, Disney and Sesame Street characters, Dennis the Menace, Chip ‘n Dale, Heathcliff, Darkwing Duck, and a plethora of other characters. He ghosted the work of four well-known artists, one being Clifford McBride on his Napoleon comic.

Correction: The headline and first paragraph incorrectly identified Joe Messerli as Lee Messerli. References to Lee were changed to Joe.