Paul Coker
Paul Coker | |
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| Born | Paul Coker Jr. March 5, 1929 Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | July 23, 2022 (aged 93) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Comic artist, Illustrator |
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Paul Coker Jr. (March 5, 1929 – July 23, 2022)[1][2][3] was an American illustrator. He worked in many media, including Mad, character design for Rankin-Bass TV specials, greeting cards, and advertising.
Career[edit]
Coker was born in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Bernice (Rutherford) and Paul Coker.[4] One of his first professional works was in 1946 when he designed Chesty Lion, the mascot for Lawrence High School. His first appearance in Mad was in 1961; he went on to illustrate over 375 articles for the magazine. Beginning in 1967, Coker was a production designer on more than a dozen Rankin/Bass specials and shorts, including Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph's Shiny New Year and The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town. In 1968, he illustrated the Mad paperback "MAD for Better or Verse"; written by Frank Jacobs, it was the first of eight all-new paperbacks drawn by Coker. In 2002, the magazine also published a collection of "Horrifying Cliches", the long-running feature that featured Coker art. Coker collaborated with writer Don Edwing on two comic strips: "Lancelot" and "Horace and Buggy".
Works[edit]
Rankin/Bass Productions[edit]
- The Wacky World of Mother Goose (1967) (uncredited)
- Cricket on the Hearth (1967)
- Frosty the Snowman (1969)
- The Reluctant Dragon & Mr. Toad Show (1970)
- Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)
- Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971)
- The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye (1972)
- The Red Baron (1972)
- Mad Mad Mad Monsters (1972) (uncredited)
- Festival of Family Classics (1972–73)
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
- The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
- Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
- The First Easter Rabbit (1976)
- Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976)
- The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town (1977)
- Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)
- The Stingiest Man in Town (1978)
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
- Jack Frost (1979)
- Pinocchio's Christmas (1980)
- The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981)
- Santa, Baby! (2001)
References[edit]
- ^ Evans, Greg (July 29, 2022). "Paul Coker Jr. Dies: Designer Of Rankin/Bass Classic Holiday Characters & Longtime Mad Magazine Illustrator Was 93". Deadline. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "Lawrence native brings Frosty to life – in stores". Lawrence Journal-World. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
- ^ "Paul Coker (93) overleden". Strip Speciaal Zaak. July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (August 11, 2022). "Paul Coker, Cartoonist at Mad for Almost Six Decades, Dies at 93". The New York Times.
External links[edit]
- Lambiek Comiclopedia article.
- Paul Coker at IMDb
- Complete list of Coker's work for MAD Magazine
- Two examples of Coker's original art
- Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Art Database
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