Alex Raymond
Cartoonist
Famous for his Flash Gordon and Rip Kirby comic strips, this cartoonist also worked on the Secret Agent X-9 and Jungle Jim comics. He was the 1949 recipient of the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award.
He began his career as an assistant illustrator for such strips as Blondie and Tillie the Toiler.
He was a 1996 inductee into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame.
His marriage to Helen Frances William resulted in two sons and three daughters. His brother, Jim Raymond, also had a career as a cartoonist, and his great nephews, Kevin and Matt Dillon, became successful screen actors.
His artwork significantly influenced the career and aesthetic of Star Wars creator George Lucas.