Mort Drucker, Iconic ‘Mad’ Magazine Caricaturist, Dies at 91

Mort Drucker, the iconic Mad magazine artist known for his caricatures, has died, the National Cartoonists Society confirmed. He was 91.

Drucker died Wednesday at his New York home, according to the society.

“The world has lost not just an extraordinary talent but a shining example of kindness, humility and humor. He was recognized for his work with the NCS Special Features Award, Reuben Award and induction into the Hall of Fame,” the society said in a statement posted to social media.

“The amazing talent, his full body of work, pales to the man,” his daughter, Laurie Bachner, told The Hollywood Reporter.

“RIP, Mort Drucker, whose caricatures revealed as much as they ridiculed. In your memory, we will continue to satirize even in dark times, and laugh like Idiots while doing it,” the official Mad Twitter account shared. 

Drucker was the artist behind Mad magazine’s movie and television satires, creating amazing caricatures that, while silly, captured the stars he was drawing. From The Godfather and Star Wars, to Woody Allen and Arnold Schwarzenegger, he captured it all. He started at Mad in the 1950s and worked there for five decades. 

Drucker received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Boston, among his awards and honors.

According to the book MAD’s Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker, George Lucas traveled to Drucker’s Long Island home to convince him to illustrate the poster for American Graffiti.

The incomparable Mort Drucker passed away last night. The World has lost a not just an extraordinary talent but a shining example of kindness, humility and humor. He was recognized for his work with the NCS Special Features Award, Reuben Award and induction into the Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/OvvbIv4liH

— National Cartoonists Society (@NatCartoonSoc) April 9, 2020

3 p.m.:Updated with comment from Mad magazine.