| Al Jaffee | |
 Jaffee (aged 95) at the 2016 New York Comic Con | |
| Birth: | 13 March 1921 Savannah, Georgia, USA |
| Death: | 10 April 2023 Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA |
| Age: | 102 years, 28 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Verified | |
Allan Jaffee (born Abraham Jaffee, 13 March 1921 – 10 April 2023) was an American cartoonist and centenarian who was a regular contributor to Mad magazine for 65 years. His career as a comic artist, lasting from 1942 to 2020, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest ever.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Abraham Jaffee was born on 13 March 1921 in Savannah, Georgia, USA to Mildred and Morris Jaffee. His father worked at a department store in his birthtown. In 1927, he and his three brothers were taken to Zarasai, Lithuania, where his parents had originated from, and they returned the next year. Jaffee studied at the High School of Music & Art in New York City in the late 1930s, along with his brother Harry and future Mad personnel Will Elder, Harvey Kurtzman, John Severin, and Al Feldstein.
Career[]
Al Jaffee began his career as a comic book artist in 1942. Publications he worked for at this time include Timley and Atlas Comics, the precursors to Marvel Comics. During World War II, he worked as an artist for the military in various capabilities. His work included the original floor plan for the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. During this time, he took advantage of the military's free name change service, first to "Alvin Jaffe" by mistake, then to "Allan Jaffee". While working at the Pentagon, he met Ruth Ahlquist, whom he married in 1945. In 1946, Jaffee returned to civilian life, working for Marvel again.
Jaffee joined Mad in 1955, and in 1964 he would created his longest-running feature: the Fold-In. This would continue until June 2019, and Jaffee would announce his retirement a year later in 2020.
Death[]
Jaffee died of organ failure on 10 April 2023, at a hospital in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, at the age of 102 years, 28 days.
Gallery[]
References[]
- MAD Magazine comic artist honored for career spanning 73 years Guinness World Records, 18 April 2016
- Longest career as a comics artist Guinness World Records, 6 June 2020
- Al Jaffee turns 100, and Mad magazine salutes its legendary artist with a birthday tribute The Washington Post, 13 March 2021
- Al Jaffee, longtime Mad magazine cartoonist, dead at 102 AP News, 10 April 2023