Mort Drucker, the beloved artist known for his work at MAD magazine, has died at 91.Drucker died Thursday at his home in New York, his daughter, Laurie Bachner, confirmed to The
New York Times. She told The Associated Press he was experiencing breathing problems and difficulty walking but was not tested for COVID-19.After joining MAD in 1956, Drucker's caricatures satirizing pop culture soon became iconic, and he illustrated more than half of the magazine's movie parodies from the 1960s through 2008, per the Times. In a 2000 interview with the Times, he noted, "I think I've drawn almost everyone in Hollywood."Drucker's other notable work includes the poster for George Lucas'
American Graffiti; according to The
Hollywood Reporter, Lucas personally drove to Drucker's home on Long Island to convince him to draw it."The World has lost a not just an extraordinary talent but a shining example of kindness, humility and humor," the National Cartoonists Society said in a statement.MAD fans on Thursday quickly began sharing their favorite cartoons from Drucker's legendary career, including his parodies of Jaws and Star Wars. "Many of his illustrations are as vivid in my mind as the movies and TV shows that inspired them," The New York Times' Dave Itzkoff wrote.
A friend of Drucker's, John Reiner, told CNN's Jake Tapper that Drucker's final words to him were, "I'm the luckiest man — I've had a wonderful life." Update 5 p.m. ET: Since publication, the Times clarified he died on Thursday rather than Wednesday as originally reported. This story has been updated.