Gahan Wilson Bio, Wiki

Gahan Wilson was born on February 18th, 1930 in Evanston, Illinois and died on November 21st, 2019 aged 89. He was an American author, cartoonist and illustrator known for his cartoons depicting horror-fantasy situations.

He was married to author Nancy Winters from 1966 until her death on March 2nd, 2019.

Gahan Wilson Career

Wilson’s dark, horror-inspired cartoons and prose stories regularly appeared in the pages of Playboy, Collier’s and The New Yorker. He also created the comic strip “Nuts,” a darker, more cynical answer to “Peanuts” which ran in National Lampoon magazine.

As well as his work as a cartoonist, Wilson illustrated Jerome Beatty Jr.’s children’s science fiction series Matthew and Maria Looney, and Roger Zelazny’s final book, the 1993 gothic homage A Night in the Lonesome October. He also designed the World Fantasy Convention Award in 1975, which was modeled after his idol H.P. Lovecraft.

In 2005, Wilson was recognized with Lifetime Achievement from the World Fantasy Awards. He was the recipient of the World Fantasy Convention Award (in the form of the bust of H. P. Lovecraft that he had designed as the award trophy in 1975) in 1981. He also received the National Cartoonists Society’s Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Wilson is the subject of a feature-length documentary film, Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird, directed by Steven-Charles Jaffe. He was an influence on later alternative cartoonists, including Gary Larson, John Callahan and Bill Plympton.

Gahan Wilson Wife

Wilson’s was married to his wife, Nancy Winters of 53 years until she passed away on March 2nd, 2019. Following her death, a GoFundMe page was set up for Wilson’s medical care following his wife’s passing. The page which has since disabbled further fundraising had over $83,000.  Wilson’s wife is described as “his rock. His guide through the world. While we all helped with his care, it was my mother who grounded him. He is currently distraught and out of sorts with the world.”

Gahan Wilson Children

He is survived by his stepsons, as well as his daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Gahan Wilson Death & Cause

In 2019, his stepson Paul Winters announced that Wilson was suffering from advanced dementia. He died on November 22, 2019, aged 89 with his death being confirmed by Winters in a Facebook post.

Wilson’s stepson wrote of the famed artist, “The world has lost a legend. One of the very best cartoonists to ever pick up a pen and paper has passed on. He went peacefully – surrounded by those who loved him.” Wilson was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Winters Wilson. Wilson is survived by his two stepsons, daughter-in-law, as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

So honored to have published the hilarious and horrifying work of the great Gahan Wilson. He'll be missed! pic.twitter.com/6HK2nQuZZl

— Fantagraphics (@fantagraphics) November 22, 2019

Widely celebrated for his monsters and maniacs, Gahan Wilson also excelled at capturing small moments of joy. RIP. pic.twitter.com/zkuFa01WTK

— Paul_Dini (@Paul_Dini) November 22, 2019

R.I.P., Gahan Wilson…you were one of my favorite cartoonists ever. No one did oddball, macabre cartoons like you. pic.twitter.com/jJmCQFteBV

— Pat Brosseau (@droog811) November 22, 2019