'Family Circus' Inspiration Thelma Keane Dies at Age 82

Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff Thelma Keane, the inspiration for the wife and mother character in "The Family Circus," died Friday of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 82.

She was the wife of Bil Keane, who created "The Family Circus" in 1960. Bil continues to do the King Features Syndicate comic with his son Jeff.

The Australia-born Thelma -- who handled business affairs for Bil -- met her future husband in Brisbane while he was serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

"There was nothing I did in the cartoon world or in the business world that she wasn't the instigator of," Bil told the Associated Press Sunday from his Arizona home. "She certainly deserves all the credit I get credit for."

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'Family Circus' Inspiration Thelma Keane Dies at Age 82

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