'Trudy' Creator Jerry Marcus Dies at 81

Posted Monday, August 1, 2005 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff "Trudy" cartoonist Jerry Marcus has died at the age of 81 after a long illness.

The Connecticut resident began his King Features Syndicate comic -- which starred a suburban homemaker -- in 1963. Previously, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native and World War II veteran had done magazine cartoons.

It was Marcus who suggested the last name of Bailey for the title character in "Beetle Bailey" by Mort Walker of King. Saturday Evening Post cartoon editor John Bailey had published some of the early work of Marcus and Walker.

Marcus -- whose fans included Jackie Gleason, President Eisenhower, and President Kennedy -- was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He joined SAG in 1970 when he did his first TV commercial, and subsequently did other TV acting. Marcus also worked as an extra in a number of films.

King will distribute the final "Trudy" panel for release on Aug. 20.

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'Trudy' Creator Jerry Marcus Dies at 81

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