Feiffer, Jules (1929-…), is an American cartoonist and playwright who blends social commentary and political satire. Feiffer won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for his editorial cartoons. He became best known for his comic strip “Sick, Sick, Sick” (later called “Feiffer”) that appeared in the Village Voice newspaper in New York City from 1956 to 1997. The strip was syndicated throughout the world. In his cartoons, Feiffer often explores the anguish of middle-class characters who must deal with continuing anxiety, rejection, and problems in relationships between men and women.
Feiffer’s first stage work was The Explainers (1961), a revue based on his cartoons. His best-known plays are the darkly humorous comedies Little Murders (1967) and The White House Murder Case (1970). He also wrote Knock, Knock (1976), Hold Me! (1977), Elliot Loves (1990), and A Bad Friend (2003). Feiffer has also written several screenplays, including the scripts for Carnal Knowledge (1971) and Popeye (1980). In addition, he has illustrated books and written the novels Harry, the Rat with Women (1963) and Akroyd (1977). Feiffer also wrote and illustrated a graphic novel trilogy that began with Kill My Mother (2014), about a detective in the 1930’s. A graphic novel is a book-length story that combines pictures and text.
Jules Ralph Feiffer was born in New York City. He attended the Art Students League and the Pratt Institute in New York City and served as assistant to cartoonist Will Eisner from 1946 to 1951. His cartoons have been published in many collections, beginning with Sick, Sick, Sick (1958).
