His cartoon cat, the famously sarcastic Garfield first appeared in 1978.
He grew up on a small farm in Illinois with his parents, brother, and 25 cats.
Founded the Professor Garfield Foundation to promote children's literacy.
Married his wife Jill on July 16 2000, and they have three children together.
Fellow cartoonist Charles Schulz had very little regard for his cartoon, Garfield.
