The cartoon world has lost one of its brightest talents with the death of legendary Andy Capp artist Roger Mahoney at the age of 89.
Fellow artists last night paid tribute to the former professional musician whose incredible talent would propel him on the road to comic strip fame.
Roger was prolific, churning out cartoons for publications, including Mandy Capp from 1997 in the Mirror and The Gambols in the Mail on Sunday.
He took over Andy Capp in 2000 after the 1998 death of creator Reg Smythe, who left a surplus of strips.
With Roger Kettle providing the scripts, the transition was seamless.
Kettle quit in 2010 and myself and Lawrence Goldsmith became writers.
Roger’s final strip was on November 14, 2020, when he was a mere 87. But he continued producing The Gambols until just days before he died.
Current Andy artist Lawrence said: “It was an honour and a privilege to have worked with one of the giants of British cartooning.”
Kettle added: “Roger was a brilliant cartoonist who was ridiculously modest.”
Myself and Lawrence often relied on Roger to get us out of a creative hole. If a script needed work, his artwork would rescue it with classic comic visuals.
Born in Portsmouth in 1933, Roger later studied at art college. He became a freelance cartoonist while working as a drummer with local bands at night.
He became friends with Muppets creator Jim Henson and drew the comic strip to accompany the show.
Roger is survived by wife Myra, daughter Sandra and sons Julian, Russell and Terry.
Sandra said: “He was an extraordinary man. He was still drawing right up to 10 days before he died.”
