I'm sorry to report that cartoonist Marty Murphy passed away on Wednesday evening. I'm also sorry to report that I don't have a lot of biographical info to pass along here. Marty was a highly-regarded and well-liked creator of funny pictures but there doesn't seem to be a lot of history available on him.
He worked extensively in animation…for a long time, at UPA on shorts and on Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, for which he was one of the main storyboard artists. He later contributed to a number of Hanna-Barbera shows including Hong Kong Phooey, Mumbly and especially Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home, which was particularly designed in the Murphy style.
The last few decades, he was one of the privileged few gag cartoonists in the world to be published in Playboy. He was in almost every issue, often with the funniest gag. I told him once he had the best one and he replied, "I have to be funnier than anyone else to stay in Playboy. I can't draw sexy women."
A nice man, a funny man. There's a memorial service in Hollywood Monday evening and I'll bet the place is full of funny and talented cartoonists. Because that kind of person really loved Marty.