Morrie Brickman

Who is Morrie Brickman?

Comic artist Morrie Brickman was born in Chicago, Illinois. Brickman's career as an artist began slowly, as he worked odd jobs selling and repairing shoes, as a housekeeper for Esquire illustrator John Groth, and an advertising designer. With the money saved from this work he took classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Brickman was a commercial artist, creating illustrations for many companies. His most recognizable is Mr. Yoyo, the brand character for Duncan Yoyos. Brickman also wrote and illustrated books, including "Don't Do It Yourself," about home repair. Brickman created the acclaimed semi-autobiographical comic strip The Small Society in 1966, which ran in over three hundred publications worldwide. When he retired in 1984, the strip continued with art and script by Bill Yates. Brickman wrote a play entitled Coming of Age based on his experiences after finishing The Small Society.

Morrie Brickman married Shirley Kronenthal in 1945 and had two children; one was "Risky Business" writer/director Paul Brickman. He died in Evanston, Illinois on March 15, 1994.