Ray Billingsley facts for kids

Raymond Curtis Billingsley, born on July 25, 1957, is a talented African American cartoonist. He is most famous for creating the popular comic strip called Curtis. This comic strip is shared by King Features Syndicate and appears in over 250 newspapers across the country.

Early Life and Drawing

Ray Billingsley was born in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He spent his early childhood there before his family moved to Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City.

He often says that his interest in drawing started because of his older brother. His brother studied fine arts, and young Ray wanted to be just like him. So, he learned to draw by trying to copy his brother's work. This friendly competition helped him discover his passion for cartooning.

Ray Billingsley's Career

Ray Billingsley started drawing cartoons for a magazine called Kids. This magazine was special because it was "by kids for kids." It was published from 1970 to 1975.

After high school, Ray attended the School of Visual Arts on a scholarship. After graduating in 1979, he got an internship at Walt Disney Studios. This was a great start to his career!

Early Comic Strips

From 1979 to 1982, Billingsley drew a comic strip called Lookin' Fine. This strip featured a cast of Black characters in their twenties. However, Ray didn't have much freedom to create the stories he wanted, so he left after two years.

By 1988, he was working as a freelance artist. He created art for advertisements, public relations, TV commercials, and posters. He also did animation and worked for magazines like Ebony. Then, in October 1988, King Features Syndicate launched his most famous comic strip, Curtis.

Inspiration for Curtis

Billingsley gives credit to other cartoonists who helped open doors for him. He especially thanks Morrie Turner, who created Wee Pals. Wee Pals was the first American comic strip to feature a diverse group of characters.

He also credits Will Eisner, who created The Spirit. Ray said that Eisner always encouraged him to try new things and push his artistic limits. He often thinks about Eisner's advice to find strength and keep improving his art.

Awards and Recognition

Ray Billingsley has received many awards for his work. In 1999, he received the Humanitarian Award from the American Lung Association of Southeast Florida. The next year, in 2000, he received the President's Award during a conference in Toronto, Canada.

In 2014, he was honored with the Inkpot Award. This award celebrates people who have made great contributions to comics and animation.

His biggest award came in 2020 when he won the Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society. This award is voted on by other cartoonists. Winning it put him in the same group as famous cartoonists like Charles Schulz (who created Peanuts) and Garry Trudeau (who created Doonesbury). Ray Billingsley is the first Black creator to receive this important award.

External Links

• The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Art Database