Did anyone post this? ‘Family Circus’ creator Bil Keane dies at 89

[joeybee12]

For more than a half century, Bil Keane's gentle “Family Circus” comics entertained readers with a mix of humor and traditional family values, intentionally simplistic because the author thought the American public needed that consistency.

Keane, who started drawing the one-panel cartoon featuring Billy, Jeffy, Dolly, P.J. and their parents in February 1960, died Tuesday at age 89. His comic strip is featured in nearly 1,500 newspapers across the country.

Claudia Smith, a spokeswoman for the comic distributor King Features Syndicate, confirmed his death but said no other details were immediately available. Keane has a home in Paradise Valley, near Phoenix.

Keane said in a 1995 interview with The Associated Press that the cartoon endured because of its consistency and simplicity

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45226304/ns/today-books/

Not really a fan...but 89 is a nice age to get to...RIP

[Dennis Donovan]

1. You can joke about Family Circus, but it was good for a chuckle when I was 8...

Cross Gently, Bil...:(

[joeybee12]

10. That's true...I always read it as a kid...nt

[MrScorpio]

2. RIP, Bill. After all he was the inspiration for the Dysfunctional Family Circus

[Dennis Donovan]

15. He freaking HATED Dysfunctional Family Circus, but...

...it will ALWAYS be the link between Family Circus and humor. ;-)

[sofa king]

3. (Insert something sentimental and vaguely amusing here)

[shraby]

4. I always enjoyed them. RIP

[elfin]

5. Always good for the tots in the Sunday comics

The first strip to introduce my son to the wonder of the funnies -- and some years later to an appreciation of the well crafted political cartoon.

Family Circus is sweet, with basic sentiments and observations. Too "white" though to appeal to much of present day US in its art.

I think other artists and writers have been doing the panel(s) for a while.

[Codeine]

6. Not me! nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. The Nietzsche Family Circus

http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/

[gort]

8. Ida Know

Nt

[ThatsMyBarack]

11. Not Me!

RIP BIl Keane.

Another part of my childhood has died. I used to LOVE Family Circus when I was a kid.

[gort]

9. Ida Know

Nt

[Raine]

12. Sad news, Family Circus gave me many smiles

over the years ... R-I-P

[Huey P. Long]

13. spoof-

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Family Meat: Putting Billy's words into Bug-Eyed Earl's mouth.