- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAlbert Hirschfeld
- Nickname
- The Line King
- Al Hirschfeld was born on June 21, 1903 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Fantasia 2000 (1999), Heroes of Comedy (1995) and Rhapsody in Blue (2000). He was married to Louise Kerz, Dolly Haas and Florence Ruth Hobby. He died on January 20, 2003 in New York City, New York, USA.
- SpousesLouise Kerz(October 23, 1996 - January 20, 2003) (his death)Dolly Haas(September 9, 1943 - September 16, 1994) (her death, 1 child)Florence Ruth Hobby(July 13, 1928 - 1942) (divorced)
- His black & white caricatures with round and smooth line edges.
- Famous caricaturist of Broadway and movie stars since the 1920s.
- On what would have been his 100th birthday - June 21, 2003 - the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theater.
- His father, Isaac, was a "house husband," staying home and caring for the children while Hirschfeld's mother, Rebecca, went out and supported the family.
- CBS hired Hirschfeld to draw caricatures of the casts of its entire 1963 Fall schedule. His sketch of Lucille Ball (from "Lucy Show, The" (1962)) was later reproduced by the Museum of Broadcasting for its First Lady of Comedy tribute poster in 1984.
- To be caricatured by Hirschfeld was considered a milestone for an artist, a sign that he or she had made an indelible mark in their chosen field.
- When I started it, I didn't think anybody would notice. It was one of those family things, and after three or four weeks, I thought the joke had worn thin and I stopped it. And then the letters started coming in. I found myself spending more time answering mail than drawing, so I gave up and put it back in. And kept it in. - on hiding his daughter Nina's name into his work
- Work to me is something you don't want to do, but you have to do it to live. But what I do, I would do whether anybody wanted it or didn't want it.
- Everybody is creative, and everybody is talented. I just don't think everybody is disciplined. I think that's a rare commodity.
- [In 1937, criticizing Walt Disney's "Snow White"] "Snow White, with her full complement of fingers and fingernails, eyelashes, one-dimensional head, bare arms without solidity, and un-inventive neck, is an awkward automation. These awkward symbols do not articulate, and the lovely voice with which she is endowed only heightens the effect of a ventriloquist's dummy. The illusion created by a well-directed pen line is an art not to be confused with the gingerbread realities of Snow White".
- If I need to make a drawing and I don't have any time, I make a very busy drawing. If I have time, I make a simple drawing because it takes more time.
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