Alex Anderson, the cartoonist who created the famously pun-loving 1960s cartoon characters Rocket “Rocky” J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose, has died. He was 90 and died Oct. 22 in Carmel, Calif. He had Alzheimer’s disease.
Many people, included me, have long thought that Jay Ward was responsible for the creation of Rocky and Bullwinkle, whose media-savvy adventures made them a cult favorite for generations of kids who felt cooler for watching their show. But it was Anderson who created the clever squirrel and his dim-bulb moose pal; Ward was Anderson’s business partner early on, a strong influence on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, and did much to keep the show’s memory alive. Still, Anderson had to sue Ward’s heirs in the 1990s to regain full credit as creator of the characters.
Rocky and Bullwinkle first appeared on TV in 1959, and their escapades matching wits with their Russian enemies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale were undisguised critiques of cold-war tension. William Conrad, later famous for starring in the TV series Cannon, did the voiceover narration. The show was constructed like an old movie cliffhanger, with breathless plugs to tune in for the next installment, which would have titles such as “Avalanche Is Better Than None, or Snow’s Your Old Man.”
In this clip, EW readers can learn from one of Bullwinkle’s “Mr. Know-It-All” segments how to sneak into a movie theater without paying. One typically excellent exchange occurs when Bullwinkle is asked by Boris what his qualifications are to be a movie usher: “I’ve been in the dark for most of my life.”
Anderson also created Dudley Do-Right, the dopey Canadian mountie, as well as a precursor to Rocky, Crusader Rabbit. The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show aired under a variety of titles, including Rocky and his Friends and The Bullwinkle Show.
It’s difficult to imagine, these days, the thrill of discovering Rocky and Bullwinkle as a kid. You felt as though you’d been let into a secret back door to TV, where the characters joked about their show’s low ratings and the very nature of the narrative itself. During one edition, Rocky thinks he hears Boris, and says, “That voice — where have I heard it before?” Bullwinkle replies, “In about 365 other episodes.” Then he added, ever the dumb one, “But I don’t know who it is, either.”
Now you know who Alex Anderson was.
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Its a shame I am just finding out about this now. I was still thinking Jay Ward created them.
As a very long fan of these characters it was wonderful to give credit to Alex for his great work to our culture!
My cats are named Boris and Natasha.
RIP Alex.
When I was really young, my favorite article of clothing was a mustard yellow Rocky & Bullwinkle sweatshirt. I loved the show! RIP, Mr. Anderson…
I LOVED watching Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons when I was a kid in 1978-1980 and a little bit in 1981! They were so funny. The Mr. Know It all segments were funny too. I also recall the Dudley Do Right cartoon and his cleft chin, an early precursor to Jay Leno’s own cleft chin on late night. I remember seeing Alex Anderson in the credits. Jay Ward’s name was shown more on the screen, but I saw Alex’s name later. He should be commended for creating these classic and well written cartoons. Although we’re used to seeing Jay Ward’s name, we should definitely give credit to where credit is due to Alex. My condolences go out to Alex and his family.
a genius of a show! I too as a kid looked forward to their adventures….and would wonder why my folks were laughing at the “lame” jokes. Little did I realize, as I got older, these were the funny jokes…and they still are. Rocky & Bullwinkle is by far the best cartoon, EVER! You don’t have to go to “Watsamatta U” to know this!
I credit Rocky and Bullwinkle with shaping my sense of humor. Sad that Anderson was largely unknown but good to know his importance now.
I loved those cartoons..boris and natasha always cracked me up..RIP Mr. Anderson…hope ur laughing in heaven. And thank you.
He was a great guy and a genius, to
boot. He gave me my very first job:
$120 a month, six days a week….
and I loved every minute of it.
My favorite exchange:
Man in Trenchcoat: “Army Intelligence. That mean anything to you?”
Rocky: “Sounds like a contradiction in terms to me.”
I’m sad that Mr. Anderson died. But I am so happy that he created all those wonderful characters. They meant a lot to me. I laughed and learned during those marvelous shows! Thank God for YouTube so we can still see them. I loved all the segments including the “Fractured Fairy Tales” read by Edward Everett Horton. LOL
OMG HuGE !!!DeaL ,,,x( My DuDley DuRight and Nell Snidley Whiplash ohoh, Crusader Rabbit RockeyBullwinkle////WHAHHHHHH OH GOD WHAT a BeautiFUl Manni god bless him greatly with LOve love LOVE
So sad, I grew up watching this show. “Wave to the people” was funny
Thoughts go to family and friends.
I loved Peabody’s dog!!!
WHY?
This is so sad, I wish his family the best and I think him for all of those miracles he created in “Rocky & Bullwinkle”
Peabody was the dog.