Popeye the Sailor

Popeye the Sailor was created by cartoonist Elzie Segar in 1929 as a supporting character in his comic strip, Thimble Theatre. But Popeye's popularity among the public far exceeded Segar's expectations and Popeye quickly became the lead character in his work.

The character was reputedly based upon an employee of Gozney's bar back in Segar's hometown. A sort of rough and tumble man, Rocky Feigle was short but tough, and once won a fight against five other men. He was frequently seen outside the bar smoking his corncob pipe.

Segar himself was not exactly a cherub. He died at just 43 years of age from cirrhosis of the liver in 1938.

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