Painter and illustrator of comic books, movie posters, and book covers. Considered by many to be the best fantasy artist in the United States in the second half of the 20th century.
Frank Frazetta originally was named "Frank Frazzetta" at birth, but he removed one z from his last name early in his career. He said that the two z's and two t's were too clumsy, and with one z it just looked better. As a boy he studied painting at the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts. He began drawing comic books when he was a teenager. His comic books included a broad range of themes including westerns, fantasies, mysteries, histories and other contemporary themes. In the 1940's and 1950's, Mr. Frazetta drew for comic strips like "Flash Gordon" and "Lil' Abner," and for comic books such as his Buck Rogers covers for "Famous Funnies.", plus many comic books published by EC (Entertaining Comics). During that time period, he also produced his own comic strip, "Johnny Comet."
He branched into painting movie posters after United Artists studios saw his 1964 painting of Ringo Starr for a MAD magazine advertisement parody. United Artists gave him his first Hollywood job, drawing the movie poster for "What's New Pussycat?" (1965) a sex farce written by Woody Allen that starred Peter Sellers. After he reportedly earned the equivalent of his yearly salary (in one day's work) for that poster he did several other movie posters. Beginning in the 1960s, Frazetta also turned to cover paintings for the thriving pulp paperback industry and created one of the most recognizable illustration styles of all time. He was also a good enough baseball player to try out for the big leagues, and reportedly turned down an offer from a talent scout to play for the New York Giants.
Frank Frazetta originally was named "Frank Frazzetta" at birth, but he removed one z from his last name early in his career. He said that the two z's and two t's were too clumsy, and with one z it just looked better. As a boy he studied painting at the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts. He began drawing comic books when he was a teenager. His comic books included a broad range of themes including westerns, fantasies, mysteries, histories and other contemporary themes. In the 1940's and 1950's, Mr. Frazetta drew for comic strips like "Flash Gordon" and "Lil' Abner," and for comic books such as his Buck Rogers covers for "Famous Funnies.", plus many comic books published by EC (Entertaining Comics). During that time period, he also produced his own comic strip, "Johnny Comet."
He branched into painting movie posters after United Artists studios saw his 1964 painting of Ringo Starr for a MAD magazine advertisement parody. United Artists gave him his first Hollywood job, drawing the movie poster for "What's New Pussycat?" (1965) a sex farce written by Woody Allen that starred Peter Sellers. After he reportedly earned the equivalent of his yearly salary (in one day's work) for that poster he did several other movie posters. Beginning in the 1960s, Frazetta also turned to cover paintings for the thriving pulp paperback industry and created one of the most recognizable illustration styles of all time. He was also a good enough baseball player to try out for the big leagues, and reportedly turned down an offer from a talent scout to play for the New York Giants.
Painter and illustrator of comic books, movie posters, and book covers. Considered by many to be the best fantasy artist in the United States in the second half of the 20th century.
Frank Frazetta originally was named "Frank Frazzetta" at birth, but he removed one z from his last name early in his career. He said that the two z's and two t's were too clumsy, and with one z it just looked better. As a boy he studied painting at the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts. He began drawing comic books when he was a teenager. His comic books included a broad range of themes including westerns, fantasies, mysteries, histories and other contemporary themes. In the 1940's and 1950's, Mr. Frazetta drew for comic strips like "Flash Gordon" and "Lil' Abner," and for comic books such as his Buck Rogers covers for "Famous Funnies.", plus many comic books published by EC (Entertaining Comics). During that time period, he also produced his own comic strip, "Johnny Comet."
He branched into painting movie posters after United Artists studios saw his 1964 painting of Ringo Starr for a MAD magazine advertisement parody. United Artists gave him his first Hollywood job, drawing the movie poster for "What's New Pussycat?" (1965) a sex farce written by Woody Allen that starred Peter Sellers. After he reportedly earned the equivalent of his yearly salary (in one day's work) for that poster he did several other movie posters. Beginning in the 1960s, Frazetta also turned to cover paintings for the thriving pulp paperback industry and created one of the most recognizable illustration styles of all time. He was also a good enough baseball player to try out for the big leagues, and reportedly turned down an offer from a talent scout to play for the New York Giants.
Frank Frazetta originally was named "Frank Frazzetta" at birth, but he removed one z from his last name early in his career. He said that the two z's and two t's were too clumsy, and with one z it just looked better. As a boy he studied painting at the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts. He began drawing comic books when he was a teenager. His comic books included a broad range of themes including westerns, fantasies, mysteries, histories and other contemporary themes. In the 1940's and 1950's, Mr. Frazetta drew for comic strips like "Flash Gordon" and "Lil' Abner," and for comic books such as his Buck Rogers covers for "Famous Funnies.", plus many comic books published by EC (Entertaining Comics). During that time period, he also produced his own comic strip, "Johnny Comet."
He branched into painting movie posters after United Artists studios saw his 1964 painting of Ringo Starr for a MAD magazine advertisement parody. United Artists gave him his first Hollywood job, drawing the movie poster for "What's New Pussycat?" (1965) a sex farce written by Woody Allen that starred Peter Sellers. After he reportedly earned the equivalent of his yearly salary (in one day's work) for that poster he did several other movie posters. Beginning in the 1960s, Frazetta also turned to cover paintings for the thriving pulp paperback industry and created one of the most recognizable illustration styles of all time. He was also a good enough baseball player to try out for the big leagues, and reportedly turned down an offer from a talent scout to play for the New York Giants.
