Al Feldstein, the former editor for Mad Magazine who was instrumental in turning the humor magazine into a cultural force, died Tuesday at his home in Livingston, Mont., TheWrap confirmed.
A comic artist, Feldstein was given the editorship by Mad publisher William M. Gaines in 1956 and oversaw the magazine for nearly 29 years. Feldstein was responsible for creating the iconic Alfred E. Neuman, whose dimwitted smile is instantly recognizable to an entire generation of fans.
Feldstein also brought on a number of artists who created Mad's famous comic strips, including Mort Drucker, Angelo Torres, and Antonio Prohias who drew Spy vs. Spy. Under his watch, circulation exploded to over 2.8 million in 1974, catapulting Mad into one of the premier magazines in the country.
Feldstein retired from Mad in 1984. He took up painting and moved to Montana in 1992. He received an honorary doctorate in fine art from Rocky Mountain College in 1999.
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