Times editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86

 

Paul Conrad, whose fiercely confrontational editorial cartoons made him one of the leading political provocateurs of the second half of the 20th century and helped push the Los Angeles Times to national prominence, has died. He was 86.

Conrad died early Saturday of natural causes, surrounded by his family at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, said his son David.

Conrad won three Pulitzer Prizes, a feat matched by only two other cartoonists in the post-World War II era, while both thrilling and infuriating readers for more than 50 years with an unyielding liberal stance, rendered in savage black and white.

Mayors, governors and presidents cringed at the prospect of being on the business end of Conrad's searing pen, while many Southern Californians made him their first stop as they sifted through The Times, the newspaper that was his principal home for nearly 30 years.

A full obituary will follow at www.latimes.com/obits.

-- James Rainey and Claire Noland

Photo: Editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad of The Times. Credit: Huntington Library / ITVS

Comments

[Karen]

Conrad was a tremendous inspiration to me growing up as one of the "have-nots." Apart from making me feel that I mattered, he reminded me to look closely at the real intentions behind the fancy words of the powerful and corrupt, and the damage such people caused with their callous actions. Conrad's blazing wit and courage still astound me. He will always be my hero. RIP.

(Also wanted to say: great article on Conrad by Tim Rutten.)

[Greg Kinion]

As an artist, I always admired his pure skill with pen and ink, I think cartooning is one of the most under-appreciated art mediums. Paul Conrad was a master, and nothing short of genius. I attended his funeral mass today. The L.A. Times was much less without him, now the world is less without him. If someone wants to pick up a torch, study the GREAT work that was Paul Conrad.
Greg Kinion