Background
Murphy, John Cullen was born on May 3, 1919 in New York City. Son of Robert Francis and Jane (Finn) Murphy.
Murphy, John Cullen was born on May 3, 1919 in New York City. Son of Robert Francis and Jane (Finn) Murphy.
After high school, he studied in New York City at the Phoenix Art Institute and the Art Students League, where he was taught by the anatomist George Bridgman.
Born in New York City, Murphy spent his childhood in Chicago and in New Rochelle, New York, where his family moved in 1930. He started art classes at the age of 9, but aspired to be a baseball player. He was playing baseball when a New Rochelle neighbor, Norman Rockwell, asked the 15-year-old if he would like to model for a painting.
Rockwell's Starstruck, showing a forlorn Murphy gazing at pictures of movie starlets, was the September 22, 1934 cover of The Saturday Evening Post. The experience inspired the young Murphy to become an illustrator. Rockwell became one of his good friends and mentors.
Murphy started his career early, selling his first illustrations while he was still in high school. Murphy entered the U.S. Army in 1940, joining the 7th Regiment. He became an anti-aircraft officer during World War II, rising to the rank of major.
He spent several years in the Pacific, beginning in Australia and ending in Tokyo. He was an aide to General William F. Marquat, who was on General Douglas MacArthur's staff. During the war, Murphy continued to illustrate, sending work to the Chicago Tribune and painting numerous portraits of military figures.
Murphy resumed his art career upon his return from military service. During the 1940s, Murphy was a popular magazine illustrator, regularly seen in Collier's, Look, Esquire, Liberty, Sport, Holiday and Columbia, published by the Knights of Columbus. Murphy's art often depicted sports subjects.
His boxing material unexpectedly led him into the comic strip field, something he had never previously considered. In 1950, writer Elliot Caplin (brother of cartoonist Al Capp) of King Features Syndicate asked Murphy to illustrate a boxing comic strip he was planning to write. Murphy accepted his invitation.
The resulting daily comic strip, , was launched in 1950 and ran until 1978. Murphy was the artist for the strip for its entire run. Murphy began his collaboration on with creator Hal Foster in 1970 when Foster decided to lessen his workload at age 78.
With Foster's retirement in 1979, Murphy's son Cullen took over the writing. Cullen Murphy began contributing stories to Foster while studying at Amherst College. He retired in March 2004, turning the strip over to his chosen successor, illustrator Gary Gianni.
Murphy died four months later in Cos Cob, Connecticut. In 1951, Murphy married Joan Byrne, also from New Rochelle. They had eight children.
Co-founder of The Wild Geese (an Irish-American Cultural Association). Major United States Army, 1941-1946. Member National Cartoonists Society (president, Best Story Strip Cartoonist award (6), Segar award 1983), Society Illustrators, Artists and Writers Association.
Married Katherine Joan Byrne, July 14, 1951. Children: John Cullen, Mary Cullene, Katherine Siobhan, Joan Byrne, Robert Finn, Brendan Woods, Cait Naughton, Mairead Walsh.