Jules Feiffer, the legendary cartoonist who illustrated The Phantom Tollbooth and wrote several children’s books of his own, has died at 95, the Washington Post reports.

Feiffer, a New York native, began his art career at 16, when he was hired as an apprentice by comic book pioneer Will Eisner. In 1956, Feiffer launched his own comic strip, Sick, Sick, Sick, at the Village Voice; it would later be renamed Feiffer and run for more than 40 years.

In 1961, he provided the illustrations for Norton Juster’s children’s fantasy novel The Phantom Tollbooth. He would return to children’s literature in 1993 with the book The Man in the Ceiling; several more books for young readers followed, including A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears; I Lost My Bear; I’m Not Bobby!; and Rupert Can Dance. His 1999 book, Bark, George, was one of his biggest hits; he followed it up with a sequel, Smart George, in 2020. His most recent children’s book, the graphic novel Amazing Grapes, was published last September.

Feiffer was also known as a screenwriter, penning the scripts for films including Carnal Knowledge and Popeye. His graphic novels for adult readers included Tantrum, Kill My Mother, and Cousin Joseph.

Feiffer’s admirers paid tribute to him on social media. On the platform X, cartoonist Matt Bors wrote, “Jules Feiffer completely innovated political cartoons, taking them beyond one-panel punchlines and visual tropes by featuring ordinary people—often in monologue—being riled, resigned, grousing, and dancing. Straight up one of the best to ever do it.”

And author Paul Rudnick posted, “RIP the legendary cartoonist, author and world-class satirist Jules Feiffer, at 95. His work for the Village Voice, his plays and screenplays (including Carnal Knowledge) and his entirely original voice are landmarks in American wit.”

Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.