Jeez, last year wasn't enough? No more death!
Freas died in his sleep Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, said his wife of 16 years, Laura Brodian Freas, the host of a Los Angeles classical music program. The cause of death was old age, she said.
"He always wanted to be a science fiction illustrator, and the life of a science fiction illustrator led him to so much more," she told The Associated Press on Monday. "Life with a Mad artist was never boring."
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Freas illustrated the covers or the pages of books by writers including Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, A.E. Van Vogt, Poul Anderson and Frederik Pohl.
His science fiction and fantasy illustrations included emotive images of pained robots, insidious aliens and exotic women.
Beginning in the 1950s, he spent seven years as the main cover artist of Mad magazine, creating stylishly detailed portraits and helping to make famous Alfred E. Newman, the freckled, front-tooth-deprived purveyor of the phrase, "What? Me Worry?"
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)
His homepage here -- which, as it now reminds me, shows that he was the guy who created Queen's
News of the World cover.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 04:37 (twenty years ago)
He can now paint 1. R0n in heaven. Or on Xenu, depending.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 05:55 (twenty years ago)
The first gift I was given by a friend (as opposed to a family member) was S/N Freas print. I liked that the old geezer was willing to ink some porn comics for Phil Foglio. RIP.
― I Am Curious (George) (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)
From his webpage, very sweet and touching:
For those who wish to send food to Freas' house:
Call Brent's Deli and ask them to deliver to the Freas' house [they know
where it is]― Huk-L, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)
I LOVED that, I saw that this morning when I was reviewing the page a bit. That's a good way to be remembered.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)