Date of Birth: March 14, 1920
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: June 1, 2001
Biography
Henry King Ketcham, known as Hank Ketcham, was an American cartoonist best known for creating the long-running comic strip “Dennis the Menace.” Born on March 14, 1920, in Seattle, Washington, Ketcham developed a passion for drawing at a young age. He attended the University of Washington but left after a year to pursue a career in animation. He worked for Walter Lantz Productions, Walt Disney Studios, and the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1951, Ketcham created “Dennis the Menace,” inspired by his then four-year-old son, Dennis. The comic strip quickly gained popularity and was syndicated in over 1,000 newspapers worldwide. Ketcham continued to draw the strip until 1994 when he retired, passing the mantle to his assistants. He authored several books and received numerous awards throughout his career, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award. Hank Ketcham passed away on June 1, 2001, in Pebble Beach, California, at the age of 81.
5 Interesting Facts about Hank Ketcham
1. Ketcham served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he worked on training films.
2. “Dennis the Menace” was inspired by a real-life incident involving Ketcham’s son and his wife.
3. The comic strip “Dennis the Menace” debuted on March 12, 1951.
4. Ketcham was awarded the Reuben Award by the National Cartoonists Society in 1953.
5. He moved to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1960, where he lived for 19 years before returning to the United States.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hank Ketcham
1. “Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it, but don’t swallow it.”
2. “Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.”
3. “When in doubt, duck.”
4. “Dennis the Menace is a kind of a little wild child. He’s not mean; he’s just mischievous.”
5. “The creation of Dennis was a team effort between my wife and son.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Hank Ketcham’s net worth was estimated to be around $15 million.
Children
Hank Ketcham had three children: Dennis, Scott, and Dania. His son Dennis was the inspiration for “Dennis the Menace.”
Relevant Links
1. [Hank Ketcham at Lambiek Comiclopedia](https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/ketcham_h.htm
2. [Dennis the Menace Official Site](https://www.dennisthemenace.com/
3. [National Cartoonists Society](https://www.nationalcartoonists.com/
4. [Hank Ketcham on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0450502/
5. [Hank Ketcham’s Biography on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hank-Ketcham
