James Thurber

Date of Birth: December 8, 1894

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: November 2, 1961

Biography

James Grover Thurber was an American cartoonist, author, journalist, playwright, and celebrated wit. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Thurber is best known for his contributions to the New Yorker magazine. His work spanned from humorous essays and short stories to cartoons that captured the human condition with dry wit and insightful observations. Thurber’s most famous works include “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “My Life and Hard Times,” and “The Thurber Carnival.” His unique blend of humor and pathos earned him a lasting place in American literature. Despite battling impaired vision for much of his life, Thurber’s prolific output and distinctive style left an indelible mark on the world of comedy and literature.

5 Interesting Facts about James Thurber

1. Thurber lost an eye in a childhood accident while playing a game of William Tell with his brother.

2. He worked at The New Yorker for nearly 30 years, where he became one of the magazine’s leading contributors.

3. Thurber’s short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” has been adapted into films twice, once in 1947 and again in 2013.

4. He was awarded a special Tony Award in 1960 for his contributions to the Broadway musical “A Thurber Carnival.”

5. Thurber’s distinctive drawing style, which often featured dogs and other whimsical characters, became iconic and is still celebrated today.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from James Thurber

1. “Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.”

2. “The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself.”

3. “Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.”

4. “You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.”

5. “Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While specific figures for James Thurber’s net worth at the peak of his career are not readily available, his works’ enduring popularity and adaptations suggest he was comfortably successful.