George E. Studdy

George Ernest Studdy (Devonport, 23 June 1878 – 25 July 1948) was a British commercial artist. He is best remembered for his creation of Bonzo the dog, a fictional character in the early 1920s that first appeared in The Sketch Magazine.

Biography

Studdy was born on 23 June 1878, in Devonport, Devon, England. He was the second of three children of Ernest and Constance Studdy. His father was a lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. and then Dulwich College in London

In 1912, Studdy married Blanche Landrin. That same year he signed a contract with The Sketch to produce a weekly full-page drawing.

When war broke out, he was commissioned by Gaumont to produce a series of short films called Studdy’s War Studies. Studdy later introduced Bonzo into his sketches.

His Bonzo character was a chubby little white pup with sparse black spots, a stubby tail, and big blue eyes. Bonzo became the inspiration for much commercial merchandise, such as cuddly and mechanical toys, ashtrays, pincushions, trinket boxes, car mascots, jigsaw puzzles, books, calendars, candies, and a profusion of postcards.

In 1924 Gainsborough Pictures hired George Studdy to create 26 "Bonzo the Dog" animated Cartoons including 1) Bonzo, 2) Detective Bonzo and the Black Hand Gang, 3) Topical Bonzette, 4) Bonzo In The Army (aka: Tanks), 5) No.22 Bonzoby.

Bonzo's massive popularity allowed Studdy and his wife to live a very comfortable life until he died in 1948.