Leo Buscaglia

Felice Leonardo Buscaglia (March 31, 1924 – June 12, 1998), also known as "Dr. Love", was an American author, motivational speaker, and a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California.

Life and career Felice Leonardo Buscaglia was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 31, 1924, into a family of Italian immigrants. Using G.I. Bill benefits, he entered the University of Southern California, where he earned three degrees (BA 1950, MA 1954, PhD 1963) before eventually joining the faculty.

Upon retirement, Buscaglia was named Professor at Large, one of only two such designations on campus at that time.

Student's suicide While teaching at USC, Buscaglia was moved by a student's suicide to contemplate human disconnectedness and the meaning of life, and began a noncredit class he called Love 1A.

In popular culture In a May 12, 1984, Peanuts comic strip, the dog Snoopy is seen strolling towards Charlie Brown and Sally. Snoopy gives them both warm and sincere hugs. Afterwards, Charlie Brown explains their dog's actions to his puzzled sister: "You can always tell when he's been listening to Leo Buscaglia tapes."

Buscaglia's "Dr. Love" moniker, PBS lectures, and philosophy of hugs were referenced in Season 2, Episode 1 of The Americans.

In an April 22, 1991 The Far Side comic strip, a man dressed like a bullfighter awaits the charge of another man with outstretched arms. The caption reads: "In some remote areas of the world, the popular sport is to watch a courageous young man avoid being hugged by a Leo Buscaglia impersonator."

In the August 1993 issue of Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 1) #203, the character of Carnage taunts Spider-Man by saying: "Ah... even with his last breath—he's doing his Leo Buscaglia impression!"

In Season 6, Episode 19 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, TV's Frank reads a card to Dr. Clayton Forrester, who is wearing a full-body bandage: "Oh look at this, it's a card from Leo Buscaglia! 'Hope you die, you rotten bast--' Oh well."