Ray Billingsley

Raymond Curtis Billingsley (born July 25, 1957) is an African American cartoonist, best known for creating the comic strip Curtis. It is distributed by King Features Syndicate and printed in more than 250 newspapers nationwide.

Early life Billingsley was born in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and raised there in his earliest years. Later, his family moved to Harlem, in New York City.

He credits sibling rivalry with sparking his initial fascination with cartooning. As a young boy, he learned to draw in order to emulate his older brother, who studied fine arts. he began an internship at Walt Disney Studios.

Billingsley drew a nationally syndicated strip called Lookin' Fine from 1979 to 1982. The strip featured an all Black cast in their 20s, but Billingsley didn't have much creative freedom with the strip and left after two years. — with opening the door for Curtis and other strips. He also credits Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, for encouraging Billingsley to stretch out artistically. "He always told me to reach out and do more than I thought I could. I continually draw strength when I relive his teachings," said Billingsley. Billingsley's most prestigious recognition came when he was awarded the 2020 Reuben Award by the National Cartoonists Society, placing him in the company of great cartoonists such as Charles Schulz, Garry Trudeau, Jerry Scott, and Roz Chast. He is the first Black creator to receive the peer-voted award.