About Will B. Johnstone
Lived 1883 – 1944 (aged 60–61). Will B. Johnstone was an American cartoonist, screenwriter, songwriter, comics artist and lyricist.
William Breuninger Johnstone (13 March 1881 – 4 February 1944) was an American writer, cartoonist, and lyricist.
His writing credits include the Marx Brothers's Broadway revue I'll Say She Is and, with S.J. Perelman, their first two Hollywood films, Monkey Business and Horse Feathers. He also wrote several popular songs, including a version of "How Dry I Am", a part of which plagiarizes Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay."
He created the cartoon character of 'The Tax Payer' wearing only a barrel held up by suspenders. It was a regular feature in the New York World-Telegram. Johnstone also created the comic strip You Know Me Al (distributed by the Bell Syndicate).
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Will B. Johnstone's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Will B. Johnstone?
American writer, cartoonist (1883–1944)
When was Will B. Johnstone born?
Will B. Johnstone was born in 1883 in St. Louis.
When did Will B. Johnstone die?
Will B. Johnstone died on 4 February 1944 in West Palm Beach.
What was Will B. Johnstone's occupation?
Will B. Johnstone was a cartoonist, screenwriter, songwriter, comics artist and lyricist.
What nationality was Will B. Johnstone?
Will B. Johnstone was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Will B. Johnstone
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Will B. Johnstone. https://biography.guide/will-b-johnstone/
MLA: "Will B. Johnstone." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/will-b-johnstone/.
Chicago: "Will B. Johnstone." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/will-b-johnstone/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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