# Rest in Peace, Al Hirshfeld **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834 "2003-01-20T18:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/1 "2003-01-20T18:47:18Z")
I heard on CBS Radio News that Broadway/Celebrity caricaturist [Al Hirshfield](http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/hirschfeld_a.html) died today (1/20/03) at age 99. He has been producing distinctive drawings of the elite and famous since the 1920’s (according to CBS). ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/2 "2003-01-20T18:52:00Z")
I can’t find “NINA” anywhere in the OP. Has anyone else found it? ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/3 "2003-01-20T18:57:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\*I can’t find “NINA” anywhere in the OP. Has anyone else found it? \*\* It’s in the hair. I always check the hair first. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/4 "2003-01-20T19:04:52Z")
I thought he was 99 a couple of years ago. I was sure he was over 100 by now. Very sad to see him go, but I’m sure a lot of people were expecting it. Very few celebs who get to 99 go much beyond (Eubie Blake, Hal Roach, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/5 "2003-01-20T19:14:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\*I can’t find “NINA” anywhere in the OP. Has anyone else found it? \*\* > [@](#): > > _originally posted by - ME!_ > … He has been produci **N** g d **I** sti **N** ctive dr **A** wings of … ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/6 "2003-01-20T19:17:08Z")
/|/ / /|/ /-\ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/7 "2003-01-20T19:17:46Z")
Al Hirschfield was a unique talent. And he captured New York City. He will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/8 "2003-01-20T21:31:28Z")
FYI: For the obituary, click [here](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/20/obituaries/20cnd-hirsch.html) - the NY Times requires a free registration first. And his website, [www.alhirschfeld.com](http://www.alhirschfeld.com), has a great gallery. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/9 "2003-01-20T21:33:40Z")
For the record (and the benefit of those like me who missed this thread when doing a name search), it’s **Hirschfeld**. ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/10 "2003-01-20T22:30:18Z")
Nina. I loved that thing. Ever since I was a kid and his stuff would show up on the cover of TV Guide. If someone would’ve asked me, who is you favorite cariacaturist, no doubt, the answer would have been, Hirschfeld. Alas, no one ever asked. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/11 "2003-01-20T22:41:27Z")
The _Rhapsody in Blue_ segment in _Fantasia 2000_ was a work of fluid beauty. He was not a caractureist, he was an artist who brought out the essence of people. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/12 "2003-01-20T22:47:10Z")
Hey **thermalribbon** , who’s your favorite caricaturist? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/13 "2003-01-20T23:34:34Z")
I’ve edited the thread title. He deserves a correct name spelling. Such amazingly fluid line, such incredible vision. He will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/14 "2003-01-21T00:22:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > \*\*I’ve edited the thread title. He deserves a correct name spelling. \*\* Umm…it still needs a “c”, I think. But I’ll ditto the sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/15 "2003-01-21T00:28:40Z")
Just one more person who appreciates his work. CJ ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-al-hirshfeld/149834/16 "2003-01-21T01:03:58Z")
The name is Hirschfeld. I encourage you to take a look at his work courtesy of his representative, [url=“[http://www.alhirschfeld.com/artwork/index.html](http://www.alhirschfeld.com/artwork/index.html)”]The Margo Feiden Galleries of New York.\* Hirschfeld is an interesting artist, and an interesting looking man. In a sense, he is almost a cartoon himself with his unique beard (and he did in fact do a number of pictures of himself). He does a simple sort of drawing that has graced numerous _New York Times_ columns, a number of _TV Guides_ (I especially like his depiction of the cast of _Seinfeld_, and U.S. postage stamps. He will be missed. Mobo85[sub]1[/sub]