Ralph Steadman

Birth Name:

Ralph Idris Steadman

Birth Place:

Wallasey, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Profession

Art department, Animation department, Soundtrack

Served in the Royal Air Force from 1954 to 1956 as a radar operator, where he first learned how to draw
Won a Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for his illustration of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland․"
Took drawing courses at the London College Printing and Graphic Arts College and the East Ham Technical College
His first job was an apprentice aircraft engineer for the De Havilland Aircraft Company, and he later worked for Woolworths and McConnells Advertising
Spent his early years living in Wales after he and his sister were sent there for safety during World War II
Sold his first cartoon to the Manchester Evening Chronicle in 1956, which he signed simply as "Stead․"
Quote: "I think I have changed the world, because you know what? It's worse now than it was when I started!"
Illustrated several children's books during his career, including "Emergency Mouse," "Teddy, Where Are You?," and "No Room to Swing a Cat․"
Best known as a cartoonist who worked with author Hunter S․ Thompson and provided illustrations for his novel "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas․"
First met Hunter S․ Thompson in 1969 when he was asked to cover the Kentucky Derby with the journalist, at which time the two created the concept of Gonzo journalism
Created Paranoids in 1986 after discovering that he could manipulate Polaroid photos before they had set completely

Fast Facts