George Olesen

{{short description|American cartoonist}} {{about||the Danish weightlifter|George Olesen (weightlifter)}} {{about||the American band leader|George Olsen}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox comics creator | image = | image_size = | caption = George Olesen in 2004. | alt = | birth_date = {{birth date|1924|12|6}} | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York<ref name=obit>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tcpalm/obituary.aspx?pid=167581791 Obituary], TC Palm (October 18, 2013). Accessed November 25, 2013.</ref> | death_date ={{death date and age|2013|10|15|1924|12|6}} | death_place= Palm City, Florida<ref name=obit /> | nationality = American | area = | cartoonist = | art = y | alias = | notable works = ''The Phantom'' | awards = | website = | nonUS = }} '''George Olesen''' (December 6, 1924 – October 15, 2013) was an American comic book artist, best known for his work as a penciller on popular comic strip ''The Phantom''.<ref name=lambiek>{{cite web | title=George Olesen |url=http://lambiek.net/artists/o/olesen_george.htm | publisher=Lambiek |accessdate=June 21, 2010}}</ref> He worked with the character for around forty years, although he did not get any official credit for it until penciller Sy Barry retired and Keith Williams took over as the new inker.

Olesen also illustrated a few Phantom stories for the Scandinavian Phantom comics, which he both pencilled and inked.

During World War II Olesen served as a B-24 pilot in the Burma campaign. After the war he earned an illustration degree from the Pratt Institute.<ref name=obit />

Olesen retired in 2005, leaving Paul Ryan to take over both the pencilling and inking jobs on ''The Phantom''. Olesen enjoyed a quiet life with his wife Rigmor, far away from the stressing deadlines he constantly had to face as a cartoonist.

Olesen died on October 15, 2013.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olesen, George}} Category:American comics artists Category:United States Army Air Forces bomber pilots of World War II Category:2013 deaths Category:1924 births Category:Artists from Brooklyn Category:People from Palm City, Florida