Origins & Early Life

LeRoy Robert Ripley (February 22, 1890 – May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, who is known for creating the Ripley's Believe It or Not! newspaper panel series, television show, and radio show, which feature odd facts from around the world. Subjects covered in Ripley's cartoons and text ranged from sports feats to little-known facts about unusual and exotic sites. He also included items submitted by readers, who supplied photographs of a wide variety of small-town American trivia ranging from unusually shaped vegetables to oddly marked domestic animals, all documented by photographs and then depicted by his drawings.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

LeRoy Robert Ripley was born on February 22, 1890, in Santa Rosa, California, although his exact birthdate is disputed. He dropped out of high school after his father's death to help his family, and at age 16, he began working as a sports cartoonist for various newspapers. In 1913, he moved to New York City. He moved to New York and dropped the name LeRoy for Robert. While drawing cartoons for The New York Globe newspaper, he created his first "Believe It or Not!" cartoon, published in the December 19, 1918,...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Agatha Christie — Contemporary (Born in 1890) (1890): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• Aimee Semple McPherson — Contemporary (Born in 1890) (1890): Pioneering Pentecostal evangelist, famous for founding the Foursquare Church.
• Boris Pasternak — Contemporary (Born in 1890) (1890): Poet and novelist whose masterpiece, Doctor Zhivago, defied Soviet rejection.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Amadeo Giannini — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): Pioneering American banker who founded the Bank of Italy and influenced modern finance.
• Anwar Sadat — Shared historical date (12-25 · Born) (1918): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Barbara Mandrell — Shared historical date (12-25 · Born) (1948): Iconic American country music singer known for her steel guitar skills and crossover appeal.
• Ben Feldman — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1980): American actor known for roles in Superstore, Mad Men, and Silicon Valley.
• Cornelius Vanderbilt — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1794): American railroad and shipping magnate, known as "the Commodore".
• 1890 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1890
• December 25 (12-25) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 25
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• May 27 (05-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 27