Willard Gustav Bowsky was an American animator best known for his work at Fleischer Studios in New York City and Miami, Florida, where he worked on cartoons featuring Betty Boop, Popeye the Sailor, and Superman, in addition to two feature-length animated films.
14 Facts About Willard Bowsky
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Willard Bowsky was killed in World War II in eastern France, while serving combat duty in the United States Army.
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Willard Bowsky was awarded posthumously the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
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Bowsky was born in New Jersey in 1907 into an Italian-German-Jewish immigrant family, the second son of Herman Bowsky and Emma L Bowsky, both born in New York City.
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Herman Willard Bowsky's parents emigrated from Germany; while Emma's father was born in Austria of Italian descent and emigrated from there as a young adult.
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Willard Bowsky grew up as a child in Manhattan and across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
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Willard Bowsky attended local schools and began drawing when young.
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Willard Bowsky was promoted to credited animator in 1930 in Screen Song "bouncing ball" cartoons and Talkartoons, starring the character Betty Boop.
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In 1938, Willard Bowsky relocated to Florida with the Fleischer Studios.
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Willard Bowsky went on to work on the Superman cartoons and the Fleischer Studios' two feature-length films, Gulliver's Travels and Mr Bug Goes to Town.
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Shortly after Fleischer Studios was reorganized as Famous Studios in 1942, Willard Bowsky enlisted in the US Army on October 14,1942.
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Willard Bowsky was a platoon leader with 50 men under his command in the 94th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron.
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Willard Bowsky was killed in action on November 27,1944, in a nighttime firefight with German forces near Metz, France.
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Willard Bowsky's remains were buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, Moselle, France.