Today marks the 101st birthday of the mastermind behind the cooky and creepy Addams Family!
Charles “Chas” Addams was born in New Jersey and was known as a troublemaker in his youth. He was caught breaking into two old, Victorian mansions which later would become the inspiration for the in famous Addams Family mansion.
With his parents’ encouragement, Addams took an interest in drawing and was soon working as a professional artist with cartoons appearing in many magazines, most notably in THE NEW YORKER.
His most famous family was created by accident when a television producer approached Addams with an idea for a new show. Before this, the Addams Family were just nameless characters who showed up in various cartoons by Addams. For the television show, they were given names and personalities and thus, the world’s quirkiest family was born!
DID YOU KNOW?
- Charles Addams’s home was decorated with a collection of macabre things such as crossbows, gilded human skulls and an entire suit of armor.
- His first wife, Barbara, supposedly looked exactly like Morticia Addams.
- Addams was good friends with fellow horror and macabre enthusiasts Ray Bradbury and Alfred Hitchcock.
- Addams married his third wife, Tee, in a pet cemetery.
- Despite his bizarre interests, Charles Addams always dressed immaculately and looked the perfect gentleman.