Larson, Gary (1950– )

US cartoonist. He is the creator of the irreverent, often anthropomorphic, sometimes macabre cartoon panels ‘The Far Side’, which appeared in syndication 1984–95.

Larson was born in Tacoma, Washington, and graduated from Washington State University with a degree in communications in 1972. His cartoon, first entitled ‘Nature's Way’, was first published in the Seattle Times in 1979. It was syndicated the following year, and its name was changed to ‘The Far Side’. It was both adored for its originality and irreverence and reviled by some who considered it offensive. At its height it was published by 1,900 newspapers and translated into 17 languages.