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Obituary: What Is David McKee Death Cause? The 87-year-old children’s novelist and artist best known for the Mr. Benn series, David McKee, has died.
The bestselling children’s novelist and creator of Elmer and Mr. Benn, David McKee, has died at the age of 87.
His publisher, Andersen Press, confirmed the news, stating that he died at his residence in the South of France following a brief illness.
The statement stated how, “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of David McKee, who was a beloved author and illustrator for children, and creator of iconic children’s books Elmer, Not Now, Bernard, and Mr. Benn,” his publisher, Andersen Press, said in a statement.
RIP David McKee, author and illustrator, and creator of one of the greatest ever shows about the power of imagination, ‘Mr Benn’. https://t.co/QDvJoWmyPL pic.twitter.com/UVcfSuvdZr
— Daniel McGachey (@DMcGachey) April 7, 2022
Obituary: What Is David McKee Death Cause? Children’s Novelist Passes Away
“David died surrounded by his family in the South of France, where he had spent a lot of time in recent years, after a brief illness. He was 87 years old when he died.
“We at Andersen Press hope that his spirit lives on via his cheerful, passionate stories for many more generations.”
David McKee the Author of Mr Benn and King Rollo has passed away at the age of 87. R.I.P David 😇🙏 pic.twitter.com/SMvNlbAHBN
— 🇬🇧📺 Classic British TV 📺🇬🇧 (@Classicbritcom) April 7, 2022
Is David McKee Married? Who Is His Wife?
McKee had houses in London and the south of France, where he shared an interest in collecting drawings and African tribal art with his second wife, Bakhta, a French-Algerian art dealer. In 1987, he was awarded the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis.
Moreover, Two Can Toucan, a story he told in college, was the first book he sold. It’s about a South American bird with a gigantic beak that can hold two paint cans. Abelard-Schuman released this in 1964; Andersen Press re-issued a 1985 edition with additional pictures by McKee in 2001.
So long, David McKee.
Judge Benn, by the great man himself.#davidmckee #dredd pic.twitter.com/IIiRLkVTFt
— 2000 AD Comics (@2000AD) April 7, 2022
David McKee Wikipedia Explored
David McKee was a British illustrator and writer who specialized in children’s books and animations.
He was a UK nominee for the biannual worldwide Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006 for his contribution as a children’s illustrator.
McKee created and drew 29 original Elmer books translated into over 60 languages.
Meanwhile, Mr. Benn began as a children’s picture book in 1967 and became a BBC television series.
The narrative followed the eponymous explorer as he left his London home at 52 Festive Road before being changed at a fancy dress shop and transported to another realm according to his attire.
Mr. Benn will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the television adaptation in 2021.
McKee received an honorary doctorate from Plymouth College of Art’s Open University in 2011.
He lauded books as “important in helping youngsters create their perception of the world” in a 2020 interview with BookTrust.