Homer Brightman

Homer Brightman (October 1, 1901 – January 31, 1988) was an American screenwriter best known for his work across animation and newspaper comics. Born in Oregon, he began his career at Walt Disney Productions before moving on to Walter Lantz, MGM, UPA, and other major studios. In comics, Brightman served as the original gag writer for Al Taliaferro’s *Donald Duck* newspaper strip from 1938 to 1940, laying the groundwork for the character’s comedic voice before Bob Karp took over. His screenwriting credits also include work on theatrical shorts for DePatie-Freleng and Larry Harmon Pictures. Brightman’s contributions to the *Donald Duck* franchise extended into comic books, where he is credited as a writer on issues of *Donald Duck*, *Four Color*, and *Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories*. His style was defined by sharp, economical gags that suited both the fast pace of animation and the panel-by-panel rhythm of strips. While he never achieved the solo fame of some contemporaries, his early work on Donald Duck helped shape the character’s enduring personality. Brightman’s legacy is that of a versatile journeyman whose humor influenced generations of readers and viewers. He died in 1988 at age 86.