Philip De Lara (1911–1973) was a Los Angeles-born cartoonist whose career stretched across animation and comics with quiet, steady distinction. He graduated from Franklin High School and went on to study at the Otis Art Institute before spending eleven years drawing for the Junior Times alongside Cal Howard and Irv Spector — early collaborative work that clearly sharpened his feel for comedic character design.
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #111 (1951)
His first animation studio was Warner Bros. Cartoons, where he contributed to shorts featuring Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Speedy Gonzales, and the Tasmanian Devil. He later brought that same sensibility to work at MGM and Hanna-Barbera.
Four Color #457 (1953)
De Lara's most enduring contribution to comics came through Western Publishing, where he served as the primary artist on Chip 'n' Dale for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He also drew Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Gyro Gearloose, and Mickey Mouse stories produced for international markets. His catalog credits, running from 1946 to 1994, total 462 issues — a remarkable volume — with his most-credited titles including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Looney Tunes, alongside Boys' and Girls' March of Comics. The breadth of that output, spanning studio animation and licensed comics for decades, reflects a craftsman who brought reliable wit and draftsmanship to some of the most recognizable cartoon characters of the twentieth century.
