Riley Thomson

Riley A. Thomson Jr. was born on October 5, 1912, and died on January 26, 1960. An American animator and comics artist, he is best known for his long association with Walt Disney productions. Thomson began his career in animation, directing six Disney short films, including *The Nifty Nineties* and *Symphony Hour*, before transitioning to comic books. His most recognized work came from illustrating Donald Duck stories, where he often collaborated with writer Carl Barks. Thomson’s clean, expressive style made him a reliable inker and artist on numerous Disney titles, with his credits spanning from 1950 to 2007 across series such as *Donald Duck*, *Four Color*, and *Walt Disney's Comics*. He also contributed to international editions like *Micky Maus Sonderheft* and *Donald Duck Groot Vakantieboek*. Though his life was cut short at 47, Thomson left a steady legacy of polished, character-driven work that helped define the look of Disney’s comic-book adventures for decades.