Sheldon Dorf: Comic-Con International founder

1933-2009 | Convention began in 1970, now draws 125,000 each year

SAN DIEGO -- Sheldon Dorf, who founded the world famous Comic-Con International comic book convention, has died. He was 76.

A longtime friend, Greg Koudoulian, said the Ocean Beach resident died at a San Diego hospital on Tuesday from kidney failure. He had diabetes and had been hospitalized for about a year.

Mr. Dorf, a free-lance artist and comic strip letterer, founded Comic-Con in San Diego in 1970 after moving there from Detroit.

The convention draws 125,000 fans a year and is a major gathering for comic book fans, artists, writers and movie stars.

Koudoulian said Mr. Dorf was friends with comic greats such as Marvel artist Jack Kirby and "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz.

Mr. Dorf also helped budding artists find audiences, he said.

AP