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Alexander Gillespie Raymond was born on October 2, 1909, in New Rochelle, New York, to Beatrice Wallazz (Crossley) and Alexander Gillespie Raymond, a civil engineer and road builder who nurtured his early interest in drawing. His sister, Beatrice, was the paternal grandmother of actors Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon. He had Irish, Scottish, and German ancestry.
Raymond pursued art and illustration studies at the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. In the 1930s, he began illustrating comic strips, often working as a "ghost artist" on titles like "Tillie the Toiler" and "Blondie." In 1933, Raymond and writer Don Moore were commissioned to create a comic strip to rival the popular "Buck Rogers." Their creation, "Flash Gordon," quickly became a hit, leading to numerous Saturday morning serials, television shows, and feature films.
He also collaborated with mystery writer Dashiell Hammett to create "Secret Agent X-9," working on both strips simultaneously. During this time, Raymond's artistic style advanced significantly, influencing future artists such as Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, and Wayne Boring. Raymond left both comic strips in 1944 to join the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Pacific theater during World War II and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Major. After the war, Raymond created one final comic strip, "Rip Kirby," centered on a detective/scientist. On September 6, 1956, Alex Raymond died at the age of 46 in a car accident in Westport, Connecticut.
