Born on February 22, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, Edward St. John Gorey was a designer, writer and illustrator known for his unique artistic style, which blended elements of the macabre with humor and whimsy. He taught himself how to read at an early age and two books of his favorites from this time, Draculaand Alice in Wonderland, left a lasting impression on him.

At Chicago's Francis W. Parker School, Gorey discovered his passion for art. He even took some courses at the Chicago Institute of Art in 1942 after graduating in 1942. That same year, however, Gorey soon found his life headed in a new direction. He was drafted into the U.S. Army. The young soldier didn't see any action during World War II, spending much of his time as a clerk at Utah's Dugway Proving Ground.

Not long after finishing his military service, Gorey enrolled Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.There he befriended writer Frank O'Hara. Gorey also became part of The Poets' Theatre in Cambridge where he served as a designer. In 1950, he completed his studies at Harvard, earning his bachelor's degree in French literature.

As an illustrator, Gorey developed a quirky, unique and macabre style that was a large influence on the work of artists like Tim Burton. After publishing his first work, 1953'sUnstrung Harp, he gained a local following, and his popularity continued to grow. Other independent works include The Doubtful Guest (1957), The Hapless Child (1961), The Gashlycrumb Tinies (1963) and The Gilded Bat(1966). Gorey also illustrated numerous works by other writers, including literary greats H.G. Wells, T.S. Eliot, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll and Virginia Woolf. In 1978, he won a Tony Award for costume design on the Broadway production of Dracula. His work began even more widely known in 1980 with the premiere of the PBS series Mystery!, the intro of which boasted his illustrations. Gorey died on April 15, 2000, in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

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