John McDermott (American artist)

For other people named John McDermott, see John McDermott (disambiguation).
John McDermott
Self-portrait on Okinawa during World War II
Born
John Richard McDermott

(1919-08-30)August 30, 1919
Pueblo, Colorado
DiedApril 20, 1977(1977-04-20) (aged 57)
Westport, Connecticut
NationalityAmerican
EducationSelf taught
Known forIllustration

John McDermott (August 30, 1919 – April 20, 1977), also known under the pen names J.M. Ryan and Mariner, was an American illustrator and author noted for action and adventure illustrations.[1] McDermott worked as an in-between and effects animator for Walt Disney Studios and as a US Marine combat artist,[2] before establishing himself as a cover illustrator for 1950s paperbacks and pulp magazines such as Argosy, American Weekly, and Outdoor Life. Under his J.M. Ryan pen name, he wrote the novels The Rat Factory (1971), a derogatory satire of Walt Disney and the Disney studio; Brooks Wilson Ltd (1967), on which the 1970 film Loving was based; and Mother's Day (1969) about Ma Barker. Under his own name, he novelized director-writer Bo Widerberg's screenplay for the 1971 film Joe Hill, which would be his final published book.[3]

  1. ^ Reed, Walt (2001). The illustrator in America, 1860–2000. New York, N.Y.: Society of Illustrators. p. 322. ISBN 978-0823025237.
  2. ^ Chenoweth, Colonel H. Avery (August 2007). "Combat Artists of Guadalcanal". Naval History Magazine. 21 (4).
  3. ^ "John McDermott, Writer, Artist Dies in Westport". The Hour. 20 April 1977. p. 6.