Noted American cartoonist and humorist, Al Capp, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to a family of Latvian Jewish heritage, his parents, Otto Philip Caplin and Matilda Davidson, having fled the Russian Empire in the 1880s to escape the brutal pogroms that ravaged their homeland, leaving a lasting impact on the family's early life.
Growing up in a large family with many siblings, Al Capp's childhood was marked by poverty, with his brothers Elliot and Jerome later following in his footsteps to pursue careers in cartooning, as they sought to make a name for themselves in the world of animation and illustration.
Despite the challenges they faced, the Caplin family remained a tight-knit unit, with Al Capp's parents instilling in their children a strong sense of resilience and determination, qualities that would serve them well as they navigated the ups and downs of their careers in the competitive world of cartooning.
As a young man, Al Capp began to develop his skills as a cartoonist, honing his craft and eventually making a name for himself as a talented and innovative artist, his unique style and wit captivating audiences and earning him widespread recognition and acclaim.
