Gahan Wilson’s cartoons have appeared in almost every issue of Playboy since 1957. This December marks his 50th year with the magazine. Millions of readers have fallen in love with our all-star ghoul keeper’s menagerie of monsters and dark humor. He’s also written numerous fiction and non-fiction pieces for us with such titles as: “Horror Trio” and “Dracula Country” so it’s no wonder that he’s fondly known as Playboy’s Master of the Macabre. With Halloween just around the corner it seems the perfect time for Steven-Charles Jaffe’s documentary titled GAHAN WILSON: BORN DEAD, STILL WEIRD, which premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival this past Saturday.
More than three years in the making, the film takes you on an intimate journey with Gahan and includes extraordinary personal stories from numerous luminaries, artists, writers, filmmakers, comedians and others that have been inspired and influenced by Gahan’s work: Guillermo del Toro fondly recalls the first time he saw Playboy and how he immediately identified with Gahan’s cartoons; Stephen Colbert shares a deeply personal story; Hef discusses Gahan’s cartoons and their importance to the magazine; and, in what is perhaps the most incredible story of all, Vietnam veteran Larry Laughlin shares his experience with one of Gahan’s cartoons while on the battlefield. There is a certain vulnerability and sweetness that emanates from each person as they discuss Gahan’s work and what it has meant to them. You will definitely find yourself laughing, crying and simply reflecting on what is said long after the film ends.
In an interview that appeared in our Brazilian edition of Playboy earlier this year Gahan spoke about cartoonist Charles Addams whose cartoons spawned The Addams Family television show and films. Though their artistic styles are quite different, Charles had an affinity for the macabre like Gahan, so their work is often compared. When asked about Charles, Gahan said, “I remember as a child seeing his cartoons and having a feeling of encouragement because he sort of vindicated me. I saw there was an adult out there in the real world, who was a successful one, and he was as nutty as I was and that really helped me through. Later on I got to know Charlie and he was a very nice man. I told him that and it made him happy. Today people come up to me and say the same thing. They thank me because I make them feel a little less insane. That makes me feel very good.”
It was an honor to be at the festival to celebrate the film with Gahan and the director and his crew. Gahan has created a profound body of work and continues to give us remarkable cartoons that we publish to this day. Steven-Charles Jaffe has done an outstanding job of revealing the man behind the art.
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