Peyo (Author, Illustrator)

Pierre Culliford, known by his pen name Peyo, was a Belgian comics artist and illustrator born in Brussels in 1928, famous for creating The Smurfs, which first appeared in his Johan and Peewit series and became a global franchise.[1][2][3] He started his career as a cinema projectionist and in a cartoon studio before drawing for newspapers and joining Spirou magazine in 1952, where he developed multiple series including Benny Breakiron.[1][2][4] Peyo worked with a studio of assistants until his death in 1992, leaving a legacy of innovative storytelling and characters rooted in European folklore.[1][4][5]