His sister Sally, Tsuiwen Browne-Boeras, announced the news through The National Cartoonists Society :
"With much sadness, I am here to announce, my brother Christopher Browne passed away peacefully in Sioux Falls, SD after a long-term illness. After our father passed away, he was the face of our family's cartoon strip Hägar the Horrible.
Besides drawing Hägar, Chris drew and illustrated children's books. He always had a sketchbook in hand and loved to draw for people. He will be very much missed by his family and friends as well as his fans throughout the world. We'll miss his talent and his gentle and kind soul."
Hägar the Horrible, better known in Spain as Olaf the Viking, was created in 1973 by cartoonist Dik Browne, Chris's father. In 1988, Dik Browne became ill with cancer, forcing him to retire. He died in 1989, aged 71.
By then, his sons had taken over his two successful series. Hägar the Horrible" was continued by Chris Browne, while"Hi & Lois" was taken over by Chance Browne, and Mort Walker's sons, Greg Walker and Brian Walker, continued to write the scripts.
Hägar the Horrible was published in more than 1,900 newspapers in 58 countries in 13 languages.
Chris Browne was born in South Orange, New Jersey in 1952 and grew up in the suburbs of Wilton, Connecticut. Together with his father, he created Hagar the Horrible's Very Nearly Complete Viking Handbook in 1985. Chris Browne also drew cartoons for National Lampoon, Playboy, Esquire, Heavy Metal and The New Yorker. He was a contributing editor for The Funny Papers and Sarasota Magazine.
Hägar the Viking had celebrated its 50th anniversary a few days before Chris Browne's death.
