Mad Magazine Editor and Writer Nick Meglin 1935 - 2018

Nick Meglin, who edited Mad Magazine for many years, died on Saturday, June 2. He was 82 years old. The cause was a sudden heart attack.

There is shock from his friends and colleagues, since Nick had just attended the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards convention the weekend before, and seemed in fine health.

From Adrian Sinnott:

Sad news tonight. Nick Meglin, long time MAD Magazine contributor and editor, illustrator, professor, playwright and friend to every cartoonist passed away suddenly today. Nick and his lovely lady, Linda Maloof, were both at last weekend's Reuben Awards in Philadelphia.

Nick was a world class raconteur. It has been a great privilege to have been able to eavesdrop on a few of his stories. Nick loved the opera, once at a Bunny Bash, Nick was recounting how he once sang at the Met. Delivering a package there, Nick found the stage empty and walked out, sang an aria and fulfilled his life's dream. This past Reuben weekend, Nick could be found contentedly singing to no one in particular and anyone that would listen. If Nick was with you, you could be guaranteed a lot of laughter. Stories from MAD, his career as a playwright, author and life in general.

From Mark Evanier:

Everyone in the extended family that is MAD Magazine is shocked this morning at the news that Nick Meglin died this morning of a sudden heart attack. Nick worked on MAD for close to half a century, starting as an Idea Man and Writer, moving to an Associate Editor position and then to being co-editor (with John Ficarra) and then, upon his retirement in 2004, becoming a Consulting Editor. Given his wicked sense of humor, Insulting Editor might have been a better title.

Many of us are especially jarred because we spent last weekend with Nick at the National Cartoonists Society convention in Philadelphia. I had lunch with Nick a week ago today and a week ago tomorrow, moderated a MAD panel in which he participated. He was alert and funny and seemed like a guy in good health for a man of 82.

Sam Viviano:

Perhaps it is fitting that he spent his last weekend on earth at the 2018 Reubens in Philadelphia. He not only got a chance to interact with so many of the friends he had made over the years, but he had a place of honor at one final MAD panel. I was so happy that moderator Mark Evanier pointed out Nick’s singular importance in the history of MAD, and that he had the appreciation of his peers in the form of a standing ovation.

Tom Richmond:

If there was an official title of “Unsung Hero of MAD Magazine”, Nick would without question wear that crown. While Al Feldstein got a lot of the credit (and MOST of the money) from the success of MAD, a major part of the “voice” of MAD, the part that really made MAD “MAD“, came from Nick. He understood humor better than anyone I’ve ever met.