Bruce McCall cause of death

Bruce McCall, whose satirical illustrations for National Lampoon and The New Yorker conjured up a plutocratic fantasy world of luxury zeppelin travel, indoor golf courses, and cars like the Bulgemobile Airdreme, died in the Bronx on Friday, May 5.

According to his wife Polly Bier McCall, he died of Parkinson’s disease (a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination).

McCall began his illustration career in the 1950s in Toronto, drawing cars for Ford Motor Company despite having no formal technical training.

He left advertising after several decades to pursue opportunities in the publishing industry.

He moved to New York and was hired by National Lampoon, where he established himself as an artist with both intelligent and whimsical humor.

McCall also wrote sketches for Saturday Night Live for a short time. The retrofuturistic theme pervades much of McCall’s work.

McCall illustrated magazine covers for The New Yorker, Car and Driver, and other publications. He has been writing for the magazine since 1979.

McCall was also a satirist who wrote essays about some of modern life’s social ironies. He contributed frequently to The New Yorker’s “Shouts & Murmurs” section.

McCall lived on New York’s Upper West Side, near Central Park.

He is survived by his wife, Polly Bier McCall, their daughter Amanda McCall, as well as two brothers, Walter and Michael, and a sister, Christine Jerome.