'Dropouts' cartoonist Howard Post dies at 83

LEONIA, N.J. - A cartoonist whose syndicated comic strip "The Dropouts" ran in more than 100 newspapers during the 1970s has died in New Jersey. Howard Post was 83.

Post died Friday at a care facility in Hackensack. His daughter Andee Post says he'd recently been hospitalized with kidney failure.

Post's comic strip ran from 1968 to 1982. It followed the misadventures of a pair of castaways and other inhabitants of a desert island.

Andee Post says her father drew much of his inspiration from things that happened around their Leonia, N.J., house, which was frequented by artists and musicians.

Post's career included work for Paramount Pictures and Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Post also drew "Casper the Friendly Ghost," "Popeye" and DC and Marvel comics. - AP