Popeye

Popeye, also known as Popeye Popeye, is the title character and protagonist in the Popeye animated franchise. He is a gruff-looking, but humble sailor known for having a squinting eye, huge forearms and a corn pipe. He is immensely powerful and gains his strength by eating spinach. His voice was originated by Jack Mercer.

TV series

 * The All-New Popeye Hour
 * Popeye and Son

Specials

 * The Popeye Valentine Special: Sweethearts at Sea

Development
Popeye was created by cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar, and first debuted in the Thimble Theatre comic strip in 1929. He initially started off as a supporting character to Castor Oyl (the strip's main character at the time) and his sister Olive, but Popeye's unexpected popularity from readers led Segar to instead make him the strip's new focus.

Popeye is said to have been inspired by Frank "Rocky" Fiegel, a real life sailor and local resident of Chester, Illinois; Segar—who himself was also a local in Chester—likely used Fiegel as the basis of Popeye based on his likeness and the stories he heard of the man.

Behind the scenes

 * "Popeye" was only a nickname due to his appearance. In Popeye and Son, it was retconned to be his family name.