The Toronto Sun family is in mourning after legendary political cartoonist Andy Donato died Tuesday. He was 89.<\/p>\n
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The newly retired Donato drew his last cartoon for the Sun as a farewell to readers on Sept. 6<\/a> after 55 incredible years at the newspaper, and 65 years in the newspaper industry.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n We are sad to announce the passing of legendary Toronto Sun cartoonist Andy Donato. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Andy recently retired from the Toronto Sun following 55 years of cartooning. This was his last cartoon. pic.twitter.com\/iIlBYEwarQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n He served as a part-time political cartoonist at the Toronto Telegram beginning in 1961 until it folded at the end of October 1971. The Sun was born Nov. 1, 1971, and he went on to become the paper\u2019s preeminent political cartoonist.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just getting into the political stuff at the Tely,\u201d Donato told the Sun<\/a> just before hanging up his pen and paper. \u201cUp until then, I probably couldn\u2019t tell you who the prime minister of Canada was.\u201d<\/p>\n Donato went from drawing two cartoons a week while alternating with fellow cartoonist Yardley Jones, to three at the Sun. When the Sun launched a Sunday edition and after Jones left in 1973, his workload increased from three to five cartoons in a week.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hard enough coming up with one idea, let alone three, four, five,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n He became Art Director at the paper until 1997, when he took an early retirement and relinquished the job.<\/p>\n Donato went on to draw so many political cartoons that he eventually released his work in book form, including Gucci Blues and Son Of A Meech.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Known for signature bird<\/p>\n He was also known for his signature bird within the square panel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe bird started back in the \u201980s,\u201d he said. \u201cBy 1984, it had become reasonably popular by then. I just happened to draw it in a tree I was doing as a cartoon. And I kind of liked it, so I kept drawing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Donato\u2019s other love was painting, and he has shown his work at Harbour Gallery<\/a> in Mississauga.<\/p>\n Toronto-based marketer and entrepreneur Tony Chapman said his friend will be remembered as a world-renowned editorial cartoonist whom he also had the honour of interviewing for his Chatter That Matters podcast<\/a> nearly three years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cMarion and I had dinner with Andy and his wife Dianne last month, and between a Club Size Martini and a glass of Italian Red Wine, we regaled ourselves with his stories, and the mischievous smile and sparkling eyes that went with them,\u201d Chapman shared to his LinkedIn account<\/a>.<\/p>\n More recently, Chapman said he and his partner were with Donato and his wife when they slow danced to a Frank Sinatra impersonator at the Balmy Beach Club last Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cAndy Donato is not just an artist; he\u2019s a force of immense character, and his character is woven into the very fabric of who he is, from his distinctive appearance, his unbridled shock of hair, to how he characterizes pivotal moments in time,\u201d Chapman said.<\/p>\n \u2014 with files from Denette Wilford<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/qmi_ts20140528vh09-e1538151719594.jpg\")
Editorial Cartoonist Andy Donato of the Toronto Sun is inducted into the Italian Walk of Fame on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. (Veronica Henri\/Toronto Sun) Photo by Veronica Henri \/Toronto SunWorkload increased after joining Sun<\/p>\n