Robert Lee 'Bob' Thaves was a renowned American cartoonist best known for creating the comic strip Frank and Ernest. Launched in 1972, the strip became famous for its witty, single-panel gags featuring the two titular characters in various historical and contemporary settings. Thaves' work was celebrated for its clever wordplay, puns, and philosophical humor, earning him multiple awards from the National Cartoonist Society. After his death in 2006, his son Tom Thaves continued to produce the beloved and long-running comic strip.