Henry King Ketcham was an American cartoonist best known for creating the comic strip "Dennis the Menace." He launched the strip in 1951, drawing inspiration from the antics of his own four-year-old son, Dennis. The comic's portrayal of a mischievous but well-meaning boy became a cultural phenomenon, leading to adaptations in television, film, and theater. Ketcham continued to oversee the strip's production until his retirement in 1994, leaving a lasting legacy on American pop culture.