James Robert Davis is an American cartoonist, television writer, and producer best known as the creator of the comic strip Garfield. Born in Marion, Indiana, Davis grew up on a small farm, and his childhood experiences with the numerous stray cats would later inspire his most famous work. After an early comic strip called Gnorm Gnat failed, he developed the character of Garfield, which quickly grew into a global phenomenon following its 1978 debut. The immense success of the strip has led to animated television series, feature films, and a wide array of merchandise, making Garfield one of the world's most recognizable cartoon characters.