NEW YORK.- American cartoonist Albert Hirschfeld, 99, died in his sleep. He created caricatures of celebrities for The New York Times for seven decades. He became a New York legend for his pen-and-ink drawings that chronicled Broadway’s hits and flops. Hirschfeld was a regular at Broadway opening nights. The former managing editor of the newspaper, Arthur Gelb, said: "I would get the drawing and unwrap it and immediately it was like a magnet for reporters and editors. Everyone wanted to see what Al had wrought. It was like unwrapping a Daumier and I think he will last as long as Daumier."

Hirschfeld had stated: "I come out of the theatre with a lot of abstract little markings that I then translate into line. The important thing is that the drawing look a little bit like the actor I am drawing. There is a lot of trial and error and a lot of erasing until I can get it as far as I can, before the final inking. It is not a pretty process."

Hirschfeld used to hide his daughter’s name Nina in all his drawings - often more than once.

Albert Hirschfeld was born in St Louis on 21st June, 1903. When Hirschfeld was a teenager the family moved to Manhattan in New York. In 1920 Hirschfeld began work at Selznick Studios. Four years later he traveled to Europe where he studied art. When he returned to the United States he became a regular contributor to the New Masses. In 1933 Hirschfeld became one of the first cartoonists in America to attack the rule of Adolf Hitler.

He also co-edited a satirical journal, Americana, with Alexander King in the early 1930s and has written and illustrated many books. Hirschfeld also worked for the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Times. His caricatures of theatrical personalities appeared in several publications.

His caricatures have appeared in numerous other publications including the New York World, the Collier’s Weekly, the Daily Telegraph and Brooklyn Eagle.

Hirschfeld also illustrated several books including Manhattan Oases (1932), Westward Ha! (1948), Swiss Family Perelman (1950), Show Business Is No Business (1951), Treadmill to Oblivion (1954), The Lively Years (1973), Hirschfeld by Hirschfeld (1979), Hirschfeld on Line (1999) and Hirschfeld’s Hollywood (2001).