Gary Gygax was an influential writer and co-creator of the massively popular Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing games. On March 8, 2008, he died in his home at the age of 69 from heart problems. He had suffered health problems for several years.
Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson died in his sleep at his St. Paul, Minnesota home on April 9, 2009. The 61-year-old Arneson been battling cancer for years.CNN: 'Dungeons & Dragons' co-creator dies (April 10, 2009)
Dungeons and Dragons Facts
- Creators: Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson
- Created: 1974
- Current publisher: Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro
- Also called D&D or DnD
- Number of players: Open-ended
- Play time: Open-ended
- United States: 3 million play every monthBBC: What Happened to Dungeons and Dragons? (April 26, 2004)
- Estimated $1 billion in sales for book and equipment as of 2004BBC: What Happened to Dungeons and Dragons? (April 26, 2004)
References
Fast Facts
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Full name
Ernest Gary Gygax
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Born
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Birthplace
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Death
March 8, 2008
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Fact:
Resided in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
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Fact:
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Children
Ernest G. Jr., Lucion Paul, Alexander, Mary Elise, Heidi Jo, Cindy Lee
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1968
Founded Gen Con
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Spouses
Mary Jo Gygax (divorced), Gail Carpenter
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Fact:
The son of Swiss immigrants
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Fact:
Acknowledged as one of the fathers of table-top gaming
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Fact:
Helped develop the "Chainmail" miniatures board game
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Fact:
Founded the magazine Dragon
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Has six children
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Suffered two strokes in 2004
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Fact:
Voiced a cartoon version of himself for an episode of the television show Futurama
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Fact:
Was a life-long smoker
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Fact:
Switched to cigars rather than cigarettes after his strokes in 2004
