Charles Addams was an American cartoonist best known for his darkly humorous illustrations that often depicted macabre themes. Born on January 7, 1912, in Westfield, New Jersey, he gained fame for his work in The New Yorker, where his cartoons frequently featured quirky characters and bizarre situations. Addams is perhaps most famous for creating The Addams Family, a fictional household that includes characters like Gomez, Morticia, and Wednesday Addams. The family first appeared in his cartoons in the 1930s and later inspired a successful television series, movies, and various adaptations, solidifying Addams's legacy in popular culture.