Paddington Bear Creator
Michael Bond
Dead at 91
6/28/2017 6:24 AM PDT
Breaking News
Michael Bond — the creator of the cuddly Paddington Bear that sparked a series of famous children’s books — has died.
Bond’s publisher HarperCollins announced the author died Tuesday in his home following a short illness. Bond’s first book in 1958 — “A Bear Called Paddington” — sparked a hugely popular series of children’s books, an animated TV series and, ultimately, the successful 2014 flick.
The books alone were a worldwide phenomenon … selling more than 35 million copies. There’s a sequel slated to be released later this year.
The marmalade-loving, friendly bear who traveled from the “deepest, darkest Peru” to London came about when Bond spotted a lonely teddy bear sitting on a shelf in a shop back in 1956. He called it Paddington because he was living near a station with the same name.
Bond was 91.