J. C. Suares was a graphic designer and illustrator. During his lifetime, he designed or redesigned numerous publications including New York, the New York Times, and Variety. His illustrations also appeared in numerous publications including the New Yorker, Atlantic, and Publishers Weekly. He designed, wrote and illustrated more than 100 books including Hollywood Dogs, Funny Babies, Manhattan, Art of the Times, The Hollywood Dictionary, Sexy Dogs, and The Big Book of Cats. He died of a bacterial heart infection on July 30, 2013 at the age of 71.