Skip to content

Was Popeye the Sailor Man Based on a Real Person?

Do you remember Popeye the Sailor Man comic strips and cartoons? In recent months we’ve noticed a circulating Facebook post that says Popeye was based on a real person. The posts link to an article in Nautica News that claims Elzie Crisler Segar’s Popeye character was modeled upon Frank “Rocky” Fiegel, a man who lived in Segar’s hometown of Chester, Illinois. The post also shows the photo below in which it’s easy to see the resemblances to Segar’s Popeye. True story? Being the skeptics that we are, we decided to spend a little time searching Google to see what we could dig up.

We typed “Popeye the Sailor Man” into Google’s search bar and were rewarded with a full page of links to animated Popeye cartoons on YouTube. Next we found numerous references to Popeye’s famous theme song — “I’m Popeye the Sailor Man, I live in a garbage …” Oops, wrong version. Again, the songs were all linked to YouTube. So far there was no other reference to Popeye’s being based on a real-life person. Until we uncovered this — an article published on the website wearethemighty.com.

Popeye photo from Imperial War Museum
This is the photo that has been circulating on Facebook.
© 2021 IWM A 849

According to the article, although Segar’s town was full of characters who were excellent inspiration for his comic-strip cast, Fiegel, the person commonly associated with Popeye, was not at all a spinach-eating sailor but was actually a bartender who was more likely to toss back a few bourbons. The article goes on to say that Fiegel did resemble Popeye: “… he had the same jutting chin, … frame, and trademark pipe as his cartoon counterpart.” He was also known to often get into fist fights while, conversely, he would happily entertain the local kids with his feats of strength. But apparently, the photo that has been circulating on Facebook is that of a British sailor who is listed in the Imperial War Museum as “A Leading Stoker nicknamed ‘Popeye,’ with 21 years in service and fighting aboard the HMS Rodney in 1940.”

Now for some more facts — true or otherwise:

  1. There is an entire website devoted to Popeye. On this page you can learn all about Popeye’s history, and meet his fellow comic-strip crew such as Olive Oyl, Swee’Pea and Bluto. Here you can also purchase Popeye hoodies and barbershop products, and upload Popeye-themed Zoom backgrounds. Who’d have thought? As dubious as this website might sound, we’re giving it a thumbs-up for authenticity as it’s hosted by King Features Syndicate, the same group that published the original Popeye comic strips.
  2. One of our Latitude crew owned a Popeye Big Little Book, which said crewmember claims to have read over and over again as a youngster.
  3. Despite the plethora of information available on the internet and its often-questionable sources, it is indisputable that Popeye remains one of sailing’s favorite heroes — even if he’s not real.
Popeye book
Could this be the very same title that was read over and over again? And is it possible that the book created an unconscious desire to become a sailor?
© 2021 Etsy/TasmanianBeauties

Subscribe/contribute/advertise/sail with Latitude 38 sailing magazine

21 Comments

  1. Cameron Lewis 3 years ago

    SPINACH UP!

    • Bastardo Malo 3 years ago

      I like to smoke my spinach

  2. Tim Dick 3 years ago

    Fascinating and amazing – thanks!

  3. steve hancock 3 years ago

    Many years ago I saw a book about Popeye that was written by Bud Sagendorf, who took over comic books and strip art after Mr Segar died. It had a photo of the real man who inspired Segar, and bless him he was even uglier than the guy in the photo. I can’t remember the name of the book, but it was by Sagendorf and may have been his autobiography. Hope this helps. in any case, God bless ’em all, they made growing up fun. Thank you

    • Monica Grant 3 years ago

      Hi Steve, Popeye is certainly an interesting legend. There have been multiple images attributed Popeye and it would be interesting to see the photo you’re talking about — I’ve been searching online but haven’t come up with anything new. I guess it will always remain a mystery! Thanks for reading 🙂

    • Randy Dowdy 3 years ago

      Is this Steve Hancock from Cleveland tn

    • Blogzilla 1 year ago

      I don’t think he was ugly at all. How boring the world would be if every handsome or good looking meant Tom Cruise

  4. GBO Gaston 3 years ago

    You should see what Popeye can do with his third leg once he gets a can of two in him. Toot toot

  5. Summer Hardy 2 years ago

    This is my favorite cartoon for sure!

  6. Christopher Brigham 2 years ago

    This is an excellent article! You’ve written a fantastic article. Thanks and keep sharing

  7. Charlie Albert 2 years ago

    This is my favorite cartoon , I like this alot!

  8. J E (EVON) Smith 2 years ago

    Shame on the third leg comment olive oil is embarrassed

  9. Victoria Gomez 2 years ago

    Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with the how-to’s!!!! It is so appreciated!!!

  10. Craig 2 years ago

    The picture even has the anchor on the sleeve like the cartoon popeye has an anchor tattoo.Wouldnt be surprised if the guy in the pic was a reference.

  11. Dan 2 years ago

    Popeye is going to be one of those characters who, most likely is a blend of several people, like those who voiced him. The creator would tell you, his out, Popeye is whomever you want him to be. He’s not necessarily this man or that man. He’s whomever you want him to be. He’s like Superman or Batman. Not George Reeves or is he? Not Adam West as Batman or is he? Notice how neither man ever bulked up for their rolls. If they were soft & pudgy like the actors who followed they were soft & pudgy (doughy) because they desired the motivation & intestinal fortitude to do so plus the suit out shown their acting anyway. Well the vehicles they drove did as well. A lot of money to be made by being squishy & gooy.

  12. Sir Wayne Kerr (historian) 1 year ago

    Usual American bullshiit! Since when has an American had a personality. He was a hard drinking fighting Englishman always to be found around the rough docks of BRITAIN ??????

    • Hank Czemierzewski 1 year ago

      He was in fact a Polak who immigrated to Wisconsin in the late 1860’s and joined the US Navy.

    • Major Charlie Markham, USMC 4 months ago

      Oh he had personality! Like all British sailors he hung at the docks giving young men oral advice……wink wink….”say no more!”

  13. Ron Strickler 12 months ago

    The picture was likely the opposite, someone who modeled themselves after Popeye, he’s been around since the 20s-30s. The original Max Fleischer cartoons were amazing in that they had several layers of perspective all animated at the same time, so things that appeared farther away moved across the screen slower than things appearing closer, truly gave it a 3 dimensional look.

  14. Abel Rodriguez 6 months ago

    Thats not Popeye. That guy is British.

  15. Joseph F. Elliott 3 months ago

    Popeye is absolutely based on Frank “Rocky” Fiegel. Click on the link below.
    The creator of Popeye and Fiegel lived in the same town and Seger grew up listening to Fiegel’s stories.

    If you type, “Is Popeye a Real Person,” in the search bar, you will get rewarded with many stories of Fiegel being the inspiration for, “Popeye.”

    https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=070-08-02&category=popeye-the-real-man#:~:text=The%20History%20of%20the%20Real,was%20Frank%20%22Rocky%22%20Fiegel.

Leave a Reply




The Resourceful Sailor Series
It came to my attention that the pushpit mounted propane tank obstructed the stern light's visibility. I decided a redesign was in order.