Pierre Culliford, Smurfs' Creator, Hadn't Expected Cartoon's Success

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Pierre Culliford, whose blue, four-fingered Smurfs defied his prediction that they would be short-lived fad, died yesterday. He was 64.

Culliford, known by the pen name "Peyo," died at his Brussels home one month after the publication of his 16th Smurf book, said his publisher, Editions Lombard SA. The announcement gave no cause of death.

In the 34 years since the Smurfs first tumbled onto the cartoon scene, their adventures have been translated into more than 20 languages. The fun-loving dwarfs have been merchandised as toys and household gadgets. They've also starred in films.

Culliford, born in Brussels in 1928, became a cartoonist at a Brussels film company in 1944. He struck out on his own three years later with the medieval adventures of "Johan et Pirlouit," chronicled in the dailies Le Soir and La Derniere Heure.

Known in French as Schtroumpfs, the Smurfs first appeared as extras in the "Johan et Pirlouit" series.

"Three years from now, no one will talk about them any more," Culliford said at the time.

Smurfs now have fans worldwide, and are known by such varied names as "Smurfies" in South Africa, "Strunfs" in Brazil and "Lah-Shin-Lings" in China.

Smurfs speak their own language, often using the word "smurf" as an all-purpose verb.

Culliford said he made the Smurfs blue because it is a child's color. He rejected yellow because it reminded him of illness, and red because he thought it too violent.

Culliford is survived by his wife and two children.