John Held, Jr. was born on January 10, 1889, to Annie Evans and John Held in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was interested in art from a young age. He became a popular American cartoonist, printmaker, illustrator, sculptor, and author. John was a highly successful magazine illustrator, especially in the 1920s. His most popular works included cartoons of people dancing, driving, playing sports, and engaging in other popular activities of the era. He also created several linocut and woodblock prints on handmade paper. Held was married four times. He had three adopted children with his second wife and one daughter with his third wife. Held died on March 2, 1958, in Belmar, New Jersey, and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.