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Garfield was born June 19 1978 in the kitchen of Mama Leone's
Italian restaurant. He was 5 pounds 6 ounces-that's big for
a kitten!-and ever since then he loved Italian food. The restaurant
owner, forced to choose between Garfield and closing his doors for
lack of pasta, sold Garfield to a pet store. Garfield thought he was
a goner until Jon Arbuckle walked in the door.

On August 7, 1978 Lyman appeared on Jon's doorstep and said,
"I'm cold. I'm hungry. I'm weak. Take me in!" And Jon let him stay,
but Lyman had brought a dog. The dog's name was Odie. Then Lyman
disappeared and left Odie behind and he never came back.

On October 10, 1978 Garfield found Pooky. He loved the bear
and held onto him.
On November 6, 1978 Garfield started having nap attacks.

On March 26, 1979 Garfield became the Caped Avenger who searches
out evil wherever it may lurk.

On May 14, 1979 Garfield's stomach finally outgrew his legs.
All that Lasagne!

On September 3, 1979 Garfield first met Nermal the world's cutest kitten.
Garfield says "He's cute... and I hate 'cute'."

On March 30, 1980 was Garfield's first cat show. . Garfield remains very popular
and is a big seller in the products market.

LORENZO  (1937-2001)

Lorenzo was not that character's first voice.  That honor belonged to Scott Beach, a San Francisco radio personality who spoke for Garfield when the cat was first animated for a brief TV appearance.  When CBS ordered up an entire Garfield special, Davis -- not quite happy with the choice that had been made -- inaugurated a major casting search for the perfect, permanent sound.  Hundreds of actors were heard and re-heard before Lorenzo tried-out and Jim said, almost instantaneously, "That's the one." 

click Garfield and Odie for more