The Real Popeye

Frank "Rocky" Fiegel (January 27, 1868 - March 24, 1947) was a real-life person from Chester, Illinois who inspired the Thimble Theatre character, Popeye.

Rocky was a well-known Chester individual and something of a local legend. He supposedly had an inordinate strength and often participated in fights. Like Popeye, he smoked a pipe and was toothless. He is said to have been kind to children as well. Incidentally, Wimpy and Olive Oyl were also based on real people.