If you grew up with those weird, chunky, red-sneaker-wearing cats plastered over every coffee mug and calendar in the eighties, you know the name Kliban. But while Bernard "Hap" Kliban passed away decades ago, people are still constantly asking one thing: is Judith Kliban still alive? It's a fair question. She’s lived a life that sounds like a Hollywood script—marrying a legendary cartoonist, then a TV icon, all while guarding one of the most recognizable art legacies in the world.
The Current Status of Judith Kliban
As of 2026, the short answer is yes. Judith Kliban (born Judith Kamman) is alive. She has spent much of her recent years living a relatively private life, splitting her time between the lush landscapes of Maui and the rugged beauty of New Zealand. Honestly, she hasn't just been "alive"; she’s been the engine room.
She isn't just a "widow" in the traditional sense. She is an artist, a designer, and the literal gatekeeper of the B. Kliban brand.
For those who think she just retired to a beach somewhere, think again. She’s still the "Numero Uno" when it comes to the licensing and design of those famous cats. In fact, if you see a new Kliban calendar or a special edition print—like the ones circulating in 2026—Judith's hands are likely all over the curation.
📖 Related: Leaked Photos of Famous People: Why the Internet Never Forgets
A Life Between Two Icons
To understand Judith, you have to look at the 1990s. It was a whirlwind. After Hap Kliban died unexpectedly in 1990 from a pulmonary embolism, Judith was left with a massive artistic estate. She didn't just sit on it. She learned to draw the Cat herself—Hap actually insisted she learn before he died—and she kept the business running as a "cottage industry."
Then things got even more intense.
In 1993, she married Bill Bixby. You know him—The Incredible Hulk, The Courtship of Eddie's Father. It was a beautiful but heartbreaking chapter. Bixby was battling prostate cancer at the time. They married on a bluff overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, a moment that felt both triumphant and somber. Sadly, Bixby passed away just weeks after their wedding.
That’s a lot for anyone to handle. Losing two husbands, both public figures, in the span of three years? It’s heavy.
Why She Chose Hawaii and New Zealand
People wonder why she "disappeared" from the California scene. Basically, she went where the art was.
- Maui: This is where the official "B. Kliban Cats" live. She maintains a home there, along with a colony of feral cats that she takes care of.
- New Zealand: Judith spent about a decade living part-time on the South Island. She’s a serious landscape painter. She needed the space, the light, and the quiet to pursue her own fine arts career outside of the "cartoon" world.
The Mystery of the "New" Drawings
There is a common misconception that all Kliban art is "old" art. Not true.
While most products feature Hap’s original 1970s and 80s ink drawings, Judith has contributed her own work to the archives. She trained at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She knows her stuff. She’s an art director by trade. When people ask is Judith Kliban still alive, they’re often really asking if the brand is still active.
✨ Don't miss: Jimmy Carter Kids Ages: What Most People Get Wrong About the Carter Family Today
It is.
She’s maintained a "fanatical" standard for quality. She doesn't just slap the cat on anything. That’s why the brand hasn’t faded into obscurity like other 80s fads. It’s handled with a designer's eye, not just a marketer's greed.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often confuse her with Hap’s first wife, M.K. Brown (another brilliant cartoonist). Or they think she was just a "manager."
In reality, Judith was a collaborator. She lived in Japan with Hap for months, absorbing the aesthetics of Zen and Buddhism, which heavily influenced the later design choices of the Kliban brand. She wasn't just answering phones. She was shaping the visual language of a global phenomenon.
Final Word on Judith Kliban
Judith Kliban remains a formidable figure in the art world, even if she prefers the quiet of a Hawaiian feral cat colony over the spotlight of a gallery opening. She has successfully navigated grief, fame, and the complex world of intellectual property while remaining a working artist in her own right.
💡 You might also like: Is Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead? What Really Happened With the Rumors
If you are looking to support her work or find authentic Kliban gear, stick to the official licensed sources.
Next steps you can take:
- Check out the latest B. Kliban 2026 Special Edition calendars to see Judith’s recent curation work.
- Look into her landscape paintings if you want to see the "fine art" side of her career that exists beyond the cartoons.
- Support local feral cat colonies in your area—a cause Judith has championed for decades.