Few people know that the beloved cartoon sailor Popeye was inspired by a real person. His name was Frank “Rocky” Fiegel, born in Poland in 1868, who later emigrated with his family to the United States. In 1887, he joined the U.S. Navy, where his legendary strength and adventurous spirit began to take shape.

Frank was known for his playful interactions with children. He would puff his pipe at the corner of his mouth, just like Popeye, and regale them with stories from his youth. He often boasted about his physical prowess and humorously declared that spinach was the secret to his invincibility—a trait that would become Popeye’s signature.

The cartoon’s creator, Elzie Crisler Segar, grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania, and as a child had the privilege of hearing “live” stories from the former sailor himself. These tales of strength, courage, and a love for spinach directly inspired the creation of one of the most enduring and iconic characters in cartoon history.

Frank “Rocky” Fiegel may be gone, but his legacy lives on every time Popeye flexes his muscles and chomps on a can of spinach