Gerald Lazara, or Gerry/Jerry Lazare, was born in Toronto and left school at age sixteen to draw comic strips for Canada's Golden Age comic publisher, Bell Features. There, he produced such features 'Nitro', 'Phantom Rider', 'The Wing', 'The Dreamer', 'Drummy Young' and 'Air Woman', among others. He then became an illustrator for Saturday Night Press, Bomac Engravers, Clement Salias Inc. and Art Associates. In 1956 Lazare started his freelance career working for magazines, books and television in Canada. In the United States he created historical paintings and murals for museums and governments.