'Barney Google' artist dies

TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- The man who drew the "Barney Google" comic strip for more than a half-century -- and gave Americans such experessions as "heebie-jeebies" and "horsefeathers" -- died Sunday morning.

Fred Lasswell, 84, suffered a heart attack at his home and was pronounced dead about 6:30 a.m. (ET) at a Tampa hospital, Tampa police said.

Lasswell began drawing the "Barney Goodle and Snuffy Smith" comic strip in 1942, taking over from the strip's creator Billy DeBeck.

Today, the syndicated comic strip appears in 11 languages and 21 countries.

Tampa police said Lasswell was with a caretaker at his home when he was stricken.

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