Edd Gould was a British cartoonist, animator, director, and voice actor born on October 28, 1988. He was known for creating the media franchise “Eddsworld,” consisting of flash animations and webcomics featuring fictionalized counterparts of Gould, his longtime collaborators Thomas Ridgewell and Matt Hargreaves, and several other characters. Gould had been fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia for six years until he passed away in 2012. As of 2022, the “Eddsworld” YouTube channel has 3.8 million subscribers. Let’s take a look at the journey of this inspiring young artist.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Edward Duncan Ernest Gould
Nickname:
Edd
Birth date:
October 28, 1988
Death date:
March 25, 2012 (age 23)
Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio
Height:
6' 3"
Background
Edward Duncan Ernest Gould, better known as Edd Gould, was born in Isleworth, London, on October 28, 1988, to Duncan and Susan Gould. Gould attended the Orleans Park School, where he met his future collaborator, Matt Hargreaves. In 2002, he started making GIF animations he published on Stick Figure Death Theater. When the website no longer accepted GIF entries, Gould began to learn flash animation. Soon after, he met Thomas Ridgewell and Tord Larsson. They became friends, and Gould eventually featured them in “Eddsworld.” In 2003, Gould published his first entry on Newgrounds, titled “Edd.” The first “Eddsworld” video was posted on his YouTube channel in 2006.
Gould was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006. But despite his illness, he continued his education at the University for the Creative Arts (U.C.A.M.) in Maidstone, England, and began his animation career in 2008. He joined Ridgewell’s creative media group, Cake Bomb, in the same year and voiced the “I Like Trains” kid in “Asdfmovie,” an animated YouTube series by TomSka, Ridgewell’s alias. Gould contributed as the animator for the “Asdfmovie” movie’s second episode. In 2011, the artist revealed he had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The announcement was followed by the video “Edd vs. Cancer,” featuring Gould with Ridgewell and Hargreaves as they discussed the diagnosis.
On March 25, 2012, the young animator passed away from recurring infections caused by his illness. His death was announced by Ridgewell and Hargreaves three days later, in the short video “R.I.P. Edd Gould (1988-2012).” Gould’s funeral was held at Isleworth’s All Saints’ Church on April 10, 2012. He was then cremated at the Mortlake Crematorium. Hargreaves and Ridgewell scattered some of Gould’s ashes in Hollywood in July 2012.
Career timeline
Gould starts creating GIF animations and publishes them on Stick Figure Death Theater.
Gould posts his first entry on Newgrounds, titled “Edd.”
Gould uploads “Eddsworld – Tord’s Adventure” to YouTube.
Gould continues his education at U.C.A.M. and begins his career as an animator.
Ridgewell and Hargreaves publish the last episode of “Eddsworld” directed by Gould on YouTube.
Why We Love Edd Gould
He learned to fulfill his dreams
When Gould found that the Stick Figure Death Theater no longer accepted GIF entries, he did not give up. He decided to learn how to make flash animations, which he did for seven months under his mentor, Lavalle Lee.
He pursued what he loved
Gould strove for what he wanted. Despite having cancer, he continued to pursue his passion for animation until the moment he died.
He was dedicated to his fans
In the video “R.I.P. Edd Gould,” Hargreaves and Ridgewell revealed Gould had turned down several business opportunities because he felt they would drive him away from “Eddsworld” and his fans. Gould’s friends also explained that Gould saw his illness as an inconvenience that stopped him from doing what he loved, which was making animations for his fans.
5 Surprising Facts
He liked dubstep
Gould was a fan of dubstep.
He had diverse interests
Gould was fond of the survival game “Evil Dead,” the science fiction T.V. series “Doctor Who,” the internet fiction series “Homestuck,” and the animated children's series “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.”
He loved the “Terminator” parody
Gould’s favorite animation was “WTFuture,” a parody of the “Terminator.”
He was fond of his fictionalized self
Gould’s favorites among his animated counterparts were Tom, Matt, Private Brains, and Eduardo.
His character was featured on his tombstone
The picture of Edd, the character he voiced in “Eddsworld,” was featured on his tombstone with the inscription, “It’s pretty swell.”
Edd Gould FAQs
Is Edd Gould an only child?
He had two siblings: Victoria and George.
What program did Edd Gould use to make his animations?
Gould used Adobe Flash CS3 Professional to create his animations and comics.
Why did Tord Larsson quit “Eddsworld?”
Larsson quit “Eddsworld” in 2008 to pursue his artistic career, but he remained on good terms with Gould and the others.
Edd Gould’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October 28 | Monday |
| 2025 | October 28 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | October 28 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | October 28 | Thursday |
| 2028 | October 28 | Saturday |
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