Reg Smythe, 81, who created and drew the politically incorrect comic character Andy Capp for more than 40 years, died of cancer yesterday at his home in northeastern England. The exploits of Andy and his long-suffering wife Flo were syndicated in 1,700 newspapers in 48 countries and even turned into a musical and a TV series.

Andy Capp will live on for a while. "Reg was so prolific, there is at least a year's supply of cartoons left," said Ken Layson, cartoon editor for Mirror Group Newspapers in London, which began publishing the strip in 1957.

Pub Date: 6/14/98