Born in East Cleveland, he graduated from Shaw High School and Kent State University.
After suffering from a stroke and heart failure, he died in Hillcrest Hospital, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, on October 3, 2015.
[2] From 1967 to 1994, Bollen wrote and drew the comic strip Animal Crackers, his most successful feature which was translated into several languages.
[2] Together with his second wife Marilyn Sadler, Bollen produced more than 50 children's books.
[3] Bollen and Sadler together wrote the CGI-animated children's television series Handy Manny, where they also served as executive producers.