born March 26, 1904, New York, N.Y., U.S.
died Oct. 31, 1987, Honolulu, Hawaii
U.S. author of works on comparative mythology.
He studied English literature and taught at Sarah Lawrence College. He explored the common functions of myths in human cultures, examining mythic archetypes in folklore and literature from around the world. His views, strongly influenced by Carl Gustav Jung , were popularized through a public-television series in the 1980s. His books include The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) and The Masks of God (4 vol., 1959–67).