Cause of death: Hepatic insufficiency
Harvey Ross Ball (July 10, 1921 – April 12, 2001) was an American commercial artist. He is recognized as the inventor of the popular smiley face graphic picture, which became an enduring and notable international icon. He never applied for a trademark for the iconic smiley image and only earned $45 for his efforts. Ball later founded the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation in 1999, a non-profit charitable trust that supports children's causes.
Source : Wikipedia
