John Longendorfer was born in Camden New Jersey in 1930. As a teenager he had an interest in art and produced numerous paintings and drawings of antique cars. This would soon bring Longendorfer to his deep interest in fantasy and medieval history. He recieved training in art at the Philadelphia College of art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. During the 1970's he had the original Golden Fish Gallery in Philadelphia, PA, in the South Street area. He has shown his work at a number of science fiction conventions and juried art shows. Longendorfer has earned awards at a variety of art shows and is a recipient of the Chesley Award presented by the American Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art for his body of work.