| Bob Barnes | |
| Birth Name: | Robert Leslie Barnes[1] |
| Birth Date: | March 8, 1913[2] |
| Birth Place: | Portland, Oregon, U.S.[3] |
| Death Place: | Carmel Valley, California, U.S. |
| Nationality: | American |
| Cartoonist: | y |
| Notable Works: | The Better Half (1956–1971) |
| Awards: | National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award, 1958 |
| Spouse: | Ruth |
Robert Leslie Barnes (March 8, 1913 – November 12, 1970)[4] was an American comic strip artist most notable for his marriage-themed gag panel The Better Half.
Barnes' first syndicated panel was Laugh of the Week / Laff of the Week from 1947 to 1951 succeeded by Double-Take from 1952 to 1957. Barnes launched The Better Half with the Register and Tribune Syndicate in 1956, doing the strip until his death from cancer on November 12, 1970. A few strips appeared after his death, continuing until 1971.
He received the National Cartoonists Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for The Better Half in 1958.[5]
His wife, Ruth, collaborated with him on his work, and took over writing The Better Half upon his demise.