Nintendo originally intended for their iconic game Donkey Kong to be based on the Popeye comic strip, but were unable to obtain the license and thus created their own characters instead.
A statue of Popeye was erected in Crystal City, Texas in 1937 to pay tribute to the character's role in the town's prosperity during the Great Depression, making it the first-ever statue of a cartoon character dedicated in the character's honor.
Popeye's planned land at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure was scrapped in favor of the Comic Strip Landing area.
In Popeye's earliest comics, he gained his strength from rubbing a whiffle hen's head, not from spinach.
Popeye was a minor character in the early days of Thimble Theatre, with Olive Oyl and her relationship with Ham Gravy being the primary focus.
Contrary to popular belief, the baby often seen with Popeye and Olive Oyl, Swee' Pea, is actually Popeye's adopted child, left on his doorstep by Swee' Pea's biological mother.
Popeye initially started as a minor character in the comic strip Thimble Theatre, but quickly became a fan favorite and eventually led to the strip being renamed after him.
Popeye inspired a popular dance in the '60s called the Popeye, which mimicked the character's movements and mannerisms.
Popeye's influence on popular culture extends to the popularization of the insult "goon" and the origin of the term "wimp."
Popeye's popularity during the Great Depression led to an increase in spinach sales and made it the third most popular kids' food after ice cream and turkey.