Yao Youduo (1937-2001) was a native of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Since childhood, he loved painting and showed outstanding talents. When he was young, he devoted himself to the creation of comics and became a professional painter. In his early years, he was engaged in the creation of comic strips. In 1952, he was appointed as a creator of Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House. In 1956, he was admitted to the Chinese Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and was taught by masters such as Jiang Zhaohe, Ye Qianyu, Li Keran, and Li Kuchan. In 1959, he graduated from the Chinese Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and stayed on as a teacher.

Yao was known for his Chinese paintings. He was the brother of Yao Youxin.