'Peanuts' animator Bill Melendez dies at 91

[ALIASd]

'Peanuts' animator Bill Melendez dies

Responsible for 'Charlie Brown Christmas,' 'Great Pumpkin'

By Mike Barnes
The Hollywood Reporter
Sept 3, 2008, 02:26 PM ET


Bill Melendez

Bill Melendez, best known for bringing the Peanuts characters to life with such classics as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," died Tuesday at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. He was 91.

Melendez, the only animator permitted by Charles M. Schulz to work with the Peanuts characters, earned eight Emmy Awards, 17 Emmy nominations, one Oscar nomination and two Peabody Awards. He began his career at Disney and Warner Bros., working on classic characters at those studios, and spent more than 70 years in the entertainment industry.

In 1948, the Mexican native left Warner Bros. and for more than a decade served as a director and producer on more than 1,000 commercials and films for United Productions of America, Playhouse Pictures and John Sutherland Prods.

It was at UPA that Melendez started doing work for the New York-based J. Walter Thompson ad agency, whose client included Ford. The carmaker expressed interest in using the Peanuts characters to sell its cars on TV, and in 1959 Melendez prepared his animation work and showed it to Peanuts creator Schulz.

Melendez went on to bring Charlie Brown and his pals to the screen in more than 63 half-hour specials, five one-hour specials, four feature films and more than 372 commercials. In addition to perennial favorites "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965) and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (1966), Melendez produced the Oscar-nominated "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (1971), "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (1973), "She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown" (1980) and "You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown" (1975). He also provided the voices for Snoopy and Woodstock through the years.

Melendez also animated TV specials "Garfield on the Town," "Cathy," "Babar Comes to America" and "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe," among others. He shared an Emmy in 1987 for outstanding animated program with three others for "Cathy."

His last credit was as a producer for 2006 TV special "He's A Bully, Charlie Brown."

'Peanuts' animator Bill Melendez dies

[PrincessY]

How sad! I love his work! But 91 is a good run. RIP

[Hayley B]

Originally Posted by PrincessY

How sad! I love his work! But 91 is a good run. RIP

I 2nd all that.

[Olympicnut]

Awwww. He did a fantastic job of bringing those characters to life. God speed Bill.

[Joshrzmeup]

How sad!!! RIP to a good man.

[Anders]

Rest in Peace Bill! A truely talented artist!

[Rex Dopey24]

Rip.

[TifaOnACloud]

Yet another great animator leaves us. The Peanuts cartoons, particularly A Charlie Brown Christmas meant so much to me as a child and helped shape my appreciation of animation, as well as Schulz' comic. His influence on me is immeasurable. I'm crushed to hear this.

RIP

[Ride Warrior]

Good Grief! We'll miss you Bill. You were an unsung hero. One can only hope that you and Charles are reuniting in spirit this day.

[Alchimedes]

Rest easy Bill! Your work is truly loved and not forgotten.

[Dustysage]

Ah man. That is sad. We just watched Great Pumpkin on Monday night. Fishbulb is going to be so bummed out.

[Athlonacon]

At 91 he lived to see a lot of things. He touched a lot of young hearts and will never be forgotten. RIP Bill.

[Disney Wrassler]

Bon Voyage, Bill Melendez! .

[o-b-1]

wow this is really sad, he was one of my idles. Bill Melendez will be missed by many. But living til 91 years of age is a pretty good life.

May Bill Melendez rest in peace.