http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i666fc0408...

'Peanuts' animator Bill Melendez dies
Responsible for 'Charlie Brown Christmas,' 'Great Pumpkin'
By Mike Barnes
Sept 3, 2008, 02:26 PM ET

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."

Melendez, who sported a handle bar mustache for decades, began his
career at Walt Disney Studios and worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia,
Bambi, Dumbo and classic Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons. He
then moved to Warners to animate Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and
others. He worked under the monikers C. Melendez or J.C. Melendez.

Bill Melendez Prods., its sister studio Melendez Films in London and
Sopwith Prods. (Melendez's art distribution unit) will continue to
animate, direct and produce features and commercials.

Melendez is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen; two sons, Steven
Melendez and (Ret.) Navy Rear Admiral Rodrigo Melendez; six
grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. A memorial service will
take place for family only.

Donations can be made in Melendez's name to Children's Hospital Los
Angeles.