> 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.
>
> --
> Sean
> :(