Cartoons

George Lowe (1957–2025), Space Ghost Coast to Coast star

George Lowe was an actor best known for providing the voice of Space Ghost on the Cartoon Network series “Space Ghost Coast to Coast.”

Andy Paley (1952–2024), SpongeBob SquarePants composer

Andy Paley was a veteran record producer and songwriter who worked with icons like the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Chris Isaak, and and composed music for shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Ren & Stimpy.”

David Graham (1925–2024), voice of the Daleks in Doctor Who

David Graham was a British voice actor best known for his work on “Doctor Who,” where he voiced the Daleks; for voicing Grandpa Pig on “Peppa Pig;” and for playing several characters on the “Thunderbirds” shows and films.

Peter Renaday (1935–2024), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voice actor

Peter Renaday was a longtime voice actor best known for his work as Splinter in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and for a wide variety of voices for Disney, including Abraham Lincoln at Disney World’s Hall of Presidents.

Rachael Lillis (1969–2024), voiced both Misty and Jessie in Pokémon

Rachael Lillis was a voice actress best known as the voices of Misty and Jessie in the hit animated series “Pokémon.” 

Edward Bleier (1929–2023), brought Looney Tunes to TV 

Edward Bleier was a former Warner Bros. executive and past president who introduced Looney Tunes to television, and who later helped pioneer cable television services and special interest channels. 

Jimmy Weldon (1923–2023), voice of Yakky Doodle duck 

Jimmy Weldon was a longtime ventriloquist, best known for voicing Hanna-Barbera's cartoon duck, Yakky Doodle, and for his puppet character, Webster Webfoot.

George Newall (1934–2022), “Schoolhouse Rock” co-creator

George Newall was the last surviving co-creator of the iconic “Schoolhouse Rock” series of educational cartoon shorts.

George Booth (1926–2022), cartoonist for the New Yorker

George Booth was a cartoonist for the New Yorker, who drew the magazine’s unofficial mascot of a bull terrier.

Jack Angel (1930–2021), voice actor in “Super Friends,” “Transformers”

Jack Angel was a voice actor in cartoons including “Super Friends,” “Transformers,” and “The Smurfs.”

Paul Soles (1930–2021), original voice of Spider-Man

Paul Soles was a Canadian actor best known as the original voice of Spider-Man in the 1967 animated series, as well as the voice of Hermey the Elf in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Samuel E. Wright (1946–2021), voice of Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid”

Samuel E. Wright was an actor and singer known for roles including providing the voice of Sebastian the crab in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

David Hemblen (1941–2020), actor who voiced Magneto in “X-Men: The Animated Series”

David Hemblen was an actor known for live-action roles as well as voice roles including Magneto in “X-Men: The Animated Series.”

Ken Spears (1938–2020), Scooby-Doo co-creator

Ken Spears was a TV writer and producer best known for co-creating Scooby-Doo.

Joe Ruby (1933–2020), Scooby-Doo co-creator

Joe Ruby was an animator who was the co-creator of the iconic cartoon character Scooby-Doo.

Julie Bennett (1932–2020), “Yogi Bear” voice actress

Julie Bennett was an actress best known for her voice work, including providing the voice of Cindy Bear on “The Yogi Bear Show” and later Yogi Bear cartoons.

Fred “Curly” Neal (1942–2020), Harlem Globetrotters legend

Fred “Curly” Neal  was a legend, delighting crowds for 22 years with his ball handling skill and big smile. Neal played basketball at Johnson C. Smith University, averaging 23 points a game. He played on the Globetrotters from 1963 until 1985 and was a fan favorite. He would dribble through the other team, daring them to steal the ball and was a dead-on shooter. He was nicknamed “Curly” after the bald headed member of the Three Stooges. He appeared in the Harlem Globetrotters cartoon in the 1970s and a TV movie with the cast of “Gilligan’s Island.” His number 22 was retired and hung in the rafters at Madison Square Garden in 2008.  

William Dufris (1958–2020), original voice of Bob the Builder

William Dufris was a voice actor best known as the original voice of Bob the Builder on the children’s animated series. He was also an award-winning audiobook narrator and producer.

20 years after Charles Schulz's death, Charlie Brown & Snoopy live on

When died on February 12, 2000, he had been writing and drawing his beloved comic strip, “Peanuts,” starring the ever-worried schoolchild Charlie Brown and his beagle, Snoopy, for nearly 50 years.

Andrea Arruti (1998–2020), voice of Elsa in Spanish-language “Frozen”

Andrea Arruti was a Mexican voice actress who provided the voice of Elsa in the Spanish-language version of Disney’s “Frozen.” Her other voiceover credits include the Spanish-language versions of Diamond Tiara in “My Little Pony,” Neeko in “League of Legends,” Brigitte in “Phineas and Ferb,” Makini in “The Lion Guard,” and others.

J. Michael Mendel (1964–2019), “The Simpsons” and “Rick and Morty” producer

J. Michael Mendel was an Emmy Award-winning producer who worked on television shows including “The Simpsons” and “Rick and Morty.”

Russi Taylor (1944–2019), voice of Minnie Mouse and “Simpsons” characters

Russi Taylor was the voice of Minnie Mouse for more than 30 years, as well as providing many other cartoon voices including “The Simpsons” characters Martin, íœter, and twins Sherri and Terri.

Bud Luckey (1934–2018), animator designed Woody for “Toy Story”

Voice actor for “The Incredibles” and “Winnie the Pooh.”

Heather North (1945 – 2017), the voice of Scooby-Doo’s Daphne

Heather North first entered show biz as a child in the 1950s, singing and competing in pageants. As a young adult in the 1960s, she began appearing on television in shows like “My Three Sons,” “Gidget,” and “The Monkees.” She co-starred alongside Kurt Russell — and a chimpanzee — in the 1971 Disney movie “The Barefoot Executive.” But what most fans will affectionately remember her for is her thirty-year stint on "Scooby-Doo," performing the voice of danger-prone Daphne Blake.

Frank Barron, the eclectic writing career of a Hollywood character

Frank Barron, who had a varied career as a writer in Hollywood, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, according to The Los Angeles Daily News. He was 98.

June Foray (1917 - 2017), voice of Cindy Lou Who

Legendary voice actor voiced Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Cindy Lou Who…

Jack Riley (1935 - 2016), The Bob Newhart Show actor

Jack Riley, a veteran comic actor who appeared on “The Bob Newhart Show,” died Aug. 19, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 80.

Janet Waldo (1919 - 2016), voice of Judy Jetson

Janet Waldo, the voice actress behind characters including Judy Jetson of "The Jetsons" and Josie of "Josie and the Pussycats," died June 12, 2016. She was 96.

Alan Young (1919 - 2016), Mister Ed star

Correction: After the publication of this obituary, Alan Young's date of death was determined to be May 19, 2016.

You're a Good Man, Vince Guaraldi

If you know the name Vince Guaraldi, you probably associate it with one iconic piece of music.

Winnie-the-Pooh (and A. A. Milne Too)

A. A. Milne, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, was born Jan. 18, 1882 and died Jan. 31, 1956.

The Simpsons Marathon

Starting today, cable network FXX began airing "The Simpsons," from 1989's "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" to this year's "The Yellow Badge of Cowardge." Be on the lookout for some of these unforgettable guests.

Honoring Walt Disney

Ninety years ago today, two brothers founded a company that would become world famous, beloved by all ages, and record smashing. The brothers were Walt and Roy Disney, and the company, of course, bore their last name.

Mel Blanc: Man of a Thousand Voices

One hundred and five years ago, a voice was born … or was it a thousand voices?

Charles Schulz: The Man Behind Peanuts

As we prepare to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas," here are 20 facts about Charles Schulz's life and career....

Daws Butler: Smarter than the Average Bear

Daws Butler voiced some of the best-loved characters in cartoon history. So grab your pic-a-nic basket and let's go-go-go!

Robert Sherman's Catchy Tunes

Robert B. Sherman wrote songs that are bound to stick in your head for hours – maybe even days – after you hear them. Sherman was one half of the Sherman Brothers songwriting team, along with younger brother Richard. In addition to "it's a small world (after all)" – the most played song on earth – they wrote other Disney park classics like “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” theme song for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. Before you write them off, you should know that they also wrote more movie scores than any other songwriting duo in history.

The Creations of Alex Anderson

Rocky and Bullwinkle creator Alex Anderson died Oct. 22, 2010 at age 90. We take a look back at his career and the lovable moose and flying squirrel he's remembered for.

Peter Fernandez, Voice of Speed Racer

Fans of anime and manga owe a debt of gratitude to Peter Fernandez, who helped bring "Speed Racer" to American audiences in the 1960s.