Animator, writer and executive Joe Ruby — who, with partner Ken Spears, created beloved Saturday morning cartoons such as Hanna-Barbera’s Jabberjaw, Dynomutt and … Ken Spears’s first wife, Sandra (Mathison) Spears, died in 2007. Joe Ruby Dies, Scooby-Doo Co-Creator Was 87. VideoVaccine divides in the Middle East, .css-1ty7601-HeadlineContainer{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;width:100%;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.375rem;}.css-ftbx47-Heading{width:100%;}Chinese and Indian troops 'in new border clash'.css-2nuv1h-Rank{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.75rem;font-weight:normal;padding-left:0.75rem;color:#B80000;}@media (min-width:37.5rem){.css-2nuv1h-Rank{font-size:2rem;line-height:2.25rem;}}1, Actress Argento accuses director Cohen of assault2, What it's like under one of world's strictest lockdowns3, Boeing 737 Max cleared to fly again 'too early'4, Wealthiest 10 men could 'pay for vaccines for all'5, Russia hits out at West as it downplays protests6, China takes new foreign investment top spot from US7, Nine found dead after China gold mine collapse8, Clashes erupt during Dutch Covid curfew demo10. Joe Ruby was an American animator, television editor, writer, and producer; the co-founder with Ken Spears of television animation production company Ruby-Spears Productions. The 'punchline queen' who offended Chinese men, What it's like under one of world's strictest lockdowns. Joe Ruby, the co-creator of the cartoon series Scooby-Doo, has died aged 87. Heather North, the voice of Scooby-Doo's Daphne, dies at 71, Are Egypt's dreams of democracy still alive? Ken Spears, the animation veteran who co-created the character of Scooby-Doo and oversaw Saturday morning kids programming at CBS and ABC, all with his longtime creative partner, Joe Ruby… Animation writer and executive Joe Ruby, who created cartoon series including “Scooby-Doo” along with his partner Ken Spears, died of natural causes Wednesday in … Spears’ son, Kev… Ken died last Friday following a long illness. After serving in the US navy, Ruby began his television career at Walt Disney Productions, before meeting Spears while working at Hanna-Barbera Productions. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Ken Spears, known best as the co-creator of the animated series Scooby-Doo, has died. No Comments on In Memoriam: Joe Ruby and Ken Spears I’m going to list these two together, even though Mr. Ruby passed away a few months ago and Mr. Spears died just last week. VideoAre Egypt's dreams of democracy still alive? To Joe and Ken, thank you both for a franchise that continues to this day. He is survived by his wife Carole, their four children and grandchildren. At least he’s with Joseph Barbera. "Since the sixties Joe Ruby and Ken Spears have been the most successful writing, creating, and producing team in Saturday morning television. Video, Actress Argento accuses director Cohen of assault, Boeing 737 Max cleared to fly again 'too early', Wealthiest 10 men could 'pay for vaccines for all', China takes new foreign investment top spot from US, Clashes erupt during Dutch Covid curfew demo. ", He added: "We decided we wanted to do the big loveable one as the kids would relate to him, and from a writing point of view it was just more fun in our heads.". He was 82. Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, Kumiko Okae, Kirby Morrow, Chiang Tu-Hui. “It’s amazing,” he added, “that two guys who met in the editing room while cutting film could wind up writing and producing so much material that would end up on film.”. Animator and Scooby Doo co-creator Joe Ruby has died. “They had a lot of fun together.”, He added that he had once asked his father if he had ever wanted another partner. The dreadful 80's. "We were worried it wouldn't last but one season," Spears later recalled. Scooby-Doo creator Joe Ruby died on August 26, while his co-creator Ken Spears died on November 6. The firm was founded in 1977 by veteran writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. Joe Ruby grew up in LA, graduating from Fairfax High School before joining the US Navy during the Korean War. Are Egypt's dreams of democracy still alive? "We started thinking about all the kinds of dogs we might use, and characters we might have," Ruby told Michael Stailey. Nine found dead after China gold mine collapse, Russia hits out at West as it downplays protests, The homeless addict who became a professor. .css-po6dm6-ItalicText{font-style:italic;}Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. Joe Ruby, best known for co-creating the cartoon Scooby-Doo, died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday Aug. 26, according to Variety.He was 87. The co-founder of production company Ruby-Spears passed away in Westlake Village, CA on Wednesday. Moving to Hanna Barbera as a sound editor, he formed a writing partnership with Ken Spears. He charged them with creating a cartoon series that would be a blend of “I Love a Mystery,” a radio show popular in the 1940s about three friends looking for adventure; the 1948 comedy-horror movie “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”; and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” the popular sitcom that ran from 1959 to 1963 about a teenager looking for love and his slacker beatnik sidekick. It's been just a couple of months since Joe Ruby, one of the creators of Scooby-Doo, passed away. Ruby passed away due to natural causes on August 26, 2020, according to his grandson Benjamin Ruby. A scene from the direct-to-video 2001 movie “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase.” Ken Spears and his partner, Joe Ruby, created the long-running “Scooby-Doo” franchise. A scene from the direct-to-video 2001 movie “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase.” Ken Spears and his partner, Joe Ruby, created the long-running “Scooby-Doo” franchise. Ruby-Spears Productions (also known as Ruby-Spears Enterprises) was a Burbank, California–based American entertainment production company that specialized in animation; with another branch in Rome, Italy. As Mr. Spears said later, he initially had no idea that Mr. Hanna was in the cartoon business; he just liked the salary — $104 a week. He started as a sound editor at Hanna-Barbera in 1959, then in 1969, he and Ruby co-created Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The world might have forgotten about you if not for those meddling kids. A number were hurt in the incident several days ago at Naku La in Sikkim, Indian media say. The team started as sound editors at Hanna-Barbera Studios, branched out into writing, and eventually went on to create “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” "He never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged," said his grandson Benjamin Ruby. He started in sound editing at Hanna-Barbera in 1960, then he and Spears co-created Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Ken was born Charles Kenneth Spears on March 12, 1938, growing up in Los Angeles. Ken Spears was born March 12, 1938 and grew up in the Los Angeles … He was 87. A second marriage ended in divorce. Ken Spears: Except for "Freddy" which was suggested, coincidentally, by CBS head guy, Fred Silverman. “Ken was half of the most important creative team in Saturday-morning animation in the ’70s and ’80s,” Mark Evanier, a television writer who at one time worked for Mr. Spears and Mr. Ruby, said in an email. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Joe Ruby, the co-creator of the cartoon series Scooby-Doo, has died aged 87. Hey, Mr. Stailey, just curious-where did you find Fred Silverman's story? Read about our approach to external linking. Ken Spears, who helped create “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!,” the series starring a gang of mystery-solving teenagers and a hapless, hungry dog that became one of the most lucrative franchises in the history of animation, died on Nov. 6 in Brea, Calif. Now, the other creator, Ruby's friend and associate, Ken Spears, has joined him. Mr. Spears and Mr. Ruby worked for Mr. Silverman at CBS and then ABC before starting their own company, Ruby-Spears Productions, in 1977. in 1969 and The Scooby-Doo Show in 1976, as well as Jabberjaw, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, and Captain … "He was one of the most prolific creators in our industry who gifted us some of animation's most treasured characters and it was a thrill to host him at our studio," he continued. He joined the Walt Disney Studios animation program in the 1950s, becoming a music editor there. Animation is a collaborative business, and cartoons are considered work for hire, so it was often the studios — or the studio heads — who got the credit for the shows created under them. Ken Spears, best known for bringing the globally beloved scaredy-dog Scooby-Doo to screens, has died at age 82 just months after the passing of co-creator and Ruby-Spears Productions co-founder Joe Ruby. with Ken Spears, has passed away from natural causes. Ken and Joe creator the animated series Scooby-Doo as well as founded Ruby-Spears Productions. According to Variety, Spears … At Hanna-Barbera, he met Mr. Ruby, also newly sprung from the Navy, and the two began writing gags and scripts. Joe Ruby, who helped create some of the best, most popular, and oddest Saturday morning cartoons from the 1960s to the 1980s, has died of natural causes in … © 2021 BBC. After 15 or so drafts, they realized that the dog was the star. Mr. Spears and Mr. Ruby in 2010 with their fellow children’s-entertainment moguls Sid and Marty Krofft, creators of “H.R, Pufnstuf.” From left, Sid Krofft, Marty Krofft, Mr. Ruby and Mr. Spears. Ken Spears was an American television editor, writer, and producer; the co-founder with Joe Ruby of television animation production company Ruby-Spears Productions. This comes just three months after Ken’s animation partner Joe Ruby died of natural causes. Video. He co-founded Ruby-Spears Productions with Joe Ruby, who died in August. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. Mr. Spears and Joe Ruby were best known for “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!,” perhaps the most spun-off series in the history of television. Charged with creating an animated mystery series, Mr. Ruby and his writing partner, Ken Spears, came up with a show that endures more than 50 years later. Joe Ruby (1933-2020) He was married to Carole. The cause was complications of Lewy body dementia, his son Kevin said. Joe Ruby and Ken Spears produced one good cartoon in the 80's and that's Alvin And The Chipmunks. Ken's animation partner, Joe Ruby, died of natural causes back in August. “I remember them just sitting there out the back, laughing,” Kevin Spears said. 2020-05-13T14:45:39Z Comment by CoolCaper. was launched in 1969 and ran on CBS until 1976, spawning several reboots and films. Vaccine divides in the Middle East. Ruby along with his partner Ken Spears… Ken Spears, best known for bringing the globally beloved scaredy-dog Scooby-Doo to screens, has died at age 82 just months after the passing of co-creator and Ruby-Spears … .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Heather North, the voice of Scooby-Doo's Daphne, dies at 71, Chinese and Indian troops 'in new border clash'. Ruby, Spears and character designer Iwao Takamoto tried out several incarnations, including making the characters part of a rock band, before settling on the well known line-up of Freddie, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy and the crime-solving titular great Dane, Scooby-Doo. "Scooby-Doo has been a beloved companion on screens for more than 50 years, leaving an enduring legacy that has inspired and entertained generations.". And he later served as an executive producer on animated versions of live-action shows including Rambo and Police Academy. in 1969, and The Scooby-Doo Show in 1976, as well Jabberjaw, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, and Captain Caveman and … The animation writer was 87 when he died in Westlake Village, California. Spears co-created Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!with his creative partner Joe Ruby, who died earlier this year. Mr. Silverman also wanted the show to feature a pop song in each episode, just like “The Archie Show.” That didn’t work out, but Mr. Spears and Mr. Ruby, working with the artist Iwao Takamoto, created a half-hour comedy mystery with a quartet of teenagers and a goofy Great Dane with a gruff bark. In an oral history, Mr. Silverman said he had landed on the name Scooby-Doo after hearing Frank Sinatra sing the familiar riff from his 1966 hit “Strangers in the Night”: do-be-do-be-do. He was 82. Charles Kenneth Spears was born March 12, 1938, in Los Angeles and grew up in New York City and Los Angeles, where he went to high school with William Hanna’s son Dave. RIP Joe Ruby (1933-2020) 😔Thank you for giving me wonderful childhood. "We finally settled on a feisty dog or a big lovable cowardly - which we modelled after [comedian] Bob Hope - great Dane. The company also produced “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” a reboot of the 1961-62 series “The Alvin Show.”. Ruby, who created the much-loved characters alongside his creative partner Ken Spears, died of natural causes in California on Wednesday. Why your face could be set to replace your bank card, The extreme ways to 'hack' your immune system, Vaccine divides in the Middle East. The firm's credits include the animated series Fangface, Fangface and Fangpuss, The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show, Dink, the Little Dinosaur, Thundarr … Joe Ruby was the co-founder of Ruby-Spears Production alongside Ken Spears. 2019-02-24T01:27:02Z Joe Ruby: There wasn't a story behind Shaggy, only that "Shaggy" came first, then we came up with his formal name. Over their long career together, Mr. Spears and Mr. Ruby had a habit of working on weekends, alternating between each other’s backyard, armed with yellow legal pads and a tape recorder, and cracking each other up. Yet the pair never felt that they had received their creative due for inventing the powerhouse that was “Scooby-Doo,” which is considered the most spun-off series in the history of television, said Kevin Sandler, an associate professor of film and media studies at Arizona State University who is working on a book about the show. A rep for Ruby … Scooby-Doo co-creator Ken Spears died on Friday, November 6. Ruby launched the beloved cartoon with co-creator Ken Spears in 1969 Scooby-Doo co-creator Joe Ruby dies aged 87 The Hex Girls, sporting slight makeovers, alongside Scooby and Shaggy in … Ken Spears, Scooby-Doo co-creator who set Mystery Machine in motion, dies at 82 Ken Spears and Joe Ruby created the long-running Scooby-Doo franchise in 1969. Ruby-Spears Productions (also known as Ruby-Spears Enterprises) is a Burbank, California-based entertainment production company that specializes in animation. As reported by Variety, Scooby-Doo co-creator Ken Spears—half of the duo behind Ruby-Spears Productions and an influential figure in the history of Saturday morning cartoons—has died. 2019-02-24T01:31:12Z Comment by CoolCaper. … Ken Spears, co-creator of the beloved animated series “Scooby-Doo” and co-founder of Ruby-Spears Productions along with the late Joe Ruby, died Friday. Joe Ruby was born on March 30, 1933 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Joseph Clemens Ruby. Ruby-Spears Productions was founded in 1977 by veteran writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. He was 82. He was 82. Mr. Spears died at an assisted-living facility. Joe Ruby: We kicked around a lot of names, and just decided which ones seemed to fit their personalities best. Warner Bros' animation president, Sam Register, said Ruby "made Saturday mornings special for so many children, including myself". Ken Spears, who co-created Scooby-Doo and countless other popular cartoons of the 1970s and 1980s, died on November 6 in Brea, California. Spears… Scooby talk starts here! The firm was founded in 1977 by veteran writers and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Joe Ruby, “Scooby-Doo’s” co-creator and Mr. Spears’s longtime business partner, died in August. They soon caught the attention of Fred Silverman, then head of daytime programming at CBS. Joe Ruby, who has died aged 87, was an animator who, with his professional partner, Ken Spears, brought to television one of its most enduring cartoon heroes, … Ruby also co-created Dynomutt, Dog Wonderand; Jabberjaw, The Barkleys, and The Houndcats. Joe Ruby, Producer: Rumpelstiltskin. Over the next two decades, they rolled out numerous animated shows, including the postapocalyptic “Thundarr the Barbarian” and “Fangface,” which starred a gang of teenagers and an adorable werewolf (like Scooby but weirder). Spears was 82. Mr. Spears was just out of the Navy when a friend’s father, William Hanna, offered him a job in the editing studio of his new company, Hanna-Barbera. The animation producer died Friday, Nov. 6 from complications of Lewy body dementia, his son Kevin Spears told Variety. His mother, Edna (Graiver) Spears, died a month after his birth; his father, Harry, worked as a radio host and producer before becoming a real estate agent. Fans have taken to Twitter to thank the late animator and writer for helping to give them "a wonderful childhood". The answer was an emphatic no: “Why would I ever want to work with anybody else but Joe?”, Ken Spears, Partner in an Animation Powerhouse, Dies at 82. “He and Joe left behind hundreds of hours of cartoons that will rerun forever, featuring characters they created that were an important part of millions of childhoods. Last August, we lost Joe Ruby, who was half of the writing/producing team of Ruby and Spears, who created and/or supervised some of the most popular animated characters ever on television including Scooby Doo.Now, we must say goodbye to his long-time partner, Ken Spears. He died on August 26, 2020 in Westlake Village, California. He was a producer and writer, known for Rumpelstiltskin (1995), Planet of the Apes (1974) and Alvin & the Chipmunks (1983). Has US vaccine rollout been a 'dismal failure'? In addition to his son Kevin, Mr. Spears is survived by another son, Chris; two sisters, Sharon Holleran and Sudie Poggi; two brothers, Victor and Steven; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. .css-1snjdh1-IconContainer{display:none;height:0.875em;width:0.875em;vertical-align:-0.0625em;margin-right:0.25em;}Are Egypt's dreams of democracy still alive? SCOOBY-Doo co-creator Ken Spears has died at the age of 82. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Joe Ruby, known for creating Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? pic.twitter.com/zoC7AiWlBj. creators Joe Ruby and Ken Spears.