'Scooby-Doo' co-creator Joe Ruby dead at 87 - The animator worked with famed comic book artist Jack Kirby

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Joe Ruby, known best as the co-creator of "Scooby-Doo," is dead. He was 87.

His death was confirmed to Fox News by the animator's son, Craig.

Ruby passed away of natural causes in the early hours of Aug. 26 in his home near Los Angeles.

In addition to his work on "Scooby-Doo," the Daytime Emmy nominee worked closely with the late comic book titan Jack Kirby, who Craig said helped Ruby to create 800 characters that remain unproduced with Ruby-Spears Productions, his father's production company.

Ruby also oversaw Saturday morning children's programming at CBS after co-creating the smash-hit cartoon "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" for the network with Ken Spears, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The pair would later do the same for ABC after CBS's then-president Fred Silverman relocated to the network.

Under ABC's Filmways, Ruby-Spears Productions would create cartoon characters such as Fangface, Plastic Man, Mister T and Alvin and the Chipmunks.


The outlet reports that Ruby, who also served during the Korean War and worked for Disney in its animation department, but also worked as a comic book illustrator and music editor.

He is also credited as a creator for such cartoons as "The Barkleys" and "Jabberjaw."

Ruby is survived by Carole, his wife of 63 years, his children Cliff, Deanna, Craig and Debby and his grandchildren Carly, Zach, Evan, Hasy, Adam, Max, Ben, Blake, Sage and Kate.

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Boy am I glad he's buried in there and that we're out here, and that we're buried out here and that he's the creator, but what I know is like WHERE'S THE CAVEMAN?
 
Plot twist: He is alive and wants to haunt his house as a fake ghost while his children fight over inheritance. He would get away with it too if not for some pesky kids.
 
This feels like the end of an era. Its telling that even relatively younger people like me still know about this show. Though granted that's partly because I got to play with my Dad's VHS collection and I also grew up during an era where Boomerang didn't suck. But even without that, this show still gets remade every couple of years, and I've actually heard decent things about the Seth MacFarlane one which I can barely believe.

They even successfully remade the series for the internet generation with Mystery Incorporated. Which I actually didn't get into, but its still an impressive feat that I applaud.
 
RIP Joe Ruby. You created one of Hanna Barbera's most beloved classics.
It's a shame ideologues started messing with your legacy before you passed, though.
 
RIP Joe Ruby. You created one of Hanna Barbera's most beloved classics.
It's a shame ideologues started messing with your legacy before you passed, though.

I was subjected to that "Scoob" movie recently thanks to visiting children. Velma was sacrificed on the altar of diversity for the sake of the movie, among other absolutely unsurprising <current year> garbage. Nothing's sacred if it can make a quick buck.
 
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