Joe Ruby (1933-2020)

Joe Ruby (1933-2020)

August 27th, 2020

Jerry Beck

Cartoonist, Animator and Producer Joseph Ruby has passed away. Ruby (with his partner Ken Spears) was instrumental in creating Scooby Doo Where Are You in 1969 for Hanna Barbera. In 1977 Ruby and Spears launched their own animation studio – Ruby-Spears Productions – bringing Thundarr The Barbarian, Fangface, Mt. T, Plastic Man, Chuck Norris, Dragon’s Lair and many more to Saturday morning cartoons. Ruby passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday August 26th surrounded by his family.

Joe Ruby grew up in LA, graduating from Fairfax High School before joining the US Navy during the Korean War. He joined the Walt Disney Studios animation program in the 1950s, becoming a music editor there. Moving to Hanna Barbera as a sound editor, he formed a writing partnership with Ken Spears. Their spec script got them on board as staff writers in the 1960s – where they developed, among other things, Scooby Doo.

Among the series produced by Ruby Spears: Alvin and The Chipmunks, Rubik The Amazing Cube, Donkey Kong, Space Ace, Dink the Little Dinosaur, The Puppy Adventures, The Miss Switch movies, It’s Punky Brewster, an underrated Superman series in 1988, and the infamous Turbo Teen. They made numerous TV movies including Bunnicula, the Vampire Rabbit and The Cabbage Patch Kids First Christmas.

A tribute from Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content:

“Joe Ruby made Saturday mornings special for so many children, including myself. 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. Scooby-Doo has been a beloved companion on screens for more than 50 years, leaving an enduring legacy that has inspired and entertained generations. We at Warner Bros. Animation have the privilege and honor of carrying on that legacy and send our warmest thoughts to his loved ones.”

Joseph Ruby 1933-2020

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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.