Joseph Barbera, the man who helped create some of the world's best-loved cartoon characters including Tom and Jerry, Fred Flintstone and Yogi Bear, has died aged 95, friends and family said.
Barbera, who with William Hanna formed the legendary Hanna-Barbera animation company that became synonymous with cartoons throughout the 20th century, passed away Monday at his home in Los Angeles, representatives said.
"Joe Barbera truly was an animation and television legend," said Barry Meyer, chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Bros.
"From the Stone Age to the Space Age and from primetime to Saturday mornings, syndication and cable, the characters he created with his late partner, William Hanna, are not only animated superstars, but also a very beloved part of American pop culture.
"While he will be missed by his family and friends, Joe will live on through his work," Meyer said.
Barbera's death comes five years after Hanna passed away in 2001, aged 90.
The two men first collaborated in 1937 at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where they created the cat and mouse best of enemies, Tom and Jerry.
Hanna directed and Barbera drew, going on to win seven Academy Awards for short films involving the protagonists.
Hanna-Barbera was founded in 1957, fuelled by the advent of television. The company produced more than 300 cartoons,
Among the titles the company produced were "Huckleberry Hound", "The Flintstones", first aired in 1960, and "Yogi Bear" the following year.
"Johnny Quest", "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?", "The Banana Splits," "The Harlem Globetrotters," "The Jetsons" and "The Smurfs" were later hits.
"Scooby Doo," which ran for an astonishing 17 consecutive years, is television's longest-running animated series.
The pair produced more than 3,000 animated half-hour shows during their more than 60 years together.
Born in New York in 1911, Barbera started out as a banker but found work as an artist when Collier's magazine published some of his hand-drawn comics. He studied art before moving to the Van Beuren animation studios in New York.
Sander Schwartz, the president of Warner Bros Animation said, Barbera and Hanna had pioneered the world of animation.
"Bill created a landmark television production model and Joe filled it with funny, original show ideas and memorable characters that will stand for all time as his ultimate legacy," Schwartz said.
"Joe's contributions to both the animation and television industries are without parallel," Schwartz said. "He has been personally responsible for entertaining countless millions of viewers across the globe."
Hanna and Barbera were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976. Barbera's wife, Sheila, was at his side when he died. He is also survived by three children from a previous marriage -- Jayne, Neal and Lynn.
(goodbye Joe
)
