Joe Ruby, who co-produced “Scooby-Doo” with his partner Ken Spears, died Wednesday of natural causes in Westlake Villiage, California, according to Variety. He was 87.
The animated children’s favorite animated series, titled “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?”, Premiered on CBS in 1969 and aired until 1976, with several spinoffs and movies to follow in the years to come. The characters, Scooby-Doo, Fred, Shaggy, Daphne, and Velma, were designed by Iwao Takamoto.
“He never stopped writing and making, even as he got older,” said his grandfather Benjamin Ruby Variety.
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Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content, told TheWrap, “Joe Ruby made Saturday morning special for so many kids, including myself. He was one of the most prolific creators in our industry who gave us some of the most cherished characters of the animation, and it was a thrill to host him in our studio. Scooby-Doo has been a beloved companion on screen for over 50 years, leaving a lasting legacy that has inspired and entertained generations. We at Warner Bros. Animation have the privilege and honor to carry on this legacy and send our warmest thoughts to its loved ones. ”
The premise of Saturday morning’s cartoon follows the four teenagers and their talking Great Dane as they travel in their delivery van, the Mystery Machine, to solve mysteries. They often unmask villains at the end of episodes, who would exclaim some iteration: “I would have left it too, if it were not for you who bothered children!”
Spinoffs of “Scooby-Doo”, such as “Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo” and “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo”, and others were broadcast on ABC from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, with reruns later aired on Cartoon Network. Warner Bros. made two live-action films called “Scooby-Doo” and “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” in the early 2000’s. From 2002 to 2008, a new series “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” broadcast on Kids’ WB and then The CW. Cartoon Network later launched another series, “Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!” in 2014, which ran until 2018. “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” started airing on Boomerang in 2019.
Ruby and Spears also made other Hanna-Barbera series, including “Dynomutt” and “Jabberjaw.”
From Wags to Riches: 11 of TV’s Most Famous Dogs (Photos)
In honor of #NationalDogDay, we look back at some of the most recognizable small-screen dog stars.
Pal, the original Lassie, earned $ 4,000 a week in 1954 or $ 51,000 in today’s world. Lassie has since been played by 10 generations of Pal’s descendants.
Rex features
Flame Jr., also known as Rin Tin Tin IV, starred in the 1954-59 television hit ABC show The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. The famous dog was responsible for increasing the popularity of German shepherds as pets and was nominated for the PATSY Award from the American Humane Association for Animals.
“Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin” Season 1 Episode 12
Moose, the Jack Russell terrier that Eddie played on “Frasier” (1993-2004), earned a cool $ 10,000 per episode. In total, Eddie earned $ 3.2 million in his 11-year run. He also got more fan mail than any of his costars! Fun fact: Eddie’s biological son, Enzo, took over the role after his father retired.
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Gidget, the 12-pound chihuahua known for the ubiquitous slogan, “Yo quiero Taco Bell!” was driven to stardom following the landing of the lucrative fast-food campaign in the late 1990s. She also starred as Bruiser’s mother in 2003’s Legally Blonde 2, alongside Reese Witherspoon.
1999 Taco Bell Commercial / Video Archeology
Although Sadie is not exactly a TV star, the cocker spaniel of Oprah Winfrey was so often mentioned in her show, she became almost as famous as her gazillionaire owner. In 2009, Dogtime.com reported that Oprah had raised $ 30 million for her five dogs, including Sadie.
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Cookie Frankel, the dog of “Real Housewives of New York” star Bethenny Frankel, has more than 25,000 followers on Twitter. The Lhasa apso receives regular massages and is constantly fed anti-oxidant roots. “Every day is a spa day for her,” Bethenny said.
Instagram
“Million Dollar Listing” star Fredrik Eklund emphasizes that his miniature dachshund, Fritzy, needs a large living room to play in. But Eklund is realistic, emphasizing that he would never spend more than $ 2 million digging his dog. Moderation is key, people.
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Giggy, ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ star Lisa Vanderpump’s Pomeranian, is perhaps one of TV’s most spoiled puppies, with his own personal chef and Twitter account. He is such a favorite of words that he now appears on his own red carpet, rich owner on tow.
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Stewart, a Pembroke Welsh corgi, played who played Captain Raymond Holt’s dog Cheddar for much of the run of the sitcom “Brooklyn Nine Nine” – often seen in the show’s elaborate shenanigans. Stewart died in 2019 at the age of 13.
NBC
Brigitte, a French bulldog “actress”, best known for her role as Stella on ABC’s “Modern Family” hit comedy, won Best Dog in a Television Series at the inaugural Golden Collar Awards in 2012.
The American Human Association
In the last seven seasons of ‘Modern Family’, Beatrice Brigitte replaced as the beloved bulldog Stella owned by Jay Pritchard of Ed O’Neill. Beatrice died in March 2020 – just weeks after production wrapped up in the long-running sitcom series finale.
ABC
The most depraved square stars of Hollywood
In honor of #NationalDogDay, we look back at some of the most recognizable small-screen dog stars.
