The veteran animator died in Westlake Village, California after years of dealing with health issues. A representative told Deadline that he passed away from natural causes. His grandson Benjamin Ruby told Variety: ‘He never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged.’ Joe began his animation career with Walt Disney Productions before moving his focus to editing and producing. The animator met Ken Spears at Hanna-Barbera Productions, where the two worked together to create multiple animated and live-action titles, including their iconic show Scooby-Doo.
Scooby-Doo co-creator Joe Ruby has died aged 87, his family confirmed. The veteran animator died in Westlake Village, California after years of dealing with health issues. A representative told Deadline that he passed away from natural causes. His grandson Benjamin Ruby told Variety: ‘He never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged.’ Joe began his animation career with Walt Disney Productions before moving his focus to editing and producing. The animator met Ken Spears at Hanna-Barbera Productions, where the two worked together to create multiple animated and live-action titles, including their iconic show Scooby-Doo
The duo produced shows like Fangfance, The Plastic Man Comedy-Adventure Hour, Thundarr the Barbarian, Saturday Supercade, Mister T, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Superman, Mega Man at the company.
In the 1970s, Ruby and Spears moved over to CBS to supervise the network’s lineup of Saturday morning cartoons.
Years later, the two animators created Ruby-Spears Productions which also brought about animated series Thundarr the Barbarian. While their shows Mister T, Superman and Alvin and the Chipmunks went on to receive three Daytime Emmy nods.
In 1981, Ruby-Spears was purchased by Hanna-Barbera’s parent company Taft Entertainment. Joe is survived by his wife Carole, four children and 10 grandchildren.
