Animator Joe Ruby, best known for co-creating the original Scooby-Doo series, has died from natural causes after years of health issues in his home in Westlake Village in California, Variety has reported.
“He never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged,” said grandson Benjamin Ruby in the wake of Joe’s death.
Known for creating the iconic animation alongside his partner Ken Spears, the pair wrote the first five episodes of the Scooby-Doo franchise and proceeded to supervise and edit the rest of the first season, which debuted in 1969.
At Hanna-Barbera, Ruby and Spears also created series including Dynomutt and Jabberjaw in addition to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
In a previous interview with ScoobyAddicts.com, Ruby was asked about his favourite episode of the popular series, saying:
“We loved all the ones we either wrote or were heavily involved in the writing. But we really liked Mystery Mask Mixup and Nowhere to Hyde probably best. They just came out really well overall,” he said.
When asked if he had ever tried a “Scooby Snack” Ruby added, “No we’ve never eaten a Scooby Snack. We imagined they were just going to be a super delicious doggy snack.”
The Scooby-Doo animated series has been on the air on almost constantly since its debut back in 1969, and has since spawned a slew of spin-off series, reboots and movies.
Ruby is survived by his wife, Carole, and their 4 children and 10 grandchildren.
