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"Peanuts" Creator Charles M. Schulz Dies on Eve of Final Strip
2 Oct
Summary
- Schulz, creator of "Peanuts", died from colon cancer in 2000
- "Peanuts" became one of the most successful comic strips in history
- Schulz saw Charlie Brown as his alter ego, prone to depression
On October 2, 2000, the beloved "Peanuts" comic strip, starring the iconic character Charlie Brown, ran for the final time in newspapers around the world. This came just a day after its creator, Charles M. Schulz, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 77 from colon cancer.
Schulz, who had always viewed the "lovable loser" Charlie Brown as his own alter ego, had launched the "Peanuts" strip in 1950. Over the next 50 years, it grew into one of the most successful comic franchises in history, syndicated daily in 1,655 newspapers globally and spawning a multi-million dollar empire of books, greeting cards, movies, TV specials, and the long-running stage musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
Despite Schulz's death, the "Peanuts" franchise has continued to thrive, with Schulz's family and the Canadian entertainment company WildBrain now co-owning the rights. Apple TV+ also owns the streaming rights and the ability to create new "Peanuts" content. Schulz, who was known to be prone to bouts of depression, panic, and feeling unlovable, much like his iconic character, had once told an interviewer, "I never realized how many Charlie Browns there were in the world. I thought I was the only one."
