Charles Schulz

Charles Schulz

Schulz used the majority of

his income for philanthropy.

He funded libraries, museums, airports, and other worthy causes. When an ice rink closed

near his home, Schulz

turned it into a world-

class ice arena for local families. He often ate there, drove the zamboni, and even played hockey in the seniors’ hockey league.

Charles Schulz was an American cartoonist.

Schulz is best known for his comic strip, Peanuts, and its main characters, Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

With merchandise and product endorsements, the artist earned $30 million to $40 million dollars a year. By the 1980′s, Schulz was one of the highest paid entertainers in America “right up there with Oprah and Michael Jackson.” By these standards, he is considered one of the most successful visual artists of all time.

Charles Schulz was born in 1922 in St. Paul, Minnesota. His uncle nicknamed him “Sparky” after a character in a comic strip.

“Someday, Charles,” His kindergarten teacher told him, “You’re going to be an artist.”

His first published work was a drawing of his dog, Spike, that he sent to Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Spike ate pins and tacks and was the inspiration for Schulz’s cartoon dog, Snoopy.

A few months after his death, Schulz was honored by more than 100 cartoonists who incorporated his characters into their comics. (The example seen here was drawn by Patrick McConnell.)

Schulz created several cartoons before he created Peanuts.

His first weekly cartoon was a series of gags called Li’l Folks. Charlie Brown appeared there for the first time.

After serving in World War II, Schulz took a job reviewing and grading student work for Art Instruction Inc.

While working at the school, Charles Schulz fell in love with a coworker. Donna Mae Johnson rejected Schulz when he proposed to her.

In comics, Donna Mae became the Little Red-Haired Girl, the unrequited love of Peanuts’ protagonist, Charlie Brown.

Near the end of his life, Schulz suffered from tremors. His hands shook so badly that he had to steady himself against his desk to draw.

Schulz announced his retirement reluctantly, and died on February 12, 2000, the night before his final comic strip was published.

Three days after his death, Schulz was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor that the United States Government can bestow.

In August 2002, The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center opened in Santa Rosa, California, two blocks from the artist’s former studio.

Despite enormous success and a happy family, Schulz suffered from panic attacks and depression.

Schulz compared his panic to that of a dog ”running frantically down the road pursuing the family car.” The dog ”is not really being left behind,” he said, ”but for that moment in his limited understanding, he is being left alone forever.”

By sharing his personal anxieties through a popular comic strip though, Schulz provided humor and comfort

to the rest of the world.

The simplicity of Peanuts

made these depths accessible.

Peanuts was eventually published in 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. Schulz drew almost 18,000 comic strips. Original artwork from the strip was shown in museums around the world including the Louvre in France where Sparky received a gala reception.