Tom & Jerry creator Joseph Barbera dies

Celebrated Hollywood animator and creator Joseph Barbera, of the Tom & Jerry fame died on Monday (18 Dec 2006). He was 95 and died at his home in Los Angeles. He pioneered various genres of cartoons which saw the evolution of several award winning cartoons.
He’s also known to have created other characters including the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. Barbera along with close pal and partner William Hanna (who died in 2001 at 90) founded the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer animation in 1944 and besides Tom & Jerry went on to produce Cartoon Icons such as The Flintstones, The Jetsons, The Yogi Bear Show, The Huckleberry Bear Show, Scooby-Doo, Smurfs, Jonny Quest and Wacky Races.
Image: Barbera with Jerry & Hanna with Tom
"The characters he created with his late partner William Hanna are not only animated superstars, but also a very beloved part of American pop culture. While he will be missed by his family and friends, Joe will live on through his work," Warner Bros, Chairman Barry Meyer said in a statement.
He sure would continue to live in the hearts of many, especially through his legendary characters of Tom & Jerry.
With 7 awards, Tom and Jerry became the most-awarded theatrical animated series.The following cartoons had won the Academy Awards at the Oscars for best short subject cartoons:
The Yankee Doodle Mouse – 1943
Mouse Trouble – 1944
Quiet Please! – 1945
The Cat Concerto – 1946
The Little Orphan – 1948
The Two Mouseketeers 1952 – Johann