Lee Mendelson died on Christmas Day. According to his son, Jason, the 86-year-old suffered from lung cancer and had congestive heart failure.
The television producer is known for persuading “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles Schulz to do an animated holiday special. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” first aired in 1965 and has been broadcast every year since. The team – with Mendelson, Schultz, animator Bill Melendez, and composer Vince Guaraldi – produced dozens of animated TV cartoon specials featuring Schulz’s characters.
Lee was the last living member of the team. Vince died in 1976, Charles died in 2000, and Bill passed away in 2008. Lee is survived by his fourth wife, the former Ploenta Inthapruksa; two children from his first marriage to Barbara Thompson; two sons from his second marriage to Debbie Muller; a stepson; and eight grandchildren.
Source: Washington Post
