Ken Spears

It’s rare to not have seen Scooby-Doo during childhood since it’s practically a cultural icon. Ken Spears, the cartoon’s co-creator, deserves a ton of credit for having introduced to us this beloved, mystery-solving dog. Before rising into fame, Spears lived a quiet life in New York City and Los Angeles with his father, Harry Spears. What’s not well-known about Spears was that he once worked in the Navy but left around the time before he made it big.

He was hired by Hanna-Barbera Productions as a sound-editor and slowly made his way into the writing department with Joe Ruby. Soon enough, their masterpiece, Scooby-Doo Where Are You!, would come to life. From Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, Captain Caveman, and Jabberjaw, Spears would solidify his career in the cartoon business with fresh ideas that made millions laugh. His life and career was well-lived, with 80 long years of bringing laughter to many.