Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz (/ʃʊlts/ SHUULTS; November 26, 1922 – February 12, 2000)[2] was an American cartoonist, the creator of the comic strip Peanuts which features his two best-known characters, Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

The clean, minimalist drawings, the sarcastic humor, the unflinching emotional honesty, the inner thoughts of a household pet, the serious treatment of children, the wild fantasies, the merchandising on an enormous scale – in countless ways, Schulz blazed the wide trail that most every cartoonist since has tried to follow.

His uncle called him "Sparky" after the horse Spark Plug in Billy DeBeck's comic strip Barney Google, which Schulz enjoyed reading.

; his drawing appeared in Robert Ripley's syndicated panel, captioned, "A hunting dog that eats pins, tacks, and razor blades is owned by C. F. Schulz, St. Paul, Minn." and "Drawn by 'Sparky'".

He served as a staff sergeant with the 20th Armored Division in Europe during World War II, as a squad leader on a .50 caliber machine gun team.

In 1957 and 1961 he illustrated two volumes of Art Linkletter's Kids Say the Darndest Things,[21][22] and in 1964 a collection of letters, Dear President Johnson, by Bill Adler.

Peanuts also proved popular in other media; the first animated TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, aired in December 1965 and won an Emmy award.

[37] Schulz also credited George Herriman (Krazy Kat), Roy Crane (Wash Tubbs), Elzie C. Segar (Thimble Theatre) and Percy Crosby (Skippy) as influences.

[38] But according to his biographer Rheta Grimsley Johnson: It would be impossible to narrow down three or two or even one direct influence on [Schulz's] personal drawing style.

The uniqueness of "Peanuts" has set it apart for years ... That one-of-a-kind quality permeates every aspect of the strip and very clearly extends to the drawing.

The character Lucy van Pelt also expresses a fondness for the film, and in one strip, she cruelly spoils the ending for her younger brother.

While briefly living in Colorado Springs, Schulz painted a mural on the bedroom wall of his daughter Meredith, featuring Patty with a balloon, Charlie Brown jumping over a candlestick, and Snoopy playing on all fours.

[50][51][52] Schulz's daughter Jill starred in the 1988 live action and animation hybrid Peanuts special It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown.

[53] On May 8, 1988, two gunmen in ski masks entered the Schulzes' home through an unlocked door, planning to kidnap Jean, but the attempt failed when Charles' daughter Jill drove up to the house, prompting the would-be kidnappers to flee.

In Santa Rosa, he owned the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, which opened in 1969 and featured a snack bar called "The Warm Puppy".

Although Schulz was disenchanted by Mormonism and his daughter's conversion, he continued to support her and, according to Amy, told her that he appreciated the bond between the two of them created by her belief "in Christ and the scriptures.

"[15] Schulz was asked if, in his final Peanuts strip, Charlie Brown would finally get to kick the football after so many decades (one of the many recurring themes in Peanuts was Charlie Brown's attempts to kick a football while Lucy was holding it, only to have Lucy pull it back at the last moment, causing him to fall on his back).

[68][69] While United Features retained ownership of the strip, Schulz requested that the syndicator allow no other artist to draw Peanuts.

Because Schulz considered other media separate from the strip, new television specials and comic books with the Peanuts characters have been made since his death.

This led to the only Peanuts strip in which he made any reference to himself: Lucy was watching the parade, and told Linus that the Grand Marshal was somebody "you've never heard of".

In 1997, the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) awarded both Snoopy and Woodstock the honorary rank of Life Master, and Schulz was delighted.

3642, a bill to award Schulz the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor the United States legislature can bestow.

[95] In August 2023, Peanuts fans Luca Debus and Francesco Matteuzzi wrote and illustrated Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz.

In panels styled after his famous work, Schulz himself narrates the story of his own life, beginning with his childhood and going over the years as he grows up, fights in WWII, becomes a cartoonist, creates the Peanuts franchise, forms and loses relationships with family and friends alike, and comes to terms with his terminal diagnosis.

The Silver Snoopy award is given to NASA employees and contractors for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success.

The award certificate states that it is in appreciation for "professionalism, dedication and outstanding support that greatly enhanced space flight safety and mission success".

[97] On July 1, 1983, Camp Snoopy opened at Knott's Berry Farm; it is a forested, mountain-themed area featuring the Peanuts characters.

The auction proceeds were used for artist's scholarships and for permanent bronze statues of the Peanuts characters, which are in Landmark Plaza and Rice Park in downtown St.

[102] The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa opened in August 2002, two blocks away from his former studio, celebrating his life's work and the art of cartooning.

[109][110] In October 2023, Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell wrote a story line where the character Guard Dog was freed from being tethered after many years.