The animator, who spent nearly 70 years in the profession, worked on Mickey Mouse cartoons, Pinocchio, and Fantasia before meeting Peanuts creator Charles Schulz; with his partner Lee Mendelson, Melendez "went on to produce, direct or animate some 70 Peanuts TV specials, four movies and hundreds of commercials." The first of those specials was 1965's A Charlie Brown Christmas. Melendez was also the voice of Snoopy, "who never spoke intelligible words but issued expressive howls, sighs and sobs." [AP]