Ken Spears

Charles Kenneth Spears (March 12, 1938 – November 6, 2020) was an American animator, writer, television producer and sound editor. He was best known as a co-creator of the Scooby-Doo franchise, together with Joe Ruby. In 1977, they co-founded the television animation production company Ruby-Spears Productions. Spears and Ruby created many other shows such as Jabberjaw, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, and Fangface. Spears also worked on the shows Sectaurs, Mister T and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Spears career began in 1959 when he started to work for Hanna-Barbera as a sound editor. Spears met Ruby when Life magazine was interviewing members at the studio and they worked together on animated projects. Spears worked for several other companies before Ruby-Spears such as DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and Sid and Marty Krofft.

Spears died on November 6, 2020, from Lewy body dementia. He was 82 years old.