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IMDbPro

Joseph Barbera(1911-2006)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Joseph Barbera
Watch Trailer 1
Play trailer2:31
Tom & Jerry (2021)
5 Videos
10 Photos
Joseph Roland Barbera was an American animator, film director, and television producer. He was the co-founder of the company Hanna-Barbera, with his longtime partner William Hanna.

Barbera was born in an Italian-American family. His parents were barbershop-owner Vincent Barbera (1889-1965) and Francesca Calvacca (1875-1969), both Italian immigrants from Sicily. Vincent was from the farming town of Castelvetrano, while Francesca was from the spa town of Sciacca (founded as the ancient Greek colony of Thermae).

Barbera was born in Little Italy, at the Lower East Side section of Manhattan. Months following his birth, Barbera's family moved to Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was mostly raised in Flatbush. Vincent Barbera grew prosperous for a while, but a gambling addiction led him to squander the family fortune. In 1926, Vincent abandoned his family, and Joseph was taken under the wing of his maternal uncle Jim Calvacca.

Barbera attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. During his high school years, he worked as a tailor's delivery boy. Meanwhile, he excelled in boxing and won a number of titles, but decided against becoming a professional boxer. He graduated high school in 1928, and started working odd jobs.

In 1929, Barbera first became interested in animation, after viewing Walt Disney's "The Skeleton Dance" (1929). Shortly after, he started working as a freelance cartoonist. Some of his print cartoons were published in Redbook, the Saturday Evening Post, and Collier's. Meanwhile Barbera took art classes at the Art Students League of New York and the Pratt Institute, hoping to improve his drawing skills.

Barbera was eventually hired as an inker and colorist by Fleischer Studios. In 1932, he was hired by the Van Beuren Studios as an animator and storyboard artist. At Van Beuren he worked on such film series as "Cubby Bear" and "Rainbow Parades". The studio's most prominent cartoon starts were a human duo known as "Tom and Jerry". Barbera worked on the Tom and Jerry series, and apparently liked the sound of the duo's name.

In 1936, Barbera left the financially struggling Van Beuren studio to work for Paul Terry's Terrytoons studio. In 1937, he left Terrytoons to work for the then-recently established Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio (1937-1957). MGM offered its animators higher salaries than what Terrytoons could offer. His first few years at the studio were not particularly notable. In 1939, he and co-worker William Hanna started working on the idea of a cat-and-mouse duo of characters. They were allowed to co-direct "Puss Gets the Boot" (1940), introducing the new duo of Tom and Jerry. It was critically and commercially successful, but studio head Fred Quimby was initially uninterested in producing a full series of Tom and Jerry films. The lack of success of other products of the studio convinced Quimby, and Barbera and Hanna became the head of their own production unit to work on the new series.

From 1940 to 1957, Hanna and Barbera co-directed 114 Tom and Jerry animated shorts. The Tom and Jerry series was very popular with critics and audience. But by the 1950s, production costs were high while the profitability of the shorts was lower than before. MGM decided to shut down its animation subsidiary. Barbera was unemployed for the first time in decades.

Barbera briefly partnered with Robert D. Buchanan (1931-) in production of an animated television series, the science fiction series "Colonel Bleep" (1957-1960). It was the first animated series specifically produced for color television. Barbera eventually left this partnership and teamed up with William Hanna again. They founded Hanna-Barbera Productions, their own animation studio. With theatrical animation in decline, they focused on the new market of television animation.

The studio's first television series was the moderately successful "The Ruff & Reddy Show". It was succeeded by the much more popular "The Huckleberry Hound Show" and "The Yogi Bear Show". Survey's revealed that the two shows had attracted an adult audience, convincing Hanna and Barbera that they could market animation to adults. Their next series was the animated sitcom "The Flintstones" (1960-1966), popular with both children and adults. Its success helped establish Hanna-Barbera Productions as the leader in television animation.

In 1966, Hanna-Barbera Productions was sold to Taft Broadcasting for $12 million dollars.Barbera and Hanna remained studio heads until 1991, when the studio was sold to the Turner Broadcasting System for an estimated 320 million million dollars. Barbera and Hanna were reduced to advisory positions, which would they keep for the rest of their lives. Barbera periodically worked on new Hanna-Barbera shows, and even provided input for the original live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo in 2002.

In 2001, Hanna-Barbera Productions was absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation. Barbera received executive producer credits for Warner Bros. sequels and adaptations of his old series (such as "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" and "Tom and Jerry Tales"). In 2005, Barbera co-directed a new Tom and Jerry short film: "The Karate Guard". Barbera then started work on a Tom and Jerry feature film, " Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale" (2007). He died before production was completed.

Barbera died in December 2006, at the age of 95. He had never fully retired and was still working at the time of his death. His legacy includes more than a 100 television series, and a large number of enduring characters.
BornMarch 24, 1911
DiedDecember 18, 2006(95)
BornMarch 24, 1911
DiedDecember 18, 2006(95)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars
    • 12 wins & 15 nominations total

Photos10

Joseph Barbera and Frank Paiker
Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
Joseph Barbera and William Hanna in Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
Joseph Barbera, Daws Butler, and William Hanna in Snagglepuss (1961)
Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, and Frank Paiker
Joseph Barbera and William Hanna

Known for:

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)
ABC Afterschool Specials
7.2
TV Series
  • Producer(produced by)
Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Neil Fanning in Scooby-Doo (2002)
Scooby-Doo
5.2
  • Producer
  • 2002
Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Neil Fanning in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
5.2
  • Producer
  • 2004
Lucille Bliss, Danny Goldman, Don Messick, and Alan Oppenheimer in The Smurfs (1981)
The Smurfs
7.2
TV Series
  • Producer

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer

  • Wake, Rattle & Roll
    • executive producer: cartoon segments
    • Released
    • TV Series
    • 1990–1992
  • Tom and Jerry World Champions (2010)
    Tom and Jerry World Champions
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2010
  • Tom Kenny, Phil LaMarr, Sean Marquette, Candi Milo, and Keith Ferguson in Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004)
    Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2004–2008
  • Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! (2006)
    Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2006–2008
  • Don Brown and Sam Vincent in Tom and Jerry Tales (2006)
    Tom and Jerry Tales
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2006–2007
  • Legion of Super Heroes (2006)
    Legion of Super Heroes
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2006–2007
  • Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (2007)
    Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale
    • executive producer
    • Video
    • 2007
  • Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! (2007)
    Chill Out, Scooby-Doo!
    • executive producer
    • Video
    • 2007
  • Loonatics Unleashed (2005)
    Loonatics Unleashed
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2005–2007
  • The Batman (2004)
    The Batman
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2004–2006
  • My Gym Partner's a Monkey (2005)
    My Gym Partner's a Monkey
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2005–2006
  • Carlos Alazraqui in Camp Lazlo! (2005)
    Camp Lazlo!
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2005–2006
  • Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (2006)
    Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!
    • executive producer
    • Video
    • 2006
  • Tom and Jerry in Shiver Me Whiskers (2006)
    Tom and Jerry in Shiver Me Whiskers
    • executive producer
    • Video
    • 2006
  • What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002)
    What's New, Scooby-Doo?
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2002–2006
  • The Karate Guard (2005)
    The Karate Guard
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2005

Director

  • Cartoon Alley (2004)
    Cartoon Alley
    • Director (original material)
    • TV Series
    • 2004–2005
  • The Karate Guard (2005)
    The Karate Guard
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2005
  • 100 Greatest Cartoons (2005)
    100 Greatest Cartoons
    • Director (original material)
    • TV Special
    • 2005
  • Tom and Jerry: Paws for a Holiday (2003)
    Tom and Jerry: Paws for a Holiday
    • Director (directed by)
    • 2003
  • ToonHeads (1992)
    ToonHeads
    • Director (original material)
    • TV Series
    • 1992–2002
  • SCOOBY-DOO! Winter Wonderdog (2002)
    SCOOBY-DOO! Winter Wonderdog
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2002
  • Cartoon Crack-ups (2001)
    Cartoon Crack-ups
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2001
  • Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases (2000)
    Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2000
  • What a Cartoon! (1995)
    What a Cartoon!
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 1995–1997
  • The Flintstones: Wacky Inventions (1994)
    The Flintstones: Wacky Inventions
    • Director
    • Video
    • 1994
  • Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
    Jetsons: The Movie
    • Director
    • 1990
  • Tex Avery, the King of Cartoons (1988)
    Tex Avery, the King of Cartoons
    • Director (original material)
    • TV Movie
    • 1988
  • Rock Odyssey (1987)
    Rock Odyssey
    • Director
    • 1987
  • Lucky Luke (1983)
    Lucky Luke
    • Director (as Joe Barbera)
    • TV Series
    • 1984–1985
  • Here Are the Smurfs (1984)
    Here Are the Smurfs
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1984

Writer

  • Jonny Quest
    • characters
    • In Development
  • Mindy Kaling in Velma (2023)
    Velma
    • based upon characters created by (as Hanna-Barbera Productions)
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Tom and Jerry (2022)
    Tom and Jerry
    • based on characters created by
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land (2022)
    Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land
    • based on a characters created by
    • 2022
  • MultiVersus (2022)
    MultiVersus
    • characters: Tom & Jerry
    • Video Game
    • 2022
  • Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, Alex Toth, Chris R. Notarile, Edward Kasper, Tom Patrick Propofsky, Jorge Aguilar, Lindsey Bean, and Paul Anthony Turner in Space Ghost (2021)
    Space Ghost
    • characters
    • Short
    • 2021
  • Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up! (2021)
    Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up!
    • based on characters created by
    • 2021
  • Matthew Lillard, Marty Grabstein, and Frank Welker in Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog (2021)
    Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog
    • based on characters from (as Hanna-Barbera Productions)
    • Video
    • 2021
  • Jellystone (2021)
    Jellystone
    • based on characters created by
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Tom and Jerry in New York (2021)
    Tom and Jerry in New York
    • based on characters created by
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Tom & Jerry (2021)
    Tom & Jerry
    • based on characters created by
    • 2021
  • Matthew Lillard, Grey Griffin, Frank Welker, and Kate Micucci in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? (2019)
    Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
    • based on a characters created by
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Matthew Lillard and Frank Welker in Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! (2020)
    Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!
    • based on characters from (as Hanna-Barbera)
    • 2020
  • Scoob! (2020)
    Scoob!
    • based on characters created by (as Hanna-Barbera Productions)
    • 2020
  • Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost (2019)
    Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost
    • based on characters created by
    • TV Movie
    • 2019
  • Harvey Birdman: Attorney General (2018)
    Harvey Birdman: Attorney General
    • based on characters created by
    • TV Movie
    • 2018
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos5

Trailer 1
Trailer 2:31
Trailer 1
Tom And Jerry: Greatest Chases - Vol. 3
Trailer 1:05
Tom And Jerry: Greatest Chases - Vol. 3
The Flintstones (1994)
Trailer 1:39
The Flintstones (1994)
The Flintstones: Season 6
Trailer 1:11
The Flintstones: Season 6
Scooby Doo 2: Monster Unleashed [Scooby Doo 2]
Trailer 0:31
Scooby Doo 2: Monster Unleashed [Scooby Doo 2]

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Hanna Barbera
  • Height
    • 5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
  • Born
    • March 24, 1911
    • Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • December 18, 2006
    • Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA(natural causes)
  • Spouses
      Sheila Constance HoldenSeptember 25, 1964 - December 18, 2006 (his death)
  • Children
      Neal Barbera
  • Other works
    In 1972 he proposed an unsold adult cartoon pilot for ABC called "Melvin Danger, Private Eye". The title character was a master of disguise (the joke being that his disguises were so good he could appear to be any inanimate object) but his shapely secretary was the real brains in his agency.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Interviews
    • 13 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    With partner William Hanna, departed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to begin Hanna-Barbera Studios.
  • Quotes
    [on the advantages of syndication vs. network programming] These days even Charles Chaplin couldn't get his material past a network.
  • Trademarks
      Always worked with William Hanna
  • Nickname
    • Joe

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