Charlie Brown, the star of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip and one of America’s most beloved cartoon characters, was first voiced by University of California, San Diego alumnus Peter Robbins.
By Christine Clark
LA JOLLA–Charlie Brown, the star of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip and one of America’s most beloved cartoon characters, was first voiced by University of California, San Diego alumnus Peter Robbins. Robbins and UC San Diego entertainment alumni, including Ira Rubenstein, executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment will attend Comic-Con July 22-25.
As a child actor, Robbins provided the voice of Charlie Brown in several Peanuts television specials and films from 1965 to 1969. These include some of Peanut’s most memorable films, such as A Boy Named Charlie Brown and the television specials A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
In 2008, Rubenstein, who graduated with a degree in economics, was appointed executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment, a world renowned entertainment company built on a library of more than 5,000 characters such as Iron Man, Spider Man and the Hulk. Prior to working at Marvel Entertainment, Rubenstein was with Sony as executive vice president of Sony Pictures Digital and currently he is president of the UCSD Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Robbins, who graduated from UC San Diego in 1979, attended Comic-Con two years ago and had a great following. “People get ecstatic when they discover I was the voice of Charlie Brown,” he said. “Everybody identifies with Charlie Brown – he’s a lovable loser and everyone knows what it feels like to be unlucky.” He added fans ever tire of hearing Robbins’ trademark scream of “AAUGGGHH!!” or utter “Good Grief!”
UC San Diego is known for its Noble laureates and cutting-edge research, but the university also has produced many alumni with successful careers in the entertainment industry. Robbins, Rubenstein and Thom Sherman, executive vice president for the CW network, are just a few of the many UC San Diego graduates who are members of the UCSD Alumni Entertainment Alliance. The alliance is comprised of alumni working at all levels in television, film, music, theater, gaming, performing arts, and media.
