Cartoon legend Barbera dies

Joseph Barbera, one of the founders of the legendary animation studio Hanna-Barbera, poses with three of the characters 'Scooby-Doo (C) along with Tom and Jerry (R) that he and William Hanna created in this March 16, 2005 file photo. Barbera, half of the famed Hanna-Barbera team, died on Monday at age 95, the Warner Bros. film studio said in a statement. PHOTO: Reuters

Barbera founded Hanna-Barbera Studios with his partner William Hanna nearly 50 years ago, and it grew to become one of Hollywood's best known animation companies producing hundreds of cartoons and winning numerous awards.

He died at his home in the Los Angeles-area community of Studio City with his wife Sheila by his side, Warner Bros. said. No further details were disclosed.

"The characters he created with his late partner William Hanna are not only animated superstars, but also a very beloved part of American pop culture. While he will be missed by his family and friends, Joe will live on through his work," Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer said in a statement.

By mid-afternoon on Monday, flowers were already being placed on Barbera's star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Barbera and Hanna, who died in 2001 at age 90, met at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1937 and first worked together on the cartoon, "Puss Gets the Boot," which led to the creation of famous cat and mouse friends, Tom and Jerry.