Entertainment · Books & Arts · 7 hrs ago
Peanuts Ended Without Charlie Brown Kicking the Football
Charles Schulz ended Peanuts in 2000 after his health declined and he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
He said he could no longer see clearly and needed to focus on his health.
The strip had run for about 49 years, with 17,897 installments and no assistants, before it stopped as newspapers used Schulz's remaining work.
Fans had wondered whether Charlie Brown would finally kick the football or achieve other long-awaited victories, but none of those storylines came to a conclusion.
The final full strip, published on February 6, was a Valentine's Day story about Charlie Brown waiting in vain for a love letter.
Schulz's farewell ran on February 13, the day after he died in his sleep.
He later said he regretted that Charlie Brown never got to kick the football, but the strip had no further ending planned.
Charles Schulz’s Peanuts ended without Charlie Brown ever kicking the football.
Schulz announced he was ending the comic after his health failed, and it stopped nine weeks later as newspapers used his backlog of strips.
The final strip ran on Feb. 13, 2000, the day after Schulz died.
Peanuts had run for roughly 49 years and four months, with 17,897 strips.
In his last televised interview, Schulz said he regretted that Charlie Brown never got to kick the football.
- Who
- Charles Schulz created Peanuts, which featured Charlie Brown.
- What
- The comic ended without Charlie Brown kicking the football.
- When
- The final strip ran on Feb. 13, 2000.
- Where
- The final strip ran in newspapers.
- Why
- Schulz retired after failing health, including difficulty seeing and a diagnosis of colon cancer.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Schulz announced that he would end Peanuts because of his failing health.
The last full Peanuts strip ran, featuring Charlie Brown waiting for a love letter.
Schulz died in his sleep.
The final Peanuts strip ran in newspapers.
- Strip count
- 17,897
- Run length
- Roughly 49 years and 4 months
- Retirement announcement
- Dec. 14, 1999
- Last full strip
- Feb. 6, 2000
- Final strip
- Feb. 13, 2000
What people are saying
You know, that poor, poor kid, he never even got to kick the football!
The inside of a mailbox should always be kept clean in case you get a love letter,