Charles M. Schulz, age 77, died on 2000-02-12. Known for his popular comic strip "Peanuts," Schulz presented himself as a humble everyman and focused his art on the daily lives of children, animals, and his famous characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Over the years, his comic strip was syndicated in as many as 2,600 newspapers and reprinted in over 90 countries. Schulz was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1922, where he quickly showed a gift for drawing. His career launched in 1947 when United Feature Syndicate began publishing "Peanuts" in seven newspapers. In addition to "Peanuts," Schulz also published several related books and led the development of animated feature films, television specials, and even a Broadway show. Including awards for cartooning, Schulz was honored with more than 160 awards during his life time. In 2000, he was inducted in both the Academy of Motion Pictures and the Television Academy's Halls of Fame. After suffering a stroke in 1999, Schulz retired from his artwork. Throughout his lifetime, Schulz's many imitators and fans remembered his characters' unique charm and his quirky style.