Joseph Barbera, legendary animation director, businessman, and co-creator of the iconic Hanna-Barbera animation studio, died on December 18, 2006 at age 95. Born on March 24, 1911 in New York City, Barbera began his career as a militant animator at the Van Beuren Studios in 1932. After co-founding MGM's cartoon studio in 1937, he and partner William Hanna skyrocketed to fame with the award-winning Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Their long list of legendary works includes series such as The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, and many others. Barbera's studio, which he and Hanna founded in 1957, was the first independent animation studio and continues to influence modern animation. His prolific career earned him seven Emmy Awards, most recently in 2002, for his fifty years in animation. He was also presented with a Governor's Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001, and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1993. Barbera leaves behind a beloved legacy as the face of animation, for which he will always be remembered. He is survived by his wife Sheila, his daughter-in-law Antoinette Barbera, and four grandchildren.