Joseph Barbera was an American animator, director, producer, and co-founder of the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions. He was born on March 24, 1911, in New York City, and he passed away on December 18, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. Barbera and his partner, William Hanna, created many famous cartoon characters such as Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, and many more. They won several Oscars, Emmys, and other awards during their illustrious career. After Hanna's death in 2001, Barbera continued to work in animation until his own death in 2006.