Charlie Brown voice actor Peter Robbins has died aged 65.
Born August 10, 1956 as Louis Nanasi, Robbins voiced the Peanuts protagonist of six television specials, a television documentary and a film between 1963 and 1969, including holiday staples A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. He also had a role in the 1968 comedy blonde and guest star in Rawhide, The Munsters, Troop F, get smart and My three sons.
Robbins’ family said he committed suicide last week, Fox 5 in San Diego reports.
In an interview with The CW at GalaxyCon in Minneapolis in 2019, Robbins opened up about his favorite memories of Charlie Brown’s voice, one of which was “never having to memorize lines.” The child actor did most of his recordings after school; the scripts were right in front of him and his lines were often short and simple. Some days all he had to say was his trademark “Augh!” or “Damn. I have a rock.”
Robbins mentioned another advantage of Peanuts gig: “Every hot girl I’ve had to date.”
Watch Peter Robbins discuss the voice of Charlie Brown at GalaxyCon 2019
The Carlsbad, Calif., native has fought a highly publicized battle with mental illness. He struggled with addiction and had several run-ins with the law as an adult, To plead guilty in 2013 for threatening and harassing both his ex-girlfriend and a plastic surgeon who gave him breast enhancement that he paid for. Robbins suffered from bipolar disorder and was sentenced in 2015 to five years in prison for uttering threats to several people, including public figures. He was released in 2019.
After his release from prison in 2019, Robbins said Fox 5 San Diego, “I would recommend anyone with bipolar disorder to take it seriously because your life can change in the span of a month.” He also expressed his gratitude saying, “I got out of prison and I’m a better person for this. I’m much more humbled, thankful and thankful to have had this experience.”
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