Charlie Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlie Brown |
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| Peanuts character | |
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| First appearance | May 30, 1948 (first mention) October 2, 1950 (official debut) |
| Created by | Charles M. Schulz |
| Voiced by | Various voice actors See below |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Family | Sally Brown (Younger Sister) Unnamed parents Silas Brown (Grandfather) Unnamed grandmother Unnamed aunt Unnamed uncle Snoopy (Dog) |
Charlie Brown (also known as Charles Brown, Esq. and nicknamed Chuck by Peppermint Patty) is the main character of the famous comic strip Peanuts. This comic strip appeared in newspapers around the world for 50 years!
Charlie Brown is known as a "lovable loser." He often feels nervous and unsure of himself. He sometimes feels down, but other times he's full of hope and tries his best to achieve things. You can easily spot him by his special zigzag shirt! Sometimes, when he's dressed up, he wears a red baseball cap instead of his usual white one.
His creator, Charles M. Schulz, said that Charlie Brown "must be the one who suffers because he is a caricature of the average person." This means Charlie Brown is like many of us, who experience losing more often than winning. But Charlie Brown doesn't always suffer! He has happy moments and victories too. He can even be assertive despite his shyness. Schulz also said he wanted Charlie Brown to be the main focus of almost every story. Charlie Brown is the only character who was in the comic strip from the very first day to the very last.
Lee Mendelson, who produced many Peanuts TV specials, said Charlie Brown is "the ultimate survivor in overcoming bulliness." This means he's great at bouncing back from bullies like Lucy van Pelt.
Charlie Brown's birthday is October 30. In the comic strip, he ages very slowly and is usually around eight years old. He started out living in an apartment, but later moved to a house with a backyard.
Contents
How Charlie Brown Began
Early Days: 1940s–1950s
Charlie Brown's name first appeared on May 30, 1948. This was in an earlier comic strip by Schulz called Lil’ Folks. He officially appeared in the very first Peanuts comic strip on October 2, 1950. In this strip, two kids, Shermy and Patty, talk about him. Shermy calls him "Good Ol' Charlie Brown" but then says he dislikes him once Charlie Brown is gone.
In the early years, Charlie Brown was more playful. He often played pranks on other characters. On December 21, 1950, his famous zigzag T-shirt first appeared. Before that, he wore a plain one. On March 6, 1951, Charlie Brown first played baseball. He was the catcher then, not yet the pitcher.
Charlie Brown's friendships changed over time. For example, his relationship with Violet Gray was different at first. They were usually on good terms, and he often ate her mud pies. On August 16, 1951, Violet first called him a "blockhead." On November 14 of that year, he first failed to kick a football because Violet let go of it.
Charlie Brown met Schroeder on May 30, 1951. Schroeder was a baby then, so Charlie Brown couldn't talk to him much. Charlie Brown felt like a father figure to Schroeder for a while. He tried to teach him words and read him stories. On September 24, 1951, he taught Schroeder how to play the piano. This helped Schroeder become the amazing piano player he is known to be. On October 10, 1951, Charlie Brown told Schroeder about Beethoven. This started Schroeder's love for the composer. Schroeder grew up quickly and became Charlie Brown's close friend.
On January 6, 1952, Charlie Brown appeared in the first Sunday Peanuts comic strip.
Charlie Brown first talked to Lucy van Pelt on March 3, 1952. They were on better terms then, often playfully teasing each other. The famous football gag first happened on November 16, 1952. Lucy pulled the football away because she didn't want Charlie Brown to get it dirty.
Charlie Brown started flying kites on April 25, 1952.
He first appeared with Linus on September 19, 1952. Linus was a baby then, like Schroeder. Linus also grew up quickly and became Charlie Brown's best friend. Their strong friendship was set by January 18, 1956.
On September 1, 1958, it was officially revealed that Charlie Brown's father was a barber.
In 1959, Charlie Brown and other Peanuts characters first appeared in animated commercials. These were for the Ford Motor Company.
The Golden Age: 1960s
The 1960s were a "Golden Age" for Peanuts. Charlie Brown became famous in many countries. The comic strip reached a huge number of readers, about 355 million!
In 1960, Hallmark Cards started selling popular Charlie Brown greeting cards.
In 1963, producer Lee Mendelson decided to make a TV documentary called A Boy Named Charlie Brown. He worked with Charles Schulz and animator Bill Meléndez.
Before the documentary was finished, Coca-Cola asked Mendelson if he had a Christmas TV special. He said yes! The next day, he called Schulz and they decided to make a Christmas special. This special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, first aired on CBS on December 9, 1965. It aimed to show "the true meaning of Christmas." Many people worried it wouldn't be popular because of its unique music and clear religious message. But it was a huge success! Almost half of the people watching TV that night watched it. It also received great reviews and inspired many other animated specials, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Frosty the Snowman. The special won an Emmy and a Peabody Award.
After this success, more TV specials starring Charlie Brown were made. These included Charlie Brown's All-Stars (1966) and the Halloween special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). Three more specials followed in the late 1960s.
A stage musical based on Charlie Brown, called You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, opened in New York City on March 7, 1967.
On December 4, 1969, Charlie Brown starred in his first full-length animated movie: A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The movie was a big hit, earning $6 million with a budget of $1 million. Critics also liked it.
Charlie Brown and Snoopy even went to space! On May 18, 1969, the Apollo 10 mission named its command module "Charlie Brown" and its lunar module "Snoopy." Charles Schulz drew a special picture of Charlie Brown in a spacesuit for the astronauts.
Later Years: 1970s–1990s
In the 1970s, Charlie Brown appeared in twelve more Peanuts TV specials. He also starred in two more full-length animated movies: Snoopy Come Home (1972) and Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977).
A Broadway version of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown opened in 1971.
The 1980s saw Charlie Brown in fourteen more TV specials. One of these was an animated musical version of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. He also starred in another movie, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980).
In the 1990s, six more TV specials featuring Charlie Brown were made. In the comic strip, Charlie Brown even had a girlfriend named Peggy Jean for about nine years.
The Final Comic Strip
Charlie Brown's last appearance in the original Peanuts comic strip was on February 13, 2000. This was the day after Charles Schulz passed away.
The last strip showed Charlie Brown on the phone, and then a reprinted version of the very first daily strip. The final panel had Snoopy at his typewriter with a special note from Schulz. In his note, Schulz thanked his fans and said he was retiring because he could no longer keep up with the daily schedule. He also said his family didn't want anyone else to continue Peanuts.
It was fitting that Charlie Brown was the only character to appear in both the first strip in 1950 and the last in 2000.
After the Comics: TV and Movies
After the comic strip ended, Charlie Brown continued to appear in new TV specials. On November 20, 2006, the special He's a Bully, Charlie Brown had 10 million viewers. The latest TV special, Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, came out on October 1, 2011.
The Peanuts Movie
A computer-animated movie starring Charlie Brown, The Peanuts Movie, was released on November 6, 2015. Its goal was to introduce Charlie Brown and his friends to a new generation. The director, Steve Martino, said, "We've all been Charlie Brown at one point in our lives."
The movie received very good reviews and earned $246 million worldwide. Martino explained that Charlie Brown is someone who, even after many failures, always gets back up and tries again. He wanted the movie to show that everyday qualities like perseverance are just as heroic as being a big star.
Who Inspired Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown's personality and experiences were inspired by Charles Schulz himself. Schulz often said he felt shy and withdrawn in his own life. He believed that humor often comes from bad things happening. Both Charlie Brown's father and Schulz's father were barbers.
Some of Charlie Brown's friends were named after Schulz's real friends. Peppermint Patty was inspired by Schulz's cousin, Patricia Swanson. Schulz even came up with the name "Peppermint Patty" after seeing peppermint candies. Charlie Brown's secret crush on the Little Red-Haired Girl was also inspired by Schulz's own unrequited love for a woman named Donna Mae Johnson.
What Is Charlie Brown Like?
Charlie Brown is a kind, innocent, and gentle character. He has many worries and is often shy. He has a lot of determination and hope, but his insecurities often lead to failure. He is almost always called by his full name, except by Peppermint Patty (who calls him "Chuck") and Marcie and Eudora (who call him "Charles"). His famous catchphrase is "Good grief!"
Like Schulz, Charlie Brown's dad is a barber. Charlie Brown is often seen as an example of "the great American un-success story." He fails at almost everything he tries and has a lot of bad luck. But he keeps trying with great effort! Sometimes, he even has big victories, like hitting a game-winning home run or winning a marble game. Even though he's often unlucky, Schulz made him a shining example of perseverance.
Charlie Brown is usually very generous. For example, when Lucy took all his caramels, he easily forgave her and offered her the whole bag.
He cares deeply for his family and friends, even when they treat him badly. His love for his sister, Sally, was clear when she was born. He was so excited to be a brother! When friends like Lucy, Violet, and Patty mistreat him, he usually doesn't get angry. Instead, he often finds a way to get back at them or turn the situation around.
Charlie Brown also likes to draw his own comic strips and show them to others. He loves comic books, especially those about wars like the Revolutionary War or World War I.
Journalist Christopher Caldwell said that Charlie Brown isn't just a loser. He's optimistic enough to believe he can earn self-worth. His willingness to face embarrassing situations is what makes the strip so interesting. Charlie Brown's greatest quality is his resilience, which means his courage. He manages the baseball team and is the pitcher, not just a benchwarmer. He might be a loser, but he's also a leader. This makes his moods swing from feeling like a "hero" to feeling like a "goat."
The Football Gag
One of Charlie Brown's most famous traits is his inability to kick a football. In a recurring gag, Lucy van Pelt holds the football for him. Charlie Brown knows she will pull it away, but he always gives in to desperation and tries to kick it. Lucy then pulls the ball away at the last second, making him fall flat on his back.
The humor in these strips comes from the situation, not just the physical comedy. Schulz always found new ways to tell this story. This gag appeared almost every year since 1952, usually in the autumn.
This gag has been parodied in pop culture. Sometimes, in parodies, Charlie Brown kicks Lucy instead of the football! He only successfully kicks the football once, in the special It's Magic, Charlie Brown. Snoopy makes Charlie Brown invisible, so Lucy can't see him. He kicks the ball and even teases her. But then Snoopy makes him visible again, and the gag happens as usual.
Charlie Brown's Baseball Team
Charlie Brown is the manager and pitcher of a baseball team that almost always loses. His team isn't very skilled. His right fielder, Lucy van Pelt, is the worst player in the Peanuts universe! His dog, Snoopy, who plays shortstop, is said to be his best player. His best friend, Linus, plays second base. His other close friend, Schroeder, is the catcher.
Charlie Brown is often hit by a line drive right back through the pitcher's mound. This sometimes rips off his clothes, leaving him in just his shorts! Even though his team almost always loses, often without scoring any runs, he remains determined. He's an ambitious leader of players who don't always cooperate. None of the other players seem to share his determination. He shows his strength as a leader by scolding and advising his players. For example, he once yelled at Lucy, "Go back to right field where you belong!"
While his team usually loses, they do have some wins. Sometimes, the team wins when Charlie Brown isn't playing. But there are also times when Charlie Brown heroically leads his team to a championship, even if they never actually win one.
Charlie Brown's Love Life
Charlie Brown often finds himself involved in crushes. His main crush was called "The Little Red-Haired Girl." He didn't know her name and was too shy to ever talk to her. He liked to watch her but always hid so she wouldn't see him. She was usually not shown, only appearing as a silhouette once.
Charlie Brown did have a surprisingly successful relationship with a girl named Peggy Jean. She first appeared in 1990, and their relationship lasted about nine years. However, it ended when he found out she already had a boyfriend.
Most other girls call him "wishy-washy." However, Peppermint Patty and Marcie both had crushes on him. Peppermint Patty wished Charlie Brown liked her, but he only saw her as a friend. She would ask him, "You kind of like me, don't you, Chuck?" Marcie, on the other hand, was usually too shy to tell him her feelings. She sometimes asked him if he liked her. Charlie Brown often tried to avoid answering, which sometimes made Marcie so frustrated she kicked him! Marcie often calls him "Charles."
Charlie Brown's Kite-Flying Skills
Another of Charlie Brown's famous traits is his inability to fly a kite. Almost every time he tries, he fails. This is usually because of his enemy, the Kite-Eating Tree. Other characters, especially Lucy, often comment on his lack of skill. On March 7–8, 1958, Charlie Brown actually got his kite to fly, but it suddenly caught fire, making his victory useless.
Halloween and Valentine's Day
For Halloween, Charlie Brown goes trick-or-treating with his friends. He always wears a ghost costume, made by cutting two eyeholes in a white blanket. Sometimes, he wears this costume after Halloween if his laundry is late. When he goes trick-or-treating, he always gets rocks instead of candy, which makes him sad. But he always hopes for candy next year!
When the special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first aired in 1966, viewers felt so bad for Charlie Brown that they sent Halloween candy to the studio! Charlie Brown's best friend, Linus, often convinces him to wait in a pumpkin patch to see Linus's mythical being, "The Great Pumpkin." Charlie Brown always tries to tell Linus that the Great Pumpkin isn't real. But Linus always hopes the Great Pumpkin will rise from a "sincere" pumpkin patch and bring him toys.
On Valentine's Day, Charlie Brown often waits by his mailbox for a Valentine from a girl. But almost every time, he doesn't get any. In the special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, he received a Valentine from Violet Gray out of pity. He accepted it, even though Schroeder scolded Violet for trying to ease her guilt. Viewers of this special also sent Valentine's Day cards to the studio out of sympathy for Charlie Brown.
Christmas
In the first Peanuts TV special, Charlie Brown was depressed even though Christmas was coming. He wanted to know the true meaning of Christmas. He ended up directing a Christmas play with his uncooperative friends. Finally, Linus told him the meaning he had been searching for: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.' That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
Birthday and Age
In an early comic strip (November 3, 1950), Charlie Brown said he was "only four years old." But he aged over the next two decades, being six years old by 1957 and "eight-and-a-half years old" by 1979. Later, he was usually shown as about eight years old. Another early strip (October 30, 1950) shows Patty and Shermy wishing him a happy birthday on that day.
However, Charlie Brown, like the other Peanuts children, wasn't strictly defined by his exact age. Charles M. Schulz combined adult ideas with a world of small children. David Michaelis of Time magazine wrote that Schulz's characters were "contemplative." They spoke simply but powerfully. They made smart observations about many topics, like literature, art, music, and sports. This means Charlie Brown and the other Peanuts characters were more broadly human, not just defined by their age.
Friends and Family
With Snoopy
Charlie Brown takes care of Snoopy. He is often puzzled and frustrated by Snoopy's strange activities. He sometimes says, "Why can't I have a normal dog like everybody else?" But Charlie Brown always tries his best to give Snoopy a happy life. Snoopy is always there for him when he feels down or needs support. They often interact at suppertime, when Charlie Brown brings Snoopy his food. Snoopy often does a happy dance, making Charlie Brown wonder if he's feeding Fred Astaire! Snoopy, however, calls Charlie Brown "the Round-Headed Kid."
With Lucy van Pelt
Charlie Brown and Lucy often don't get along, but they still talk to each other a lot. Charlie Brown dislikes Lucy's loud, bossy personality and her crazy ideas. Lucy often calls him names and tells him how much of a failure he is.
Charlie Brown often tries to tell Lucy that her wild theories are wrong. When he finally succeeds, Lucy usually makes a mean comment about how he looks. Charlie Brown's stomach often hurts when Lucy tries to teach her theories to Linus.
Charlie Brown often visits Lucy's psychiatric booth for help. But he always gets useless advice, like "Snap out of it" or that insecurities can cause colds.
With Linus van Pelt
Linus is Charlie Brown's best friend. Linus is kind to Charlie Brown and often gives him advice when Charlie Brown talks about his worries. Charlie Brown, who is older, often tries to help Linus with his quirks. These include Linus's strong belief in the Great Pumpkin or his need for his security blanket. They also team up against their common enemy, Lucy, who bothers both of them. Charlie Brown and Linus are often seen having deep discussions while sitting on a curb or leaning against a wall. They also play games, like building snow forts and throwing snowballs in winter.
With Schroeder
Schroeder is Charlie Brown's best friend after Linus. Charlie Brown is one of the few people Schroeder allows to sit on his piano. This is because they are good friends, and Charlie Brown respects Schroeder's love for Beethoven. When they were younger, Charlie Brown even read Schroeder stories about Beethoven's life. Charlie Brown was also the one who introduced Schroeder to the piano.
They are mostly good friends. Charlie Brown has Schroeder as his catcher on the baseball team. During games, they often have unusual conversations on the pitcher's mound, mostly about Beethoven and hand signals.
Schroeder showed his greatest friendship to Charlie Brown in Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. When Violet offered Charlie Brown a used Valentine card (because he got no Valentines at school), Schroeder strongly scolded Violet, Frieda, Lucy, and Sally. He told them they were selfish and only trying to ease their own guilt. Charlie Brown, however, told the girls not to listen to Schroeder and accepted the card, though he appreciated Schroeder's gesture.
With Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Patty is probably Charlie Brown's closest female friend. They both lead baseball teams that often play against each other. Peppermint Patty has a crush on Charlie Brown. He sees her as a close friend but probably doesn't have romantic feelings for her, though he never says anything to hurt her. Peppermint Patty calls him "Chuck."
Peppermint Patty often tries to get Charlie Brown involved in romantic games, but he doesn't take the bait. He does like her, but only as a friend. Their friendship can sometimes be difficult because of her strong personality and bossiness. Peppermint Patty used to play reverse psychology, asking, "You kind of like me, don't you, Chuck?" when it was clear she was the one with the crush.
Peppermint Patty often talks to Charlie Brown about love, usually while they sit under a tree. She also calls him on the phone a lot, doing most of the talking. Charlie Brown usually tries to avoid these topics by pretending to be clueless.
With Marcie
Marcie has a crush on Charlie Brown, and they are good friends. She is usually too shy to admit her feelings, but she has confessed to him sometimes. Marcie often asks Charlie Brown if he likes her. Like with Peppermint Patty, Charlie Brown tries to avoid answering. It seems like Charlie Brown might have feelings for her, which has sometimes made Marcie so angry that she kicked him in the shins! Marcie often calls him "Charles."
With Sally Brown
Charlie Brown is often bothered by his younger sister, Sally. She complains about many things. He is often forced to do her homework, and he either agrees or scolds her for it. They are generally kind to each other, but Sally often disrespects Charlie Brown. He has also firmly put his foot down when she does something truly unacceptable, like lying or reading his letters.
With Franklin
Charlie Brown is always on good terms with Franklin, the only African-American character in the strip. Franklin is arguably the nicest person to Charlie Brown. They sometimes build sandcastles, visit Charlie Brown's house, and watch movies together.
With Frieda
Frieda was usually nicer to Charlie Brown than most of the other girls. This made them good friends. Unlike Lucy, Patty, and Violet, she seemed to care about his feelings and never teased him to his face. She joined Charlie Brown's baseball team as an outfielder. She refused to wear a baseball cap because it would hide her naturally curly hair. Charlie Brown felt confident enough to stand up to her, like when he told her to mind her own business when she was bothering Snoopy about chasing rabbits.
With Pig-Pen
Charlie Brown is the only Peanuts character who fully accepts "Pig-Pen" for who he is. He even defended Pig-Pen's uncleanliness in one strip, which was used in A Charlie Brown Christmas:
Don't think of it as dust. Just think of it as the dirt and dust of far-off lands blowing over here and settling on "Pig-Pen!" It staggers the imagination! He may be carrying the soil that was trod upon by Solomon or Nebuchadnezzar or Genghis Khan!
With Rerun van Pelt
Rerun has grown to admire Charlie Brown, often calling him "the master." Rerun looks up to Charlie Brown, and Charlie Brown became his mentor and friend.
With Violet Gray
Charlie Brown is often teased by Violet Gray. She brags about how her dad has more things than Charlie Brown's dad. He has sometimes been able to make her stop. He often tries to befriend her, but she usually turns him down.
With Patty
Patty usually joins her friends Lucy and Violet in mocking Charlie Brown.
With Shermy
Charlie Brown and Shermy were enemies in the first Peanuts strip. But they eventually became close friends. Later, Linus and Schroeder became his main close friends, and Shermy became less important.
With Peggy Jean
Charlie Brown had a surprisingly successful romantic relationship with Peggy Jean. However, it ended when he realized she already had a boyfriend.
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Brown para niños
