The voice actor behind one of the most recognized cartoon characters in American history has died from an apparent suicide. Peter Robbins, who was the original voice of Charlie Brown, reportedly took his own life at the age of 65 after years of mental health trouble.
One of the last words Robbins was recorded saying was, “I really need your prayers,” which came from his agent Dylan Novak. The voice actor had a long history of drug abuse and was checked out of rehab as recently as January 18th, 2022. The last place Robbins lived was in California, but his family did not give any more details of the exact location of his death.
RIP to Peter Robbins, the first voice of Charlie Brown for A Charlie Brown Christmas
No matter how into animation you are, I think everyone on the planet has heard this voice. A legendary voice from a legendary person, that will be dearly missed, thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/kGnXvygrpg
— TRAFON(s Backup Account) (@RiseFallNickBck) January 26, 2022
Robbins got into the acting business at the tender of age of 7. His first big break as a child actor was in 1965 at the age of 9 when he became the lead voice actor for the iconic classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” followed up with the successful holiday classic with another big role in “It’s A Great Pumpkin” in 1966. Robbin’s voice as Charlie Brown resonated with both children and adults, but at the age of 14, his days of being Charlie Brown were finished due to his voice becoming deeper after puberty.
Many more Charlie Brown’s have come and gone since Robbins, but Charlie Brown’s trademark sound of being upset “AUGH” has been used in every Charlie Brown Christmas special since Robbins left.
After his days of being Charlie Brown was over, Robbins would go on to be featured in several tv shows and movies until he decided to get out of the entertainment industry in 1972.
After retiring from the tv/movie scene, Robbins would go on to be a real estate agent, but would suffer from mental health issues for the majority of his life. That wasn’t the only major issue he had though. In 2013, Robbins was arrested for stalking and assaulting his ex-girlfriend
The Daily Mail had more details about Robbin’s arrest:
In 2013, the then-56-year-old actor was arrested at the US Mexico border and charged for stalking his ex-girlfriend and the plastic surgeon who he’d paid to give her breast enhancement. Prosecutors said that he’d called his ex more than 37 times in a 24-hour period, threatening to kill her and her son if she did not return his car and dog, whom he named Snoopy.
On New Year’s Eve 2013, prosecutors said, Robbins confronted his ex-girlfriend in a hotel room, beating his dog and telling her that he would not stop harming the animal and would kill her if she did not get a refund for her plastic surgery. Before fleeing, he grabbed the woman by her neck and slammed her into a wall.
Robbins was originally sentenced to probation, but after violating his probation, the former voice actor of Charlie Brown was sentenced to five years in prison.
After being released from prison, Robbins embarked on a new journey and warned people of the consequences of not dealing with drug addiction and mental health problems in a professional manner. From 2019 to his death, Robbins would support mental health awareness initiatives until he sadly took his own life.
R.I.P Peter robbins the original voice of Charlie Brown
We’ll at least he’ll be seeing bill Melendez and Charles Schulz in heaven. pic.twitter.com/Kxx8UXm6Za— Jaelyn Moore (@JaelynMoore8) January 26, 2022
People who commit suicide aren’t always the one that has the biggest frown in the room. Sometimes, they are the ones that make us smile and laugh the most.
This story syndicated with permission from For the Love of News
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