Remembering Lee Mendelson

We’re sad to learn that producer Lee Mendelson has passed away at the age of 86. Mendelson began his career as a writer-producer at San Francisco’s KPIX, working on award-winning documentaries. He went on to produce the documentary Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz, which led to his long association with Charles M. Schulz as the producer of Peanuts specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Below are some selections from his 2003 interview:

On Charles Schulz and A Charlie Brown Christmas:

On Vince Guaraldi’s music for A Charlie Brown Christmas:

Watch Lee Mendelson’s full interview and read his obituary in Variety.