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Ken Spears, the co-creator of Scooby Doo with the late Joe Ruby, has died aged 82.

“Ken will forever be remembered for his wit, his story-telling, his loyalty to family, and his strong work ethic,” his son Kevin Spears told Variety. “Ken has not only made a lasting impression on his family, but he has touched the lives of many as co-creator of ‘Scooby-Doo.’ Ken has been a role model for us throughout his life and he will continue to live on in our hearts.”

Ruby and Spears wrote the first five episodes of the initial season of Scooby Doo in 1969, and then story edited the rest of that year. The pair created various series including The Barkleys and The Houndcats, and oversaw the CBS Saturday morning cartoons under Fred Silverman. Their own production company Ruby-Spears was responsible for Thundarr the Barbarian, Mister T, Superman and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

“Warner Bros. Animation is saddened to learn of the passing of Ken Spears and we send our warmest thoughts to his loved ones. He was a true innovator in the industry whose gifts of humor and storytelling continue to delight audiences,” Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, said in a statement. “You cannot find a screen in the world that has not played a version of Scooby-Doo. We continue to be inspired by his work at Warner Bros. Animation and are honoured to carry on the legacy of his beloved characters.”