Joseph Barbera (1911-2006) was an acclaimed director and producer for the many animated film and television productions released with partner William Hanna. He began his animation career at Van Beuren Studios in the 1930s, working on obscure characters such as Cubby the Bear. He moved to MGM, where he teamed with Hanna and created Tom and Jerry. Their company, Hanna-Barbera, went on to dominate television animation for nearly thirty years, with such series as Top Cat, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, and The Flintstones.
At the 1973 Daytime Emmys ceremony, Barbera accepted the Outstanding Children's Programming award, presented by Kermit the Frog and Cookie Monster, for the ABC Afterschool Special Last of the Curlews (a tie win with Shari Lewis' A Picture of Us).
Along with Hanna, Joseph Barbera served as executive producer of The Flintstones and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, both of which used Jim Henson's Creature Shop for effects. Barbera made a silent cameo in the former as "Man in Mersandes" and appeared with Hanna in Viva Rock Vegas, as guests at Fred and Wilma's wedding.
Along with Jim Henson, both Hanna and Barbera have been commemorated by The Television Academy Hall of Fame.