Craig Schulz

{{short description|American producer and screenwriter (born 1953)}}

{{infobox person

| birth_name = Craig Frederick Schulz

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|1|22}}

| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

| parents = Charles M. Schulz (father)

| spouse = Judy Davis

| children = 2

}}

Craig Frederick Schulz (born January 22, 1953) is an American producer, screenwriter, motocross racer, pilot, and instructor. He has often worked on adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip, created by his father, Charles M. Schulz.

Life and career

Craig Schulz was born in Minneapolis on January 22, 1953, to Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz and Joyce Halverson.{{cite web |title=Timeline Archive |url=https://schulzmuseum.org/timeline/ |website=Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center |access-date=September 10, 2023}} He has four siblings, including half sister Meredith Hodges. He moved with his family to Sebastopol, California, in 1958, and later to Santa Rosa, California, in 1969.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Dan |title=The life and legacy of Charles M. Schulz |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/specialsections/the-life-and-legacy-of-charles-m-schulz/ |website=The Press Democrat |access-date=September 10, 2023}}{{cite web |title=The Charles M. Schulz Museum: Home of the Peanuts |url=https://www.sonomacounty.com/articles/charles-m-schulz-museum-home-peanuts |website=sonomacounty.com |access-date=September 10, 2023}}

In 1971, Schulz became a motocross racer, and competed in hundreds of races across the United States. Schulz's father was inspired by his son to create You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown, which aired in 1975.{{cite web |last1=Cavanaugh |first1=Patrick |title=Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie Filmmakers Talk the New Peanuts Special |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/snoopy-presents-one-of-a-kind-marcie-interview-craig-schulz-raymond-s-persi-peanuts/ |website=comicbook.com |access-date=September 10, 2023}} Schulz later became a flight instructor, and is a certified helicopter pilot.{{cite web |title=Pilots Peanut pilot |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2013/september/pilot/pilots-peanut-pilot |website=Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association |access-date=September 10, 2023}} In 1989, he made headlines when he flew his father's private jet to Mexico, escorting detectives to arrest spree killer Ramon Salcido.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Dan |title=Craig Schulz has quietly and wisely kept alive his father's work |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/craig-schulz-has-quietly-and-wisely-kept-alive-his-fathers-work/ |website=The Press Democrat |access-date=September 10, 2023}}

Schulz serves as president and CEO of Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, which manages the licensing for the Peanuts brand. In 2008, Schulz produced a series of online shorts, Peanuts Motion Comics, based on the comic strip.{{cite web |title=On Web, 'Peanuts' Gets New Lease On Life |url=https://www.npr.org/2008/11/03/96536461/on-web-peanuts-gets-new-lease-on-life |website=NPR |access-date=September 10, 2023}} Schulz and Stephan Pastis co-wrote the 2011 special Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, the first Peanuts special produced with no direct involvement from Schulz's father; Schulz and Pastis also adapted the special into a graphic novel of the same name.{{cite web |last1=Weldon |first1=Glen |title=It's A New Peanuts Comic, Charlie Brown |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134176527/its-a-new-peanuts-comic-charlie-brown |website=NPR |access-date=September 10, 2023}} Beginning in 2019, Schulz began producing several new Peanuts specials and shows for Apple TV+, for which he has been nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards.{{cite web |title=Apple TV+ lands 17 Children’s & Family Emmy Award nominations |url=https://macdailynews.com/2022/11/02/apple-tv-lands-17-childrens-family-emmy-award-nominations/ |website=Mac Daily News |access-date=September 10, 2023}}

In 2011, Schulz appeared as a guest judge on Food Network Challenge, in an episode themed around Charlie Brown Thanksgiving cakes.

Schulz was a producer and co-writer of The Peanuts Movie (2015). In September 2023, Schulz expressed interest in another Peanuts feature film,{{cite web |last1=Hermanns |first1=Grant |title=New Peanuts Movie Chances Gets Hopeful Response From Creator's Son: "I Would Like To See One Come Back" |url=https://screenrant.com/peanuts-movie-2-chances-craig-schulz-response-hopeful/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=September 10, 2023}} which was announced in November, with Schulz returning to co-produce and co-write the script.{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Apple Sets Studio’s First Original ‘Peanuts’ Feature Film |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/apple-peanuts-feature-film-1235594609/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 6, 2023}}

Personal life

Schulz lives in Santa Rosa, with his wife, Judy. He has two children, and has worked with his son Bryan on Peanuts projects.{{cite web |title=Obituary: Charles Monroe Schulz |url=https://www.deseret.com/2000/2/19/19491825/obituary-charles-monroe-schulz |website=Deseret News |access-date=September 10, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Chris |title=How the Schulz family made 'The Peanuts Movie' a reality |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/how-the-schulz-family-made-the-peanuts-movie-a-reality/ |website=The Press Democrat |access-date=September 10, 2023}}