Whatever Happened to ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’s Voice Actors?
What To Know
- The child voice actors from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving went on to diverse careers, including design, real estate, and film production.
- Todd Barbee (Charlie Brown) helped design San Francisco’s SkyStar Wheel, Robin Kohn (Lucy) became a real estate broker, and Christopher DeFaria (Peppermint Patty) became president of DreamWorks Animation.
- Many of the actors fondly recall their experiences recording the special and have maintained connections with each other over the years.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving first aired on November 20, 1973, marking the tenth prime-time Peanuts special and one of the most beloved. The story of Charlie Brown’s simple holiday meal has become an annual tradition, first watched in an annual broadcast, and now on Apple+ TV, where non-subscribers can view it for free from November 15-16, 2025.
The Peanuts specials were famously voiced by actual kids, meaning that even though the special is over 50 years old, the actors themselves are not that much older! Read on to find out who designed a major San Francisco tourist attraction, who became an inspirational speaker, and who became president of DreamWorks Animation!
Todd Barbee (62)
Charlie Brown
Todd Barbee was 11 years old when he voiced Charlie Brown in the Thanksgiving special. Growing up in Marin County, he landed the role thanks to his father’s connection with producer Lee Mendelson. He also voiced Charlie Brown in It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown and It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. After his time as Charlie Brown, Barbee pursued a creative career in design and planning, and recently helped design the SkyStar Wheel at San Francisco landmark Fisherman’s Wharf.
In a 2023 interview with ABC News, Barbee said of the special, “I think that’s the reason it’s held up for 50 years, Charles Schulz had his finger on the pulse of American culture, and it’s never gone away.”
Robin Kohn (63)
Lucy van Pelt
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Robin Kohn voiced Lucy in several early ’70s Peanuts specials, including A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. She was only about eleven at the time, and she later recalled that recording with other local Bay Area kids made it feel more like play than work. Today, Kohn works as a real estate broker in Marin County, California. She’s also stayed close with some of her fellow Peanuts voice actors and often attends nostalgic reunions.
Stephen Shea (63)
Linus van Pelt
Stephen Shea took over as Linus during the early 1970s. He was just a preteen when he recorded A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and his gentle tone helped make Linus’s Thanksgiving prayer one of the special’s most memorable moments. He voiced Linus in many Peanuts specials after too. After his Peanuts years, Shea largely stepped away from acting and pursued a quieter life. In interviews, he’s shared fond memories of visiting the recording studio and meeting Charles M. Schulz, calling it one of the highlights of his childhood.
Hilary Momberger Powers (63)
Sally Brown
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Hilary Momberger voiced Sally during the same era. Like the others, she was a child actor living in California and was cast by the Mendelson production team. As an adult, Momberger Powers built a successful career behind the scenes as a script supervisor, working on numerous television series and films including Being John Malkovich and Rat Race. She also now works as a motivational speaker.
Christopher DeFaria (66)
Peppermint Patty
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Christopher DeFaria voiced Peppermint Patty in the special, a fun bit of Peanuts trivia since most fans don’t realize a boy played the role. He has continued to work in the industry, but behind the camera instead of in front of the microphone. DeFaria went on to an extraordinary career in film production and animation, eventually serving as President of Feature Animation at DreamWorks Animation in 2017. Before that, he was President of Animation and Innovative Technology at Warner Bros., overseeing projects like Happy Feet and The LEGO Movie.
Jimmy Ahrens
Marcie
Jimmy Ahrens voiced Marcie, Peppermint Patty’s loyal friend in several Peanuts specials. Unfortunately, not much is publicly known about his life after A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Like many child actors in the Peanuts universe, Ahrens was part of a uniquely local production that drew kids from Northern California schools, helping the Peanuts gang sound as genuine as the kids they were meant to represent.
Where to Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ for subscribers, but will be free for all to watch on November 15 & 16, 2025. The special can also be found on DVD and occasionally airs on PBS and other broadcast channels during the holiday season.
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