Peanuts has a tried and true cast and has usually stayed pretty close to its core members throughout its history. However, there were still references to others in the comic strip’s run, with famous people being name-dropped from time to time. While some who were referenced were famous for a certain period of time and then dissipated from the public eye, others have been household names for decades. Overall, there have been many interesting people noted in the classic comics property.

There has also been variation in the type of famous people referenced in Peanuts. Some of the names mentioned have been athletes, while others have been in the entertainment sector, such as actors. There have also been activists and even magicians referenced in Peanuts, bringing a medley of famous names. Consequently, these comic strips are set apart from the usual Peanuts comics that have usually relied on the main cast of characters, rather than topical personalities.

10

Doug Henning

Published in 1982

Doug Henning may not be a household name in the 2020s, but in the ’80s, he was a part of mainstream pop culture. A magician, he could be considered to be an ’80s equivalent to a Criss Angel or David Copperfield, despite none of these names being super current references today, either. Regardless. Doug Henning gained the popularity of not just hosting The Muppet Show but being referenced in Peanuts during the Me Decade; two impressive accomplishments. Not everyone can say they have appeared in two such mega-famous and beloved properties.

When Charlie Brown brings up Snoopy getting a rabies shot, the beagle disappears out of thin air, something a magician like Doug Henning was renowned for. Peanuts typically focused on more universal and timeless storylines that didn’t rely on topical things. But, there were some comics that referencee specific issues, events, and people that were talking points at the time, a category Doug Henning fits into.

9

Beethoven

Published in 1977

Lucy’s love for Schroeder may not be reciprocated, but one person whom he does love is none other than the renowned and very famous Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most recognized composers and pianists to ever exist. Schroeder has long had a fascination (nearing a borderline obsession) with the composer, trying to emulate how he lived, acted, and played. As a result, Beethoven was a common name to pop up in Peanuts comics that featured Schroeder.

This strip is one of many that name-dropped the man who created “Ode to Joy.” Lucy, as usual, tries to insert herself into Schroeder’s life, with her trying to hint heavy-handedly that Schroeder should give her a present. Also, as usual, Schroeder shuts her down as quickly as possible, no doubt putting Lucy into one of her famous crabby moods.

8

Billie Jean King

Published in 1991

Before the tennis superstars of today like Venus and Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka, there was the legendary Billie Jean King. A force in the tennis world, Billie Jean King put a spotlight on the women’s sports movement and was an activist for fair compensation. On top of her advocacy, she was also consistently the champion of multiple Grand Slam titles, earning her the reputation as one of the best tennis players in the world.

What many may not know, however, is that Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and Billie Jean King were good friends and Schulz was a great admirer of her abilities. Consequently, there were many references to her in Peanuts comics, with the Peanuts gang all being fans of the sports superstar.

7

Claude Monet

Published in 1999

For those who may not be familiar, Claude Monet was a famous impressionist style painter whose arguably most famous work is his Water Lilies series. Rerun, ever the precocious child, paints a picture that he tries to make resemble Monet’s work. Instead, the mimicry falls short as Rerun’s friend points out that his water lilies look more like submarines. Covering up his less than prodigious painting talent, Rerun tries to act like he was painting submarines along an enemy shore. Nice try, Rerun.

While his cover-up isn’t the most believable, one can’t deny that the little guy knows how to pivot. Interestingly, Claude Monet would not be the only high art figure to be referenced in Peanuts, with Van Gogh also being mentioned at one point. Regardless, it is highly impressive that someone as young as Rerun knows Claude Monet and even attempts to recreate one of the lauded artist’s works.

6

Fred Astaire

Published in 1969

Fred Astaire was a major star in Hollywood’s Golden Era, with a reputation as a phenomenal dancer, a skill that he used to great effect in a number of musicals. One wouldn’t think of Fred Astaire and Snoopy having much in common, yet the pair share a love of dance as seen in this comic.

A passion in Snoopy’s life is food. It makes him so happy that it causes him to do his happy dance, much to Lucy’s chagrin. Always annoyed by his happy dance, Lucy quips that feeding Snoopy feels like she is feeding Fred Astaire, the dance extraordinaire. Lucy and Snoopy have butted heads several times, with Snoopy’s exuberant happy dance being highly ranked among the pet peeves she holds about the beagle adored around the world, making her annoyance in this strip extra humorous.

5

George Washington & Abraham Lincoln

Published in 1987

Sally’s abysmal class presentations are a running gag in Peanuts. She never seems to get things quite right, confusing some aspect of what she was supposed to have learned. Likewise, it is easy to assume that everyone knows what George Washington and Abraham Lincoln looked like. Everyone except for Sally, apparently.

When she does a report on the first President of the United States, she brings along a portrait she drew of him, except it’s entirely the wrong president she has drawn. After confusing two of the most famous American presidents ever, it’s safe to say that Sally won’t be getting a great grade on her report. One of the best parts of the comic is that Sally was actually doing a good job on her report before she just had to bring the portrait she drew, effectively dampening her chances at getting an “A”, being very on brand for her.

4

Willie Mays & Babe Ruth

Published in 1969

Babe Ruth and Willie Mays are some of the most recognized players in baseball. Even those who think touchdowns are a baseball thing know who Babe Ruth and Willie Mays are. However, Lucy is another story completely due to her absolutely clueless knowledge of anything baseball. She is the worst member on the baseball team, despite her opinion to the contrary.

Proving her limited knowledge of baseball, Lucy sees gloves with the names of Willie Mays and Babe Ruth on them, and is not ignorant of who they are, but also thinks that they are the gloves of regular neighborhood kids. Likewise, Lucy doesn’t even get the gender of Babe Ruth correct, thinking that the Great Bambino was a girl simply due to his name. The kid from the Babe Ruth-centric film The Sandlot would have one thing to say about this comic, “You’re killing me, Lucy!”

3

Farrah Fawcett & Mary Tyler Moore

Published in 1977

Capturing two icons of the 1970s, this Peanuts comic is one of the grooviest ’70s strips ever. Farrah Fawcett, who had the last name Majors at the time due to her then-marriage to fellow actor Lee Majors, was one of the stars of the mega-hit show Charlie’s Angels. She was also featured on one of the most famous pin-up posters ever, which has appeared in countless TV shows and films including That ’70s Show and Saturday Night Fever.

Likewise, Mary Tyler Moore was a sitcom star and one of the most famous faces of the ’60s and ’70s. As a result, the references to both ’70s megastars serve as a sort of time capsule. The comic even shows just how famous these two names were in the ’70s, with Sally and Lucy equating their fame to that of the moon and Frisbees.

2

Elton John

Published in 1975

There’s a piano virtuoso who has been referenced in Peanuts, but this time it is surprisingly not Beethoven. Instead, it is the iconic Elton John, who is not only a famed singer/songwriter but has also had some incredible and outlandish fashion moments. The 1970s were especially a moment in time where fashion was absolutely bonkers, something Elton John embraced wholeheartedly. One of his most famous accessories at the time was his out of the ordinary glasses that had unique shapes and designs that were colorful and bold.

Peanuts uses the famous Elton accessory in this mid ’70s comic that shows the piano-obsessed Schroeder getting a present from his love-struck pal Lucy, which turns out to be Elton John glasses. While Schroeder may be obsessed with Beethoven, he could use a style revamp courtesy of the ever sartorially interesting Elton John; he is a fashion icon for a reason.

1

Martin Luther King Jr.

Published in 1993

One of the most important figures in history, Martin Luther King Jr. is a name that is familiar to everyone, and rightly so. A prominent leader in the Civil Rights movement in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. was revolutionary in his pleas to end segregation and prejudice through peaceful protests.

Franklin points out Martin Luther King Jr.’s importance to history and modern life in this Peanuts strip. When Franklin relates how the famous “I Have a Dream” speech has ensured that he and Peppermint Patty are able to sit together and have lunch together, as well as trade food items together, Peppermint Patty focuses more on the food trade part. While Peppermint Patty does have a point that a french fry and a carrot stick are in no way an even trade, her failure to grasp the real meaning of what Franklin is saying is at the heart of this classic Peanuts strip.