26 Years Later, Charlie Brown’s Final Quote Is Still a Heartbreaking Comic Strip Classic
Charles Schulz’s final full *Peanuts* strip appeared on 6 February 2000, bringing the comic to an abrupt close after his illness forced him to retire. Its familiar humour about Charlie Brown’s romantic misfortune now carries added poignancy, as Schulz died the day before his farewell message ran in newspapers.
The Valentine’s Day strip has Charlie Brown cleaning his mailbox in case a love letter arrives, then telling Sally that rain brings only letters saying, “I never want to see you again!” Asked what he would do if he ever received a love letter, he admits he does not know. *Peanuts* had run for 49 years and four months, with 17,897 strips; Schulz later said he regretted that Charlie Brown never got to kick the football.
- Schulz’s final full Peanuts strip ran on 6 February 2000.
- Charlie Brown ends the comic still waiting for a love letter.
- The strip closed a 49-year run without resolving his familiar setbacks.
New here? Start with this
Peanuts was an American comic strip created by Charles Schulz, centred on Charlie Brown and a group of children including his sister Sally. It ran in newspapers for nearly 50 years, using everyday situations and gentle humour to explore friendship, disappointment and growing up.
Charlie Brown is often unlucky in love and unsure of himself, while Sally is his younger sister. Schulz’s illness led him to retire from the strip in 2000, and he died shortly before his final message appeared. The strip’s long run and familiar characters are why its farewell has lasting significance for readers.