Every long-running comic strip experiences a natural churn of characters, with some fading into obscurity while others become indelible parts of the cultural landscape. Charles Schulz's Peanuts is no exception. While Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, and Linus became mainstays, several characters who were once prominent eventually found themselves relegated to the sidelines or phased out entirely.
Initially, Charlie Brown's companions included Shermy and Patty, who were slowly supplanted by later creations like Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and Woodstock. As Schulz refined the comic's cast and style over the decades, some of these early figures were left in a state of character limbo. Although they occasionally reappear in crowd scenes or animated specials, their once-central roles diminished. Here are five such characters from Peanuts history.
Shermy
Based on Schulz's childhood friend Sherman Plepler, Shermy was one of the original protagonists in the first year of Peanuts and held the distinction of being the first character with a speaking role. However, his role as a 'straight man' without distinctive traits led to his gradual sidelining as Schulz introduced more complex characters. Shermy's appearances became infrequent by 1959, with his final speaking role occurring in June 1969.
Patty Swanson
The original Patty, named after Schulz's cousin Patricia Swanson, also appeared in the very first Peanuts strip. Unlike Shermy, Patty remained a recurring character for a longer period. Schulz evolved her into one of the neighborhood's snobbish figures, often seen mocking other children alongside Violet. This distinct personality allowed her to appear in many classic animated specials and make occasional cameos in the comic strip until the 1990s. Despite this, her presence slowed significantly after 1960, particularly following the introduction of Peppermint Patty in 1966. Her final strip ran in November 1997.
Violet Gray
Violet Gray achieved several early 'firsts' in Peanuts, including being the first new character Schulz created and the originator of the "football gag." She also served as an early template for Lucy Van Pelt, often exhibiting a similar penchant for teasing Charlie Brown. Violet, along with Patty, frequently displayed snobbish behavior and boasted about her family's wealth. Her interactions with Charlie Brown, marked by a complex love-hate dynamic, persisted for two decades. Violet's appearances began to decline in the mid-1980s, becoming rare by 1985. She and Patty shared their final strip in November 1997.
Frieda
Frieda, introduced in 1961, was known for her persistent pride in her "naturally curly hair." Described as a vain and talkative character, she was friends with Linus and occasionally flirted with Schroeder, much to Lucy's chagrin. While she appeared in several animated specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, her role in the strip diminished by 1970. Schulz reportedly struggled to find further narrative avenues for her beyond jokes about her hair. Frieda ceased appearing in the comic strip entirely after 1985.
Five
Five debuted in 1963 as a peculiar parody related to the introduction of ZIP postal codes. His name, along with his twin sisters 3 and 4 and their surname 95472 (the ZIP code for Sebastopol, California), formed a running gag. For two decades, Five was a consistent background character, often mistaken for Pig-Pen. His most notable appearance was in A Charlie Brown Christmas. While he received a speaking role in the 2022 special It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown, his last comic strip appearance was in May 1983, after being hit by a baseball.
