Joseph Roland `` Joe '' Barbera ( March 24 , 1911 â `` December 18 , 2006 ) was an Italian American animator , cartoon artist , storyboard artist , director , producer , and co-founder , together with William Hanna , of Hanna-Barbera . Joseph Roland `` Joe '' Barbera ( ; March 24 , 1911 -- December 18 , 2006 ) was an influential American animator , director , producer , storyboard artist , and cartoon artist , whose movie and television cartoon characters entertained millions of fans worldwide for much of the twentieth century .