Donna Johnson

Donna Mae Johnson is the maiden name of Donna Wold, who was Charles M. Schulz's inspiration for the character "the Little Red-Haired Girl," Charlie Brown's crush in the "Peanuts" comic strip. Co-workers at an art correspondence school in the late 1940's, Johnson was supposedly engaged to Schulz at one point, but ended up choosing another suitor, whom she married. Despite this, Schulz and Wold remained lifelong friends.

Related Topics:
Charles M. Schulz - Little Red-Haired Girl - Charlie Brown - Peanuts

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A photo of Johnson with Schulz, along with the only known drawing Schulz did of the little red-haired girl can be found in the 2003 book Peanuts: the Art of Charles M. Schulz, published by Patheon Books. It was drawn long before the Little Red-Haired Girl was mentioned in "Peanuts". The girl in the drawing strongly resembles Patty, a character who was prominent in the early days of the strip.

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"I'd like to see Charlie Brown kick that football, and if he gets the little red-haired girl, that's fine with me." - Donna Wold, quoted around the time Schulz announced his retirement in 1999.

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