David Steven Cohen, the mastermind behind the beloved television cartoon Courage The Cowardly Dog, has died at the age of 58.

His friend Jerry Beck, a historian of animation, broke the news on Facebook and revealed Cohen succumbed to cancer.

Courage The Cowardly Dog ran from 1999 to 2002, becoming an instant classic among American children for its blend of the adorable and the macabre.

The тιтle character is an easily frightened pup living in a desolate farmhouse and coming into contact with all manner of fearsome creatures like zombies and aliens.

As the head writer of the series, Cohen oversaw a unique mélange of light children’s entertainment, dark comedy, horror and science fiction.

He also wrote on a variety of other cartoon series like Phil Of The Future and Arthur, and scripted the animated film Balto about a real-life heroic husky in Alaska.

David Steven Cohen, the mastermind behind the beloved cartoon Courage The Cowardly Dog (pictured), has died aged 58

Cohen, pictured on his Instagram in December, won a Daytime Emmy Award for the 2010s cartoon Peg+Cat, in the category of Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program

As news spread of Cohen’s death, fans began sharing their grief on social media, posting messages like: ‘Thank you for making our childhood awesome’ and ‘thanks for giving me a good child hood bro.’

‘RIP David Steven Cohen,’ wrote one X user with a broken heart emoji. ‘The genius who gave us Courage the Cowardly Dog, a show that made my childhood unforgettable. Thank you for the memories!’

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‘It’s a sad day for Courage the Cowardly Dog fans out there, for he will always be remembered,’ wrote another, adding a heart. 

Cohen won a Daytime Emmy Award for the 2010s cartoon Peg+Cat, in the category of Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program. 

He also earned two Primetime Emmy nods as a member of the writing staffs of the classic cartoon Arthur and The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss. 

‘R.I.P. David Steven Cohen – I just heard that my friend has pᴀssed from cancer,’ Jerry Beck wrote on Facebook on Sunday. ‘He was an accomplished writer, composer, producer – animation lover and friend.’

Beck hailed Cohen’s work on live action shows like Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Alf and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, as well as his ‘hilarious work on FUNNY animated series like ALF TALEs, COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG, and many others) – and the feature film, BALTO – among much else.’

Concluding his tribute to his late friend, Beck wrote: ‘What a great guy. A true friend to all. You did good, David. You won’t be forgotten.’ 

As the head writer of the series, Cohen oversaw a unique mélange of light children’s entertainment, dark comedy, horror and science fiction

Courage The Cowardly Dog ran from 1999 to 2002, becoming an instant classic among American children for its blend of the adorable and the macabre 

He also wrote on a variety of other cartoon series like Phil Of The Future and Arthur (pictured), and scripted the animated film Balto about a real-life heroic husky in Alaska

As news spread of Cohen’s death, fans began sharing their grief on social media, posting messages like: ‘Thank you for making our childhood awesome’

Cartoon Network, the channel that carried Courage The Cowardly Dog, also paid tribute to Cohen on their Instagram page.

‘Thank you, David, for your work on the strangely beautiful world of Courage, lovingly adding to our childhood trauma while teaching poignant life lessons,’ they wrote.

‘How you’ve brought to life a scared but courageous little dog reminds us that we can do anything, even if we’re afraid. Rest well.’

Early in his career, Cohen wrote on live action shows including Weird Science and the black sitcom Living Single, which is now often cited as a major influence on Friends.

However his most enduring legacy is in cartoons, especially his stewardship of Courage The Cowardly Dog, which helped shape the sensibilities of millennials.

Cohen also wrote the 1995 animated film Balto, produced by Steven Spielberg, which dramatized the real story of a husky who led a transport of medicine through a brutal winter to rescue the town of Nome, Alaska from a diphtheria outbreak in 1925.

He worked as a television producer as well, including on Amy Sedaris’ acidic sitcom Strangers With Candy, which was an early career highlight for Stephen Colbert.