Theater News

Jan Berenstain, Co-Creator of The Berenstain Bears, Has Died

Jan Berenstain, co-creator of The Berenstain Bears with her husband Stan, died of a stroke on February 24, according to the Associated Press. She was 88.

The writer-illustrator couple published the first book in the Berenstain Bears series, The Big Honey Hunt, in 1962. Over 300 titles followed, as did an animated cartoon, and a stage show — The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical, which is currently performing at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater at the West Side YMCA.

Following Stan Berenstain’s death in 2005, Jan Berenstain continued to work on the Berenstain Bears franchise with her illustrator son, Mike Berenstain, who has said that he plans to continue to work on new Berenstain Bears material.

In addition to Mike Berenstain, Jan Berenstain is survived by another son, Leo, as well as four grandchildren.

Featured In This Story