William Hanna died before working at an American media company.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. ( abbreviated as MGM or M-G-M , also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or simply Metro , and for a former interval known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists , or MGM/UA ) is an American media company , involved primarily in the production and distribution of feature films and television programs . William Denby `` Bill '' Hanna ( July 14 , 1910 -- March 22 , 2001 ) was an American animator , director , producer , voice actor , and cartoon artist , whose film and television cartoon characters entertained millions of people for much of the 20th century . In 1937 , while working at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ( MGM ) , Hanna met Joseph Barbera .