Bob Keeshan
|
|
Robert (Bob) Keeshan (June 27, 1927 – January 23, 2004) was an actor who was the original "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody television program, but who is most famous as the star and title character of the children's show Captain Kangaroo. Bob's real name was Carl Keeshan.
Keeshan was born in Lynbrook, New York, attended Fordham University after a stint in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
On Howdy Doody, Clarabell, which Keeshan played, was a silent clown who mainly communicated by honking one of two horns, situated on a box that rested on a belt that wrapped around his waist. One of the horns signified "yes", the other horn signified "no". Clarabell also spritzed Buffalo Bob Smith with a seltzer bottle on numerous occasions, as well as playing practical jokes.
Keeshan played the grandfatherly, walrus-moustached children's show host Captain Kangaroo for over three decades. Frequently recurring characters included "Mr. Greenjeans" (played by Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum), and puppets such as "Bunny Rabbit" and "Mr. Moose."
In 1987, Keeshan founded Corporate Family Solutions with former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander. The company provided day-care programs to businesses.
Keeshan lived on Melbury Road in the affluent neigborhood of Babylon Village in Long Island, New York before moving to spend the last 14 years of his life in Vermont. After moving to Vermont, he became a children's advocate as well as an author, writing his memoirs entitled Good Morning, Captain in 1995.
Keeshan died in Windsor, Vermont at the age of 76.
For his work on television and for children, Keeshan received many awards, including:
- Five Emmy Awards (1978, 1981-1984)
- Three Peabody Awards (1958, 1972, 1979)
- National Education Award, 1982
- Kennedy Center Honors, 1987
- Induction into the Clown Hall of Fame, 1990
- American Medical Association Distinguished Service Award, 1991
- Induction into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, 1998
An urban legend says Keeshan fought alongside Lee Marvin at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Neither man was at the battle. Keeshan actually did not see action in the war; Marvin saw action, but was seriously wounded and returned to the U.S. several months before the battle.
External link
- Bob Keeshan IMDB site (http://imdb.com/name/nm0444828/)
- Biography of Bob Keeshan (http://www.clown-ministry.com/History/Bob-Keeshan-Clarabell.html)