Lew 'Clarabell' Anderson dead at 84

HAWTHORNE, N.Y., May 17 (UPI) -- Lew "Clarabell the Clown" Anderson, who played a puppet's best friend on TV's "The Howdy Doody Show" from 1954-1960, has died in Hawthorne, N.Y., at age 84.

Anderson died Sunday from complications of prostate cancer, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

Of the three actors to portray Clarabell between 1947 and 1960, Anderson logged the most air time as Howdy Doody's best friend and was cited by creator and star Buffalo Bob Smith as the best clown in the bunch, The Times said.

It was Anderson who spoke the series' final words when it ended after 2,243 episodes on Sept. 24, 1960.

With a tear in his eye, Anderson as Clarabell -- who previously communicated only by honking a horn -- said his first and last words: "Goodbye, kids."

An arranger, composer and clarinetist, Anderson was playing with his band, the Honey Dreamers, when Smith hired him to portray Clarabell.

After the show ended, he went back to his first love and formed the All-American Big Band, the Friday night house band at New York's Birdland jazz club.

Anderson is survived by his wife, two sons and five grandchildren.