Bob Keeshan |
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Robert James Keeshan (June 27, 1927 – January 23, 2004) was an American television producer and actor. He is most famous as the title character of the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of baby boomers during its 30-year run from 1955-1984.
Keeshan also played the original "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody television program.
Keeshan was born in Lynbrook, New York. He attended Fordham University, following his service in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during World War II. An urban legend claims that actor Lee Marvin said on "The Tonight Show" that he had fought alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima. However, Marvin never said this, never served on Iwo Jima (having been invalided out after the Battle of Saipan many months before), and Keeshan himself never saw combat, having enlisted too late in the war to go overseas.