Chuck McCann, R.I.P.

Actor, comedian, children's entertainer and voice over artist Chuck McCann died on April 8th of congestive heart failure at the age of 83.

McCann was a popular children's TV host in New York City during the 1960's before moving on to Hollywood. He is probably best known for co-starring with Bob Denver of Gilligan's Island fame in the CBS Saturday morning live action show Far Out Space Nuts where they portrayed maintenance workers who accidentally launch themselves into space.

I did not know McCann was cuckoo for Coco Puffs.

McCann appeared on TV shows like Starsky & Hutch, The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, St. Elsewhere, Diff'rent Strokes, Knight Rider, Boston Legal and, of course, Columbo. The tall, rubber faced actor appeared as the ill-fated film projectionist in the Columbo episode "Double Exposure" featuring Robert Culp in this third and final turn as a murderer.

McCann's passion for comedy began with Laurel and Hardy and eventually led to a real life friendship with Stan Laurel.

Here are McCann and a young Dick Van Dyke playing both Laurel & Hardy as well as Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton in "The Vacuum Cleaner Salesman" skit on The Garry Moore Show.
R.I.P.