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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.
Keeshan, who was born in Lynbrook, New York, attended Fordham University after a stint in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Keeshan played the grandfatherly, walrus-moustached children's show host Captain Kangaroo for over three decades. Frequently recurring characters included "Mr. Greenjeans" (played by Hal "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, NY before moving to spend the last fourteen 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.
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
