| May 18 |
| 1912 -- Perry Como was born Pierino Como in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. A one-time barber, Perry hosted 'The Chesterfield Supper Club,'' 'The Perry Como Show'' and 'The Kraft Music Hall,'' as well as annual Christmas specials. He died May 12, 2001, just six days shy of his 89th birthday. 1934 -- Dwayne Hickman is born in Los Angeles. After portraying nephew Chuck on 'The Bob Cummings Show,' Dwayne reached stardom on 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.' Later a CBS network executive, Dwayne currently is enjoying another career as a talented artist (see some of his artwork at dwaynehickman.com) He's married to Joan Roberts, who played Private Glass on 'Private Benjamin.' 1967 -- Andy Clyde, who played cowboy sidekicks California Carson to Hopalong Cassidy and Winks to Whip Wilson, died of natural causes at the age of 75. In the 30 years before he appeared with Hopalong, Andy appeared in more than 300 motion pictures. A regular on both 'Lassie' and 'The Real McCoys,' he is still seen in reruns in his role of befuddled Frank Myers, the man who nearly bankrupted Mayberry by cashing in a Civil War bond on 'The Andy Griffith Show.' Andy was born in Scotland. 1968 -- Tiny Tim's record 'Tiptoe through the Tulips' was released. The song was originally a #1 hit for Nick Lucas in 1929. 1978 -- the final episode of the Robert Blake series 'Baretta' aired. 1981 -- mustachioed character actor Arthur O'Connell, who had recurring roles on 'Mr Peepers' and 'The Second Hundred Years,' became one of the first actors to die with Alzheimer's disease. He was 73. Twice nominated for an Academy Award ('Picnic,' 'Anatomy of a Murder') he also was known for his role in the '70s as a storekeeper who sold Crest toothpaste on a long-running series of commercials. 1988 -- Daws Butler, the man who, along with Mel Blanc, became the gold standard in animation voice-over work, died following a heart attack at the age of 71. Initially wanting to become an animator, Daws (from his middle name Dawson) voiced such characters as Yogi Bear, Deputy Dawg, Cap'n Crunch and Augie Daugie. In contrast to his deep voice, Daws stood 5'2." 1992 -- Marshall Thompson died of congestive heart failure at the age of 65. After 20 years in film and television, Marshall received national recognition as veterinarian Dr. Marsh Tracy in African adventure 'Daktari,' which was filmed at Jungle Country, U.S.A., near Los Angeles. A high school classmate of actress Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou on 'The Andy Griffith Show'), Marshall was married for 43 years (until his death) to Barbara Long, sister of Richard Long ('Big Valley,' 'Nanny and the Professor.') Also in 1992, comedian Skip Stephenson, one of the co-hosts of NBC's 'Real People,' died of a heart attack. He was only 52. 1995 -- Elizabeth Montgomery, forever beloved as Samantha Stevens on the long-running sitcom 'Bewitched,' died of colorectal cancer at the age of 62. Following the series, she pursued darker and sometimes controversial roles in such made-for-TV movies as 'A Case of Rape,' 'Mrs. Sundance' and 'The Legend of Lizzie Borden.' 1998 -- CBS airs the final episode of 'Murphy Brown.' |