Captain Kangaroo

Bob Keeshan, who gently entertained and educated generations of children as television's walrus-mustachioed Captain Kangaroo, died Jan. 23, 2004. The 76-year-old entertainer made his debut as the grandfatherly Captain on Oct. 3, 1955, and remained in the role until 1993.

Keeshan as Captain Kangaroo, 1978. His first television appearance came in 1948, when he played Clarabell the Clown on the "Howdy Doody Show," a role he created and played for five years. Later he played Corny the clown, the host of a noontime cartoon program in New York City.

On the show, the Captain would visit with puppet animals, like Bunny Rabbit, who was scolded for eating too many carrots, and Mr. Moose, right, who loved to tell knock-knock jokes.

Keeshan, seen here in an early episode, was critical of today's TV programs for children, saying they were too full of violence.

Bob Keeshan appears in character as "Captain Kangaroo" on the television show's set at CBS, Oct. 19, 1981. The name was inspired by the kangaroo pouch-like pockets of the coat Keeshan wore.

Keeshan is pictured in character, 1994. After the show ended in 1992, he continued to play the role for a time in videos and public appearances.

Keeshan, left, gets ready to get a kiss from longtime fan Anna Johnstone, right, at Borders Book Shop in Birmingham, Mich., Oct. 29, 1995. Keeshan was in town to promote his new book "Holiday Fun," and spent the afternoon signing autographs for a long line of fans who almost all repeated to him that they had watched him every day.

Bob Keeshan, as "Captain Kangaroo," holds a story book. Keeshan believed children learn more in the first six years of life than at any other time.

Keeshan, left, listens during a news conference with then-Gov. Howard Dean in Montpelier, Vt., Jan. 28, 1998. An active children's advocate, in 1987 Keeshan and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander co-founded Corporate Family Solutions, an organization that provided day-care programs to businesses around the country.

Keeshan gestures during his keynote address to the 5th annual Early Childhood Legislative Day gathering in Montpelier, Vt., Feb. 2, 1999.

Keeshan, foreground, leans on an oversized Crayola crayon during a news conference in New York, as Dave Hewitt, Crayola's vice president and general manager, speaks at the podium, Feb. 24, 1998. The event was held to introduce the 40th anniversary commemorative edition of the Crayola 64 crayon box.

Keeshan, undated photo. His family issued a statement at his death saying: "Our father, grandfather and friend was as passionate for his family as he was for America's children. He was largely a private man living an often public life as an advocate for all that our nation's children deserve."