Image: Associated Press

Alan Young, who's best known to television audiences as the man who could talk to a horse on Mr. Ed, passed away Thursday at the age of 96. 

Young starred as Wilbur Post, the klutzy architect who had the ability to speak to a horse named Mister Ed. With the chemistry between the voice actor behind Mister Ed and Young, the show became an instant success. It was one of the few programs to debut in syndication, only to be picked up by a major network for prime time.

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Even though Young played the straight-faced man for five seasons in the 1960s, he had many other roles and stayed active in the business until this year.

When Mr. Ed ended in 1966, Young took a decade-long hiatus from Hollywood, traveling around the country. In the 1970s, the actor returned to the small screen in a few guest spots on some short-lived shows. When the onscreen roles didn't pan out, Young made the swtich to voice acting in the 1980s.

While many actors strive to be front and center their entire careers, Young found great success behind the scenes that allowed for career longevity and relevance. 

That being said, here's why we should not only remember Young in his hilarious role on Mr. Ed, but also for his outstanding body of work both in front of and behind the camera.