R.I.P. Chuck McCann, children's television host and the voice of "I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs"

The 'Far Out Space Nuts' and 'Captain Kangaroo' actor was 83.

The Everett Collection

In a 2007 interview with TVParty.com, Chuck McCann looked back on his career as not really a career. "I did everything," he said. "I never closed doors. If you look at my career — if I had one — I never think of it as a career, I just look at it as things I love to do. I have just as much fun doing a 30-second commercial as I do making a movie."

Indeed, McCann's body of work included everything from beloved children's television shows to General Mills ads to Oliver Hardy impressions.

He was the voice of Sonny the Cuckoo Bird in Cocoa Puffs commercials, delightfully declaring, "I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!" McCann also starred in a series of memorable spots for Right Guard deodorant in the 1970s and 1980s, in which he spouted another catchphrase: "Hi, guy!"

McCann was born into a family of entertainers. His grandfather performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. A generation later, McCann's father was arranging music at the Roxy Theatre in New York, which gave young McCann the opportunity to meet Lou Costello. 

Starting on local stations in the New York City area, McCann began his own career in children's television in the 1950s. He worked on series such as The Puppet Hotel and Let's Have Fun. He also had a hand in creating the regional favorite Wonderama. In 1963, he earned his own title, The Chuck McCann Show, which lead, a few years later, to Chuck McCann's Laurel & Hardy TV Show. Chuck was no dilettante when it came to Laurel & Hardy. He was a co-founding member of the Sons of the Desert, an international fan club devoted to the classic comedy duo.

Elsewhere, McCann continued to craft quirky characters for kids on shows like Far Out Space Nuts, a Sid and Marty Krofft sci-fi show co-starring Bob Denver of Gilligan's Island fame, and Captain Kangaroo, on which he portrayed Sailor Clyde.

On MeTV, you can spot McCann's smiling face on a variety of shows — he popped up on Bonanza, The Bob Newhart Show, Columbo, Diff'rent Strokes and far more. Or perhaps you heard his voice on Saturday mornings, if you grew up in the 1980s, as McCann voiced characters on cartoons like Pac-Man, G.I. Joe, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and DuckTales. He was even the voice behind the Thing in the Fantastic Four cartoon.

On Sunday, April 8, McCann died of heart failure at the age of 83, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

People we have lost in 2018

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  • David Ogden Stiers, M*A*S*H star and Disney voice actor
  • Steven Bochco, creator of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'NYPD Blue'
  • John Mahoney, the beloved father of 'Frasier'
  • Clint Walker, the towering star of 1950s Western 'Cheyenne'
  • Chuck McCann, children's television host and the voice of
  • Hugh Wilson, creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'Frank's Place'
  • Mickey Jones of 'Home Improvement' and 'National Lampoon's Vacation'
  • Harlan Ellison, the sci-fi writer behind the greatest Star Trek episode
  • Margot Kidder, best known as Lois Lane of 'Superman'
  • Vic Damone, legendary singer, popular entertainer and TV host
  • Doreen Tracey, original 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mousketeer
  • Peter Wyngarde, British actor who appeared in 'The Prisoner,' 'Flash Gordon' and a Lucy special
  • Robert Dowdell of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'
  • Dorothy Malone, Oscar-winning actress and 'Peyton Place' star
  • Deanna Lund, a.k.a. Valerie Scott on 'Land of the Giants,' Anna Gram on 'Batman'
  • Jean Porter, actress from 'The Abbott & Costello Show'
  • Harry Landers, co-star on 'Ben Casey' and many beloved TV shows
  • Frank Buxton, writer, actor and director on 'The Odd Couple,' 'Happy Days'
  • Joseph Campanella of 'Mannix,' 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and more
  • Greta Thyssen, actress on 'The Three Stooges' and 'Perry Mason'
  • Bradford Dillman, prominent '60s and '70s film and TV actor
  • Tim O'Connor of 'Peyton Place,' 'Buck Rogers' and 'Wonder Woman'
  • Tom Reese, TV and movie actor known for amazing fistfights
  • John Gavin, 'Psycho' actor who was twice almost cast as James Bond
  • Frank Avruch, best known as Boston's Bozo the Clown
  • Ralph Woolsey, the man who gave 'Batman' its bold, distinctive look
  • Soon-Tek Oh, memorable character actor on 'M*A*S*H,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Hawaii Five-O'
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  • Allyn Ann McLerie of 'The Tony Randall Show'
  • Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock! composer
  • Barbara Dodd Remsen, classic TV actress and notable casting director
  • Harry Anderson of 'Night Court' and 'Cheers'
  • David Ogden Stiers, M*A*S*H star and Disney voice actor
  • Steven Bochco, creator of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'NYPD Blue'
  • John Mahoney, the beloved father of 'Frasier'
  • Clint Walker, the towering star of 1950s Western 'Cheyenne'
  • Chuck McCann, children's television host and the voice of
  • Hugh Wilson, creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'Frank's Place'
  • Mickey Jones of 'Home Improvement' and 'National Lampoon's Vacation'
  • Harlan Ellison, the sci-fi writer behind the greatest Star Trek episode
  • Margot Kidder, best known as Lois Lane of 'Superman'
  • Vic Damone, legendary singer, popular entertainer and TV host
  • Doreen Tracey, original 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mousketeer
  • Peter Wyngarde, British actor who appeared in 'The Prisoner,' 'Flash Gordon' and a Lucy special
  • Robert Dowdell of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'
  • Dorothy Malone, Oscar-winning actress and 'Peyton Place' star
  • Deanna Lund, a.k.a. Valerie Scott on 'Land of the Giants,' Anna Gram on 'Batman'
  • Jean Porter, actress from 'The Abbott & Costello Show'
  • Harry Landers, co-star on 'Ben Casey' and many beloved TV shows
  • Frank Buxton, writer, actor and director on 'The Odd Couple,' 'Happy Days'
  • Joseph Campanella of 'Mannix,' 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and more
  • Greta Thyssen, actress on 'The Three Stooges' and 'Perry Mason'
  • Bradford Dillman, prominent '60s and '70s film and TV actor
  • Tim O'Connor of 'Peyton Place,' 'Buck Rogers' and 'Wonder Woman'
  • Tom Reese, TV and movie actor known for amazing fistfights
  • John Gavin, 'Psycho' actor who was twice almost cast as James Bond
  • Frank Avruch, best known as Boston's Bozo the Clown
  • Ralph Woolsey, the man who gave 'Batman' its bold, distinctive look
  • Soon-Tek Oh, memorable character actor on 'M*A*S*H,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Hawaii Five-O'
  • Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist for surf-rock icons The Ventures
  • Georgann Johnson, actress whose career spanned five decades in TV and movies
  • Eunice Gayson, the first Bond girl and guest star on 'The Saint'
  • Jerry Maren, the last surviving Munchkin from 'The Wizard of Oz'
  • William Phipps, prolific actor who voiced Prince Charming
  • Frank Doubleday, classic TV bad guy and villain from Escape From New York
  • Allyn Ann McLerie of 'The Tony Randall Show'
  • Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock! composer
  • Barbara Dodd Remsen, classic TV actress and notable casting director

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Image: The Everett Collection

Steven Bochco, creator of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'NYPD Blue'

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Image: AP PHOTO / NICK UT

John Mahoney, the beloved father of 'Frasier'

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Clint Walker, the towering star of 1950s Western 'Cheyenne'

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Chuck McCann, children's television host and the voice of "I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs"

The 'Far Out Space Nuts' and 'Captain Kangaroo' actor was 83. READ MORE

Hugh Wilson, creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'Frank's Place'

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Image: The Everett Collection

Mickey Jones of 'Home Improvement' and 'National Lampoon's Vacation'

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Harlan Ellison, the sci-fi writer behind the greatest Star Trek episode

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Image: The Everett Collection

Margot Kidder, best known as Lois Lane of 'Superman'

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Vic Damone, legendary singer, popular entertainer and TV host

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Doreen Tracey, original 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mousketeer

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Image: The Everett Collection

Peter Wyngarde, British actor who appeared in 'The Prisoner,' 'Flash Gordon' and a Lucy special

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Robert Dowdell of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'

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Image: The Everett Collection

Dorothy Malone, Oscar-winning actress and 'Peyton Place' star

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Image: The Everett Collection

Deanna Lund, a.k.a. Valerie Scott on 'Land of the Giants,' Anna Gram on 'Batman'

The actress passed away at the age of 81. READ MORE

Jean Porter, actress from 'The Abbott & Costello Show'

The '40s and '50s starlet passed away at the age of 95 on January 13. READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Harry Landers, co-star on 'Ben Casey' and many beloved TV shows

Bette Davis kickstarted an acting career that led to the 'Star Trek' finale. READ MORE

Frank Buxton, writer, actor and director on 'The Odd Couple,' 'Happy Days'

The multifaceted TV talent passed away on January 2 at the age of 87. READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Joseph Campanella of 'Mannix,' 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and more

The accomplished actor passed away at 93. READ MORE

Greta Thyssen, actress on 'The Three Stooges' and 'Perry Mason'

The actress passed away on January 6 at the age of 90. READ MORE

Bradford Dillman, prominent '60s and '70s film and TV actor

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Tim O'Connor of 'Peyton Place,' 'Buck Rogers' and 'Wonder Woman'

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John Gavin, 'Psycho' actor who was twice almost cast as James Bond

The actor and diplomat passed away at the age of 86. READ MORE

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Frank Avruch, best known as Boston's Bozo the Clown

The host of Bozo's Big Top died at the age of 89. READ MORE

Image: WHDH-TV / YouTube

Ralph Woolsey, the man who gave 'Batman' its bold, distinctive look

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Soon-Tek Oh, memorable character actor on 'M*A*S*H,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Hawaii Five-O'

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Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist for surf-rock icons The Ventures

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Georgann Johnson, actress whose career spanned five decades in TV and movies

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Eunice Gayson, the first Bond girl and guest star on 'The Saint'

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Jerry Maren, the last surviving Munchkin from 'The Wizard of Oz'

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Image: CBS / The Everett Collection / Warner Bros.

William Phipps, prolific actor who voiced Prince Charming

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Frank Doubleday, classic TV bad guy and villain from Escape From New York

The actor was a master of sinister characters. READ MORE

Allyn Ann McLerie of 'The Tony Randall Show'

The actress starred on Broadway, big screen and on TV. READ MORE

Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock! composer

He wrote "Three Is the Magic Number." READ MORE

Image: The Everett Collection

Barbara Dodd Remsen, classic TV actress and notable casting director

She lit up the screen and lifted up actors like Tom Selleck and Kevin Costner. READ MORE

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2 Comments

leelee1009 45 months ago
Chuck McCann had a major role in the academy award-nominated film “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” (also the late Sondra Locke’s first film role).
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