Ken Weatherwax, Pugsley on "The Addams Family," Dies at 59

[TBoneTX 45,568]

No one seems to have posted this (or, I've missed it here).

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/09/showbiz/tv/ken-weatherwax-pugsley-addams-dies/index.html

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ken Weatherwax was part of TV's "Addams Family" cast

• Weatherwax, who played Pugsley, also voiced him in animated series

• He worked as a set builder and grip in Hollywood in recent years

(CNN) -- Ken Weatherwax, who played Pugsley on the 1960s TV show "The Addams Family," died Sunday, according to the Ventura County Coroner's Office. He was 59.

According to the coroner's office, he died of natural causes. His niece, Shanyn Vieira, posted on Facebook that he had a heart attack.

Pugsley was the older of the two Addams children on the cheekily macabre comedy, based on Charles Addams' darkly humored New Yorker cartoons. His father, Gomez, was played by John Astin, and mother Morticia was played by Carolyn Jones.
------
The Addams Family cast
Sister Wednesday (Lisa Loring), Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan), butler Lurch (Ted Cassidy), Grandmama (Blossom Rock) and the disembodied hand Thing rounded out the cast.

------
The series ran from 1964 to 1966. Weatherwax, who was about 9 when the show started, played the part for all 64 episodes. The show (and its catchy, finger-snapping theme song) were popular enough in reruns to spawn two movies in the 1990s and a 2009 Broadway musical.

After the show left the air, Weatherwax -- who struggled to find other acting roles -- entered the Army. He later provided the voice of Pugsley on an animated "Addams Family" and worked as a grip and set builder in Hollywood, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Weatherwax was related to other showbiz figures, including actress Ruby Keeler and Lassie trainer Rudd Weatherwax.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The Addams family was cool. I used to watch it.

[TBoneTX 45,568]

A line that has become immortal: "Thank you, Thing!"

[spookyturtle 9,466]

A line that has become immortal: "Thank you, Thing!"

You rang?

[TBoneTX 45,568]

Even more so -- tip of memory's hat, si man.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Even more so -- tip of memory's hat, si man.

Remember Lurches growl?

[unsmiley 111]

I recently discovered that the classic Addams Family theme song was written by the same person responsible for that other musical masterpiece, the Green Acres theme song - Vic Mizzy.

[TBoneTX 45,568]

Remember Lurches growl?

I can probably still imitate it.

Someone can correct my possibly faulty memory, but the actor who played Lurch -- Ted Cassidy -- died at an extremely young age (46 years?) while undergoing open-heart surgery. Or perhaps I'm mixing him up with Rod Serling or Doug McClure.

I recently discovered that the classic Addams Family theme song was written by the same person responsible for that other musical masterpiece, the Green Acres theme song - Vic Mizzy.

Mizzy was an exceptional talent. Show themes these days are chiefly instrumental, it seems.

[unsmiley 111]

Someone can correct my possibly faulty memory, but the actor who played Lurch -- Ted Cassidy -- died at an extremely young age (46 years?) while undergoing open-heart surgery. Or perhaps I'm mixing him up with Rod Serling or Doug McClure.

Your memory is not faulty at all. Ted Cassidy passed just as you described.

[TBoneTX 45,568]

Your memory is not faulty at all.

In this instance. Thanks for the verification.