Yet the obituary reported that Keeshan had enlisted but never saw action. During World War II he would hold a variety of positions, including service as a unit commander. He had come to the city to accept a children's service award. He also received an honorary doctor of humane letters by Fordham University in 1975. U.S. Air Force James Stewart the actor from the holiday film classic, Its a Wonderful Life, became the first American movie star to enlist in theU.S. Army to fight inWorld War II in February 1941. When Keeshan was a senior in high school, he landed a job as a page at NBC in New York City. CAPTAIN Kangaroo and Mister Rogers were certainly heroic when it came to preserving the sanctity of childhood. CBS approved the show, and Keeshan starred as the title character when it premiered on CBS on October 3, 1955. [13] Keeshan never saw combat in Europe or Japan, having enlisted too late to serve overseas. Keeshan lived on Melbury Road in Babylon Village, Long Island, New York, before moving to spend the last 14years of his life in Norwich, Vermont, where he became a children's advocate, as well as an author. Marvin allegedly said he received the Navy Cross after being shot in the buttocks in an assault on Mount Surabachi on Iwo Jima, but that his sergeant, Sgt. Green, the public affairs officer with the Naval Historical Center in Washington, D.C., frequently gets calls about Fighting Captain Kangaroo. [1][2] U.S. Coast Guard Actor Jeff Bridges served as a boatswains mate from 1967-1975 and left the Coast Guard Reserve as a petty officer second class. Ads by Curse. Since leaving the Corps, Driver studied acting at the Juilliard School, has been on Broadway and in numerous films and he founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a non-profit that brings arts programming toservice members and veterans around the world free of charge. Clarabell often sprayed Buffalo Bob Smith with a seltzer bottle and played practical jokes. Other celebrities who served in the military are Marines actor Gene Hackman, actress Bea Arthur, rapper Shaggy, comedian Drew Carey, actor George C. Scott, television host Montel Williams, comedian Rob Riggle (who retired from the USMCR), actor Harvey Keitel, actor Lee Marvin, and actor Steve McQueen. U.S. Navy NFL legend quarterback Roger Staubach graduated from the U.S. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the College of New Rochelle in 1985, after serving for several years on its board of trustees. Keeshan, who died last month at 76, denied it repeatedly when he was alive. Alex Haley enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939 after attending college.Haley enlisted as a mess attendant third class since the mess attendant and stewards mate ratings were the only ratings in the Coast Guard open to minorities at that time, according to the Coast Guard. He attended Fordham University on the GI Bill. In 1997, he received an honorary doctorate from Middlebury College, the alma mater of his grandson Britton Keeshan, for his work in children's literacy. Following the heart attack, Keeshan received three Emmy awards for Outstanding Performer in 1982, 1983, and 1984. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1953 and he completed the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following the heart attack, Keeshan received three Emmy awards for Outstanding Performer in 1982, 1983, and 1984. He was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985. As for Mister Rogers, the legend persists that he was a Navy Seal trained as a sniper responsible for 25 confirmed kills in Vietnam. [19] Keeshan's grandson, Britton Keeshan, became the youngest person at that time to have climbed the Seven Summits by climbing Mount Everest in May 2004. James Earl Jones is known for his voice and his commanding presence on the movie screen, but he is also one of our celebrities who served in the military. Zec, Donald. Jack Green, who works with the Naval Historical Center in Washington, is frequently asked to fact-check the legend about Captain Kangaroo being a war hero. What Is Ripstop Fabric & Why Is It Important For Tactical Gear? [27], Keeshan underwent triple-bypass surgery and received an estimated 5,000 get-well wishes from fans during his hospitalization.[28][29]. He played Corny the Clown, and this time he spoke. In the fall of 1982, CBS installed it as a weekend-only hour offering, and two years later, in the fall of 1984, the show became a Saturday half-hour entry. The Debunker: Are You Supposed to Style His Name as "e. e. cummings"? Clearly, his fans thanked him for this respect.
That year he starred as the Wizard in the St. Louis Muny outdoor theater production of The Wizard of Oz. Keeshan was an adopted member of the Dartmouth College class of 1942, receiving an honorary doctorate from the college in 1975. [5], An urban legend claims that actor Lee Marvin said on The Tonight Show that he had fought alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. The following year, Rogers appeared briefly in Keeshan's TV special Good Evening, Captain (following Keeshan's 1981 heart attack); Rogers and Dick Clark presented Keeshan with flowers at the end of the show. The Debunker: Was Captain Kangaroo a War Hero? rogers mr seal navy war hi never name 2008 fox sweater tattoos presbyterian ordained became minister vietnam there stuff gentle This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Keeshan, Fact Monster - People - Biography of Bob Keeshan, Turner Classic Movies - Biography of Bob Keeshan. Keeshan's show was given a farewell of sorts with Captain Kangaroo and Friends, a primetime network TV special that aired in 1985. But even more persistent was the rumor about Bob Keeshans supposed service in World War II.
which branch of the military should I join.
Keeshan, in his role as the central characters in both Captain Kangaroo and Mister Mayor, heavily promoted the products of the Schwinn Bicycle Co., a sponsor, directly on-air to his audience. Its competition is Sesame Street, which is the longest-running childrens show on public television or at least it was before it switched over to HBO. He created and played the title role in the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which ran from 1955 to 1984, the longest-running nationally broadcast children's television program of its day. In reality, though, Zappa was born to Sicilian immigrants Francis and Rosemarie Zappa. What is the most effective military strategy of all time? After high school he served in the marines. [26] He had come to the city to accept a children's service award. Once he completed his 2001 season, he left his sports career and a $3 million yearly contract and enlisted in theU.S. Army in 2002, eventually becoming a Ranger. The transcript of the dialogue has been shared widely through emails. He received his bachelor's degree in education in 1951. Keeshan lived on Melbury Road in Babylon Village, Long Island, New York, before moving to spend the last 14years of his life in Norwich, Vermont,[13] where he became a children's advocate, as well as an author. Keeshan suffered a severe heart attack just moments after stepping off a plane at Toronto International Airport on July 13, 1981,[9] which pushed the start of a revamped version of his show back to at least mid-August. American television producer and entertainer. Clarabell often sprayed Buffalo Bob Smith with a seltzer bottle and played practical jokes. Updates? Quick Quiz: If he had stayed in the Marines, Keeshan could have been promoted to Lieutenant Kangaroo, then Captain Kangaroo, then what rank? We listened to each other and the interest was not put on; it was real.. He attended Fordham University on the GI Bill and a few years at Hillsdale College. Other famous celebrities who served in the military are Army veterans singer/actor Elvis Presley, rock star Jimi Hendrix, singer/songwriter/actor Kris Kristofferson, television host Pat Sajak, baseball player Jackie Robinson, actor/comedian Mel Brooks, cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, rapper/actor Ice-T, actor Mr. T, and crooner Tony Bennett. The long story short?
However, Marvin not only never said this, but had not served on Iwo Jima (having been hospitalized from June 1944 until October 1945, from wounds received in the Battle of Saipan),[19] and Keeshan himself never saw combat, having enlisted too late to serve overseas.[20]. He appeared in framing sequences for the animated stories, showcasing the book versions and suggesting similar books for the viewers to seek out. In addition, he joined with parents' groups in the 1980s who protested children's TV shows based on then present toys on the market, like He-Man and Transformers; he felt that toys turned into TV shows did not teach children anything about the real world. Thankfully, Bob Keeshans life was fascinating enough in reality. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Yet the story remains, circulated for years in correspondence and publications. Each paid visits to the other's show in 1970, and they appeared together on the PBS special Springtime with Mister Rogers in 1980. U.S. Marine Corps Bob Keeshan enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1945 hoping to get into the fight against the Japanese in World War II, but he never made it overseas. [21] Later that same year, in addition to Time for Fun, he began Tinker's Workshop, a program aimed at preschoolers, where he played the grandfather-like Tinker.[22]. After the Corps, Keeshan went on to create Captain Kangaroo, an immensely successful television show for kids which aired from 1955 to 1984 and rivaled the success of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Keeshan also wrote several booksincluding his 1995 memoir Good Morning, Captainand involved himself in a number of civic causes, especially those concerning children. For now, the newest branch of the U.S. military is too new to have anyone to have served and gone on to earn fame. Keeshans next stint was as Corny the Clown on ABCs Time for Fun, and he then performed on that networks Tinkers Workshop. From left: Dancing Bear, Bunny Rabbit, Captain Kangaroo, Grandfather Clock, Mr. Moose, and Mr. Green Jeans. At one point, Haley became the only chief journalist in the Coast Guard, serving as the assistant public affairs officer at the Coast Guards New York City headquarters. The Fighting Captain Kangaroo tale is a persistent military legend. Robert James Keeshan (June 27, 1927 January 23, 2004) was an American television producer and actor. By 1987, repeats of the show were airing daily on many PBS stations. One honk meant "yes"; two meant "no". Other celebrities who served in the military are Coasties actor Lloyd Bridges, hockey legend John Mariucci, boxing great Jack Dempsey, actor Chris Cooper, actor Beau Bridges, golf great Arnold Palmer, film maker Blake Edwards, actor Buddy Ebsen, actor Cesar Romero, and news broadcaster Charles Gibson. Tired of CBS's constant reductions of his show, Keeshan left Captain Kangaroo when his contract with the network ended in December 1984, just nine months shy of the show's 30th anniversary. The Debunker: Where Does the Word "Kangaroo" Come From? Thanks for contacting us. I cant write about all of them, but here is a list of celebrities who served in the military, two celebrities for every branch. Keeshan died in 2004. He applied for an officer commission and as a college graduate and a licensed pilot he was commissioned into the Air Corps. Woot.com is operated by Woot.com LLC. This seems just to be a potent piece of internet mythology, although there are enough fascinating things to learn about Bob Keeshan that are based in reality. The book was later made into a television mini-series.Haley died in 1992. He had a massive impact on the countless lives that watched his show over the decades. Travel experts say that late August is actually a beautiful time to visit Australia: airfares are still low, the beaches of the north are warm, and even Sydney usually gets up into the mid- to high 60s most days. He served from 1943-46. In 1946 he returned to New York and to his job at NBC and also attended Fordham University. Are you a princess of Pop?
The next year, when Buffalo Bob starred in an afternoon show, he featured a puppetHowdy Doodyand Keeshan was invited to join the cast. Keeshan also had a Saturday morning show called Mister Mayor during the 196465 season. Starting on January 3, 1948,[19] Keeshan played Clarabell the Clown, a silent Auguste clown who communicated by honking several horns attached to a belt around his waist. In fact, by the time he was old enough to enlist, the war was ending, and he did not go overseas to fight. Over time this legend has been published verbatim.
The ship he was supposed to be flying to, the USS Bunker Hill, was sunk by a kamikaze bomber and Newmans unit suffered major casualties.
Naval Academy in 1965. Marvin: The Story of Lee Marvin. Products on Woot.com are sold by Woot.com LLC. Seventeen years after his retirement, he published the international best-seller, Roots: The Saga of an American Family in 1976. Bob Keeshan cared deeply about his young audiences and never patronized them, saying, A child needs to be listened to and talked to at 3 and 4 and 5 years of age.
He was survived by three children: Michael Derek, Laurie Margaret, and Maeve Jeanne. Other celebrities who served in the military are Navy veterans actor Jason Robards, jazz great John Coltrane, rapper MC Hammer, actor Humphrey Bogart, television host Johnny Carson, actor Kirk Douglas, television host Bob Barker, actor Henry Fonda, pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura, and baseball great Yogi Berra. His childrens show, Captain Kangaroo, ran weekday mornings for 29 years, from 1955 to 1984. The program was retitled Wake Up with the Captain, and was moved to a new 7:00 am time slot. Keeshan also played the original Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody television program. Captain Kangaroogiven that name because in the shows early years Keeshan wore an oversize coat with large pockets reminiscent of kangaroo pouchesbegan on October 3, 1955. : Cap'n Crunch and 9 Other Fake Military Titles", "Captain Kangaroo and Lee Marvin, War Heroes | Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1122", "12 People You Didn't Know Were U.S. Marines", "OFFICIALS DISCLAIM MYTH OF CAPT. This story has been shared 119,714 times. "You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo," Marvin says.
Woot logos, site design, & content Woot.com LLC 2004-2022. Skip recommended stories carousel and go to main content. After Captain Kangaroo ended, Keeshan hosted 1985's CBS Storybreak, which featured animated versions of children's literature. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the College of New Rochelle in 1985, after serving for several years on its board of trustees. I have to tell them its a nice story, but it didnt happen, he said. Despite having sponsors and television stations lined up, he was unable to obtain permission from ICM, the company that owned the rights to Captain Kangaroo at that time. Film legend Paul Newman was known for his many movies like Cool Hand Luke, and his voice work as Doc Hudson in the Disney animated movie, Cars. Lee Marvin did fight in World War II and saw action. He also made a rare film appearance in The Stupids in 1996. He flew 20 missions as a bomber pilot and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and theCroix de Guerre. Recurring characters included his sidekick (and fan favorite) Mr. Green Jeans (played by Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum), Dennis (played by Cosmo Allegretti), and puppets such as Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose. [5] Keeshan described his character as based on "the warm relationship between grandparents and children." They send e-mails (three a day, even though hes been dead nearly a year) to Fred Rogers office at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh asking about his career as a Navy Seal. [32] He was a strong advocate against video game violence and took part in congressional hearings in 1993. Bob Keeshan was in the military. Several were of children's songs performed with other characters from Captain Kangaroo, but other albums included A Child's Introduction to Jazz, narration for Peter and the Wolf conducted by Leopold Stokowski, and Captain Kangaroo Introduces You to the Nutcracker Suite. The Debunker: Do Opossums Sleep Hanging from Their Tails? Beloved childrens television actor Bob Keeshan is better known for his character Captain Kangaroo and one persistent myth; is it true that he fought in World War II? Whether they are sports legends, movie stars, artists, or musicians, there are numerous celebrities who served in the military and have worn the uniform.
That year he starred as the Wizard in the St. Louis Muny outdoor theater production of The Wizard of Oz. Keeshan was an adopted member of the Dartmouth College class of 1942, receiving an honorary doctorate from the college in 1975. [5], An urban legend claims that actor Lee Marvin said on The Tonight Show that he had fought alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. The following year, Rogers appeared briefly in Keeshan's TV special Good Evening, Captain (following Keeshan's 1981 heart attack); Rogers and Dick Clark presented Keeshan with flowers at the end of the show. The Debunker: Was Captain Kangaroo a War Hero? rogers mr seal navy war hi never name 2008 fox sweater tattoos presbyterian ordained became minister vietnam there stuff gentle This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Keeshan, Fact Monster - People - Biography of Bob Keeshan, Turner Classic Movies - Biography of Bob Keeshan. Keeshan's show was given a farewell of sorts with Captain Kangaroo and Friends, a primetime network TV special that aired in 1985. But even more persistent was the rumor about Bob Keeshans supposed service in World War II.
which branch of the military should I join.
Keeshan, in his role as the central characters in both Captain Kangaroo and Mister Mayor, heavily promoted the products of the Schwinn Bicycle Co., a sponsor, directly on-air to his audience. Its competition is Sesame Street, which is the longest-running childrens show on public television or at least it was before it switched over to HBO. He created and played the title role in the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which ran from 1955 to 1984, the longest-running nationally broadcast children's television program of its day. In reality, though, Zappa was born to Sicilian immigrants Francis and Rosemarie Zappa. What is the most effective military strategy of all time? After high school he served in the marines. [26] He had come to the city to accept a children's service award. Once he completed his 2001 season, he left his sports career and a $3 million yearly contract and enlisted in theU.S. Army in 2002, eventually becoming a Ranger. The transcript of the dialogue has been shared widely through emails. He received his bachelor's degree in education in 1951. Keeshan lived on Melbury Road in Babylon Village, Long Island, New York, before moving to spend the last 14years of his life in Norwich, Vermont,[13] where he became a children's advocate, as well as an author. Keeshan suffered a severe heart attack just moments after stepping off a plane at Toronto International Airport on July 13, 1981,[9] which pushed the start of a revamped version of his show back to at least mid-August. American television producer and entertainer. Clarabell often sprayed Buffalo Bob Smith with a seltzer bottle and played practical jokes. Updates? Quick Quiz: If he had stayed in the Marines, Keeshan could have been promoted to Lieutenant Kangaroo, then Captain Kangaroo, then what rank? We listened to each other and the interest was not put on; it was real.. He attended Fordham University on the GI Bill and a few years at Hillsdale College. Other famous celebrities who served in the military are Army veterans singer/actor Elvis Presley, rock star Jimi Hendrix, singer/songwriter/actor Kris Kristofferson, television host Pat Sajak, baseball player Jackie Robinson, actor/comedian Mel Brooks, cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, rapper/actor Ice-T, actor Mr. T, and crooner Tony Bennett. The long story short?
However, Marvin not only never said this, but had not served on Iwo Jima (having been hospitalized from June 1944 until October 1945, from wounds received in the Battle of Saipan),[19] and Keeshan himself never saw combat, having enlisted too late to serve overseas.[20]. He appeared in framing sequences for the animated stories, showcasing the book versions and suggesting similar books for the viewers to seek out. In addition, he joined with parents' groups in the 1980s who protested children's TV shows based on then present toys on the market, like He-Man and Transformers; he felt that toys turned into TV shows did not teach children anything about the real world. Thankfully, Bob Keeshans life was fascinating enough in reality. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Yet the story remains, circulated for years in correspondence and publications. Each paid visits to the other's show in 1970, and they appeared together on the PBS special Springtime with Mister Rogers in 1980. U.S. Marine Corps Bob Keeshan enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1945 hoping to get into the fight against the Japanese in World War II, but he never made it overseas. [21] Later that same year, in addition to Time for Fun, he began Tinker's Workshop, a program aimed at preschoolers, where he played the grandfather-like Tinker.[22]. After the Corps, Keeshan went on to create Captain Kangaroo, an immensely successful television show for kids which aired from 1955 to 1984 and rivaled the success of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Keeshan also wrote several booksincluding his 1995 memoir Good Morning, Captainand involved himself in a number of civic causes, especially those concerning children. For now, the newest branch of the U.S. military is too new to have anyone to have served and gone on to earn fame. Keeshans next stint was as Corny the Clown on ABCs Time for Fun, and he then performed on that networks Tinkers Workshop. From left: Dancing Bear, Bunny Rabbit, Captain Kangaroo, Grandfather Clock, Mr. Moose, and Mr. Green Jeans. At one point, Haley became the only chief journalist in the Coast Guard, serving as the assistant public affairs officer at the Coast Guards New York City headquarters. The Fighting Captain Kangaroo tale is a persistent military legend. Robert James Keeshan (June 27, 1927 January 23, 2004) was an American television producer and actor. By 1987, repeats of the show were airing daily on many PBS stations. One honk meant "yes"; two meant "no". Other celebrities who served in the military are Coasties actor Lloyd Bridges, hockey legend John Mariucci, boxing great Jack Dempsey, actor Chris Cooper, actor Beau Bridges, golf great Arnold Palmer, film maker Blake Edwards, actor Buddy Ebsen, actor Cesar Romero, and news broadcaster Charles Gibson. Tired of CBS's constant reductions of his show, Keeshan left Captain Kangaroo when his contract with the network ended in December 1984, just nine months shy of the show's 30th anniversary. The Debunker: Where Does the Word "Kangaroo" Come From? Thanks for contacting us. I cant write about all of them, but here is a list of celebrities who served in the military, two celebrities for every branch. Keeshan died in 2004. He applied for an officer commission and as a college graduate and a licensed pilot he was commissioned into the Air Corps. Woot.com is operated by Woot.com LLC. This seems just to be a potent piece of internet mythology, although there are enough fascinating things to learn about Bob Keeshan that are based in reality. The book was later made into a television mini-series.Haley died in 1992. He had a massive impact on the countless lives that watched his show over the decades. Travel experts say that late August is actually a beautiful time to visit Australia: airfares are still low, the beaches of the north are warm, and even Sydney usually gets up into the mid- to high 60s most days. He served from 1943-46. In 1946 he returned to New York and to his job at NBC and also attended Fordham University. Are you a princess of Pop? The next year, when Buffalo Bob starred in an afternoon show, he featured a puppetHowdy Doodyand Keeshan was invited to join the cast. Keeshan also had a Saturday morning show called Mister Mayor during the 196465 season. Starting on January 3, 1948,[19] Keeshan played Clarabell the Clown, a silent Auguste clown who communicated by honking several horns attached to a belt around his waist. In fact, by the time he was old enough to enlist, the war was ending, and he did not go overseas to fight. Over time this legend has been published verbatim.
The ship he was supposed to be flying to, the USS Bunker Hill, was sunk by a kamikaze bomber and Newmans unit suffered major casualties.
Naval Academy in 1965. Marvin: The Story of Lee Marvin. Products on Woot.com are sold by Woot.com LLC. Seventeen years after his retirement, he published the international best-seller, Roots: The Saga of an American Family in 1976. Bob Keeshan cared deeply about his young audiences and never patronized them, saying, A child needs to be listened to and talked to at 3 and 4 and 5 years of age.
He was survived by three children: Michael Derek, Laurie Margaret, and Maeve Jeanne. Other celebrities who served in the military are Navy veterans actor Jason Robards, jazz great John Coltrane, rapper MC Hammer, actor Humphrey Bogart, television host Johnny Carson, actor Kirk Douglas, television host Bob Barker, actor Henry Fonda, pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura, and baseball great Yogi Berra. His childrens show, Captain Kangaroo, ran weekday mornings for 29 years, from 1955 to 1984. The program was retitled Wake Up with the Captain, and was moved to a new 7:00 am time slot. Keeshan also played the original Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody television program. Captain Kangaroogiven that name because in the shows early years Keeshan wore an oversize coat with large pockets reminiscent of kangaroo pouchesbegan on October 3, 1955. : Cap'n Crunch and 9 Other Fake Military Titles", "Captain Kangaroo and Lee Marvin, War Heroes | Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1122", "12 People You Didn't Know Were U.S. Marines", "OFFICIALS DISCLAIM MYTH OF CAPT. This story has been shared 119,714 times. "You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo," Marvin says.
Woot logos, site design, & content Woot.com LLC 2004-2022. Skip recommended stories carousel and go to main content. After Captain Kangaroo ended, Keeshan hosted 1985's CBS Storybreak, which featured animated versions of children's literature. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the College of New Rochelle in 1985, after serving for several years on its board of trustees. I have to tell them its a nice story, but it didnt happen, he said. Despite having sponsors and television stations lined up, he was unable to obtain permission from ICM, the company that owned the rights to Captain Kangaroo at that time. Film legend Paul Newman was known for his many movies like Cool Hand Luke, and his voice work as Doc Hudson in the Disney animated movie, Cars. Lee Marvin did fight in World War II and saw action. He also made a rare film appearance in The Stupids in 1996. He flew 20 missions as a bomber pilot and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and theCroix de Guerre. Recurring characters included his sidekick (and fan favorite) Mr. Green Jeans (played by Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum), Dennis (played by Cosmo Allegretti), and puppets such as Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose. [5] Keeshan described his character as based on "the warm relationship between grandparents and children." They send e-mails (three a day, even though hes been dead nearly a year) to Fred Rogers office at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh asking about his career as a Navy Seal. [32] He was a strong advocate against video game violence and took part in congressional hearings in 1993. Bob Keeshan was in the military. Several were of children's songs performed with other characters from Captain Kangaroo, but other albums included A Child's Introduction to Jazz, narration for Peter and the Wolf conducted by Leopold Stokowski, and Captain Kangaroo Introduces You to the Nutcracker Suite. The Debunker: Do Opossums Sleep Hanging from Their Tails? Beloved childrens television actor Bob Keeshan is better known for his character Captain Kangaroo and one persistent myth; is it true that he fought in World War II? Whether they are sports legends, movie stars, artists, or musicians, there are numerous celebrities who served in the military and have worn the uniform.