Revolutionary vaudevillian James Wall, best remembered as Mr. Baxter of the Captain Kangaroo series, passed away this Wednesday. It has been a jinxed week for art luminaries, with Lisa Blount, the Lynette Pomeroy of ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’and Detective Danny “Danno” Williams aka James Macarthur too deceasing.

James Wall delighted kids in the iconic series Captain Kangaroo, with his role as Mr. Baxter, the friendly neighbor of Captain Kangaroo. Wall had been ailing for a short while and died aged 92.

He started out in the production team of the children’s series in 1962 but persuaded managers to create the first-ever African-American character on Captain Kangaroo. The part he lobbied for and essayed so well was a huge hit in the 1968-1978 decade. Mr. Baxter became a household name, and Wall the vaudevillian to reckon with, playing various recurring roles.

Afterwards James Wall launched a distinguish career with long running stints as a CBS News stage manager. The broadcasts he managed included ‘Face the Nation’ and ‘60 Minutes’. He was also involved in sports broadcasts like the US Open Tennis Championships.

Wall passed away in New York City after what was a short illness. His wife Dolly, who was his companion for 58 years in a rock solid marriage, survives him.

The vaudevillian extraordinaire was feted in 1994, with Wall being honored by the Director’s Guild of America with the presentation of a lifetime achievement award. Not just Captain Kangaroo, but every kid lost an adorable friend.

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