Chuck McCann

• Date of Birth:

  2 September 1934 Brooklyn, New York, USA

The son of a singing bandleader, McCann began his career as a child actor on radio. He performed on several NYC based radio programs. Before he went onto create his own stand up act performed at many NYC/NJ/LI nightclubs and on many popular TV variety shows. For a time he took a hiatus from nightclub and TV performing to study with The Pasadena Playhouse, where he gave a memorable performance in their production of '12th Night' as Sir Toby Belch. McCann would return to NYC to continue to perfor... more

The son of a singing bandleader, McCann began his career as a child actor on radio. He performed on several NYC based radio programs. Before he went onto create his own stand up act performed at many NYC/NJ/LI nightclubs and on many popular TV variety shows. For a time he took a hiatus from nightclub and TV performing to study with The Pasadena Playhouse, where he gave a memorable performance in their production of '12th Night' as Sir Toby Belch. McCann would return to NYC to continue to perform in nightclubs and on TV variety shows. Until he was introduced to puppetry, first by Skip Boyland and then by 'Paul Ashley (I)' on NBC TV's: _ "Rootie Kazootie" (1950)_. For the next 17 years, Ashley and McCann appeared on numerous TV shows: "Rootie Kazootie", "Uncle Paul's Lunchtime", "The Gumby Show!" with Pinkie Lee, "The Puppet Hotel!", "Laurel & Hardy & Chuck!", "Let's Have Fun!", "The Chuck McCann Shows", "The Great Bombo's Magic Cartoon Circus Lunchtime Show" and "Chuck McCann's Laurel & Hardy Show!". After the cancellation of the latter on Friday June 9, 1967, Ashley and McCann went their separate ways. McCann went onto become a successful comic/character actor and mimic, doing voice over for many TV cartoon shows and playing character parts on numerous dramatic and comedic TV series and movies. Paul Ashley used his puppets in industrial films and industrial stage shows. McCann also starred on other TV series: _ "Turn-On" (1969)_"Happy Days" (1970), "Far Out Space Nuts" (1975), "All That Glitters" (1977), _"New Kind Of Family, A" (1979)_ and "Chuck McCann's Fun Stuff!". Ashley was slated to reunite with McCann for "LBS Children's Theater" and another TV puppet show "Tiny TV". But Ashley was forced to drop out both projects, when it was discovered that he was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and McCann took over as the show's host & Performer. "LBS Children's Theater" made its debut in September of 1983 and was on the air for one season. Paul Ashley never lived long enough to see "LBS Children's Theater" become a success. He died on September 3, 1984.