A young Paul Winchell and his young dummy Jerry Mahoney

Paul Winchell was born Paul Wilchinsky in New York 
City, New York.

             (December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005)

Winchell was a ventriloquist, actor, and comedian who hosted
The Paul Winchell Show from 1950 to 1954 on NBC along
with Winchell-Mahoney Time from 1965 to 1968. He was
also the cartoon voice for Tigger in Winnie the Poo.

Winchell, who had medical training, was also an inventor,
becoming the first person to build and patent a mechanical
artificial heart.

Camille Bohannon

Buffalo Bob Smith and “Clarabell the Clown” (Bob Keeshan)

Robert James "Bob" Keeshan (June 27, 1927 – January 23, 2004)

Bob Keeshan is considered a pioneer in the formation of children’s
television programs. He played the title character of the iconic show
Captain Kangaroo during its 30-year run (1955-1984). Keeshan also
played the original “Clarabell the Clown” on the Howdy Doody show
from its debut in 1948 on NBC until he left in 1952.

Mike Gracia

     John Paul Henson (April 25, 1965 – February 14, 2014)

(USA today) – John Paul Henson followed his father, Muppets creator
Jim Henson, into puppeteering, and sadly, to an early death.

The younger Henson, 48, fell victim to a sudden heart attack Friday
at his home in Saugerties, N.Y.

John was the puppeteer behind the ogre Sweetums (below).

Sweetums is perhaps the most popular and well known of 
the Muppet monsters from The Muppet Show.