James Wall: Mr. Baxter On Captain Kangaroo Has Died

by NowPublic Staff | October 29, 2010 at 10:12 am

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Captain Kangaroo TV Show: Mr. Baxter - Actor James Wall Has Died
James Wall who played Mr. Baxter on the popular children's television show has died. James Wall was 92.

Wall, a former vaudevillian who staged USO shows around Europe as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army, began his career with "Captain Kangaroo" as a stage manager in 1962.
He later persuaded show producers to create the show's first black character.
They in turn decided his rich baritone was perfect for "Mr. Baxter," who added a sense of calm to the show when all others around him may have been caught up in the silliness.

James Wall stopped playing Mr. Baxter on Captain Kangaroo in 1978. He want back to being a stage manager for CBS until 2009. James Wall's career as a stage manager at CBS was equally impressive. Wall worked on Face the Nation, 60 Minutes, and U.S. Open Tennis.