Alan Young, 1919-2016, R.I.P.

A few posts ago, I wrote about wondering whether I'd have enough things to write about now that April's A to Z Challenge is done. Well, unfortunately, as long as celebrities whom I've admired keep dying, it doesn't seem like I'll run out of posts anytime soon.

I was very upset to read last night of the recent passing of Alan Young, whom most of you will remember as Wilbur Post in the old sitcom about a talking horse, Mr. Ed.

In 1988, I had a brief correspondence with Mr. Young.

The 1980s had seen a rush of nostalgic, 1960s-related comic books.  My writing partner, Skip Simpson, and I were talking about doing a one-shot Mr. Ed comic book. While we searched for the holder of the rights to the property, I dashed off a quick letter to Alan Young, star of the early-to-mid-1960s TV show. I asked Mr. Young if he'd be interested in being interviewed for the book. He sent back a very nice reply, and the photo at the top of this post. He said he'd be glad to submit to the interview, if and when we ever got the rights to the project...

...which we didn't. Oh, well.

Anyway, Mr. Young seemed especially glad that my letter to him mentioned other credits of his besides Mr. Ed. Credits like his early 1950s radio (later TV) show, his appearance as two different characters in 1960's The Time Machine, his voice-overs as Uncle Scrooge McDuck, and his role in the then-running sitcom Coming of Age!

In a career of roughly 60-65 years he accomplished a lot more than that. It's always a cliché to say that So-and-So will be missed, but... he will be.

With Joe Besser, Later of The Three Stooges

In 1960's The Time Machine

With Mr. Ed and Young's Co-star, Connie Hines

A Later Shot of Alan and Connie

Uncle Scrooge McDuck from Ducktales

Thanks for your time.