Trivia

Received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Fordham University (1951).

He quit smoking following a severe heart attack.

He was not a Dartmouth student, but he certainly was a member of the Dartmouth family. He was an adopted member of the class of 1942, and received an honorary doctorate from the college in 1975. His son, Michael Keeshan, is a 1973 graduate of Dartmouth and a 1975 graduate of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business; his daughter, Laurie Keeshan, graduated in 1975. Keeshan's grandson, Britton Keeshan, received a master's degree from Dartmouth in 2006. Mr. Keeshan was a regular visitor to the college in his latter years, and lived just across the river in nearby Norwich and Hartford, Vermont, for a number of years until his death in 2004.

In the original version of Captain Kangaroo, Keeshan endorsed two brands of candy bars. He stopped them, in order to lessen the "commercial" aspect of this show.

Served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve near the end of the second World War. Accounts that he was a platoon sergeant on Iwo Jima are incorrect. Keeshan was only 17 during Iwo Jima and could not have made platoon sergeant in any way. As for being over Lee Marvin, that is also false, as Marvin and Keeshan did not serve in the same battles.

Attended and graduated from Forest Hill High School in Queens, New York City (1945).

Inspired thousands of children to become schoolteachers.

Besides his work in television, he also sat on a number of boards of charitable foundations.

He turned down an offer to become Captain Kangaroo again on a revised version of this show in 1995.

He was the first host/performer of WJZ/WABC TV Ch.7 NYC's "Time for Fun" / "The Johnny Jellybean Show". Keeshan emceed the show as "Corney the Clown" weekday afternoons from Monday September 21, 1953 to Friday July 29, 1955. He co-created, co produced and hosted "Tinker's Workshop" with Jack Miller on WJZ/WABC TV Ch.7 in NYC weekday mornings from Monday November 15, 1954 to Friday September 9,1955. The show continued until Friday August 22, 1958. The other hosts were Henry Burbig, Gene London and Dom DeLuise.

In the later years of his life, he starred in a number of commercials themed "No one takes better care of you than you!" These dealt with safety and health tips for young people.

Best remembered for playing the title role on Captain Kangaroo (1955), which debuted when he was age 28.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 297-298. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale (2007).

His father, John Joseph Keeshan, emigrated to America on 9 September 1908 from Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on June 16, 1976.

Inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame (1990) and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (1998).

Received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Alfred University (1969).

He was raised at 66-23 Booth Street when his father managed the Reeves Supermarket on Continental Avenue in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.

Father-in-law was a Bronx, New York undertaker.

His father, John Joseph Keeshan, married his mother, Margaret Conroy, on 17 May 1915.

Following his death, he was interred at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Babylon, New York.