Gilbert Lewis, the Original King of Cartoons on 'Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,' Dies at 79
He was not on the list.
The veteran character actor introduced classic toons on the
first season of the CBS Saturday morning kids show.
Gilbert Lewis, the character actor who played the kindly
King of Cartoons on the first season of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, has died. He was
79.
Lewis died May 7, according to a paid obituary. Paul Reubens
(Pee-wee Herman) on his website noted his death, calling Lewis “a terrific
actor and wonderful man — very nice and very serious about acting. I liked him
very much.”
Sporting a gold crown, ascot and regal coat, Lewis’
character — one of the quirky supporting players on the CBS Saturday morning
show — would trumpet, “Let the cartoon begin!” before switching on an
old-school film projector that ran a clip of a vintage toon.
Lewis portrayed the King of Cartoons during the first season
of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, when it was filmed in New York. When production shifted
to Los Angeles for its second season in 1987, Lewis was dethroned in favor of
William Marshall.
A native of Philadelphia, Lewis earlier had appeared in such
films as Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), The Pursuit of Happiness (1971), The
Hot Rock (1972), Across 110th Street (1972), Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) and
Body and Soul (1981).
Later, the actor showed up on such TV shows as Spenser: For
Hire, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, China Beach, Cheers, General Hospital, Alien
Nation and Law & Order and in the films Candyman (1992) and Don Juan
DeMarco (1994).
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Cotton Comes
to Harlem 1st Black Beret
1971 Who Killed
Mary What's 'Er Name? Solomon the
Cop
1971 The Pursuit
of Happiness George Wilson
1972 Across 110th
Street Shevvy
1972 Together for
Days Big Bubba
1973 Gordon's War Spanish Harry
1989 Blaze Rev. Marquez
1992 Candyman Detective Frank Valento
1995 Don Juan
DeMarco Judge Nyland
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