R.I.P Ken Weatherwax, aka Pugsley

[BackInTex]

Pugsley from 'The Addams Family' dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Weatherwax, who played the child character Pugsley on "The Addams Family" television series in the 1960s, has died. He was 59.

Weatherwax died of a heart attack at his Box Canyon, California, home over the weekend, said Joey D. Vieira, his half brother. Weatherwax's body was found on Sunday.

Pugsley, the son of Gomez and Morticia, was a member of the family of macabre oddballs in the television series, which aired on ABC from 1964 to 1966 with its familiar, finger-snapping theme song.

He stayed in show business after he grew up, although on the other side of the camera. Weatherwax worked as a grip on the sets of several Hollywood productions, said Vieira, a former actor himself who played the character Porky in the original "Lassie" series.

Weatherwax retired a few years ago for medical reasons, Vieira said.

[Bob Juch]

I wonder if he's related to Rudd and Frank Weatherwax, the dog trainers, e.g. Lassie.

[silverscreenselect]

With his death, there are still three members of the cast alive: John Astin, Lisa Loring (Wednesday), and Felix Silla (Cousin Itt).

For those interested, here's a picture of Weatherwax as an adult:

[SpacemanSpiff]

I wonder if he's related to Rudd and Frank Weatherwax, the dog trainers, e.g. Lassie.

Apparently so.

Mr. Weatherwax was born on Sept. 29, 1955, in Los Angeles. He was 8 and in the third grade when the series started. His father, Bill, was an animal trainer for movies and television shows, and his uncle, Rudd Weatherwax, handled the collies that portrayed Lassie in films and on television. The dancing star Ruby Keeler was an aunt.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/10/arts/ ... .html?_r=0