Acting

Don Herbert

Don Herbert is best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, The Merv Griffin Show and Curiosity Shop. Don Herbert was born on July 10, 1917. Don Herbert died on June 12, 2007 at the age of 89.

Born: July 10, 1917
Place of birth: Waconia, Minnesota
Died: June 12, 2007 (89 years old)

Biography

Donald Jeffry Herbert (born Donald Herbert Kemske and better known as Mr. Wizard) was the creator and host of Watch Mr. Wizard (1951–65, 1971–72) and Mr. Wizard's World (1983–90), which were educational television programs for children devoted to science and technology. He also produced many short video programs about science and authored several popular books about science for children. It was said that no fictional hero was able to rival the popularity and longevity of "the friendly, neighborly scientist".: In Herbert's obituary, Bill Nye wrote, "Herbert's techniques and performances helped create the United States' first generation of homegrown rocket scientists just in time to respond to Sputnik. He sent us to the moon. He changed the world." Herbert is credited with turning "a generation of youth" in the 1950s and early 1960s onto "the promise and perils of science".