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James 'Jimmy' Callahan, 76; played grandfather on TV's 'Charles in Charge'

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wazzzy

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Aug 8, 2007, 4:45:06 AM8/8/07
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http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-callahan8aug08,1,1569675.story?coll=la-news-obituaries&ctrack=6&cset=true

James T. "Jimmy" Callahan, an actor best known for playing the cranky
grandfather on television's "Charles in Charge," has died. He was 76.

Callahan, who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in February, died
Friday at his Fallbrook home, said his wife, Peggy Cannon-Callahan.

"As an actor, he was just an absolute pleasure. He wanted what was
best for the team, and that's very rare," Scott Baio, who starred in
"Charles in Charge," told The Times on Tuesday.

On the show, Callahan played Walter Powell, a retired Navy man he
referred to as the "blustery old grandfather" in a 2000 People
magazine interview. When CBS canceled "Charles in Charge" after one
season, Callahan joined the cast for the syndicated version, which ran
from 1987 to 1990. The role was a favorite that brought him wide
recognition.

"He loved hanging out with us," Baio said, "and he loved, loved, loved
working."

The youngest of three children, Callahan was born Oct. 4, 1930, in
Grand Rapids, Mich., to William and Elenora Callahan. His father
worked in sales.

After serving in the Army in West Germany from 1951 to 1953, Callahan
returned home to work at the post office.

He discovered acting while attending school in the Midwest. On the
advice of a teacher, he enrolled in the University of Washington to
study drama and graduated in the late 1950s.

Between 1959 and 2007, Callahan appeared in more than 120 films and
television shows.

He was featured in several episodes of "Dr. Kildare" on NBC in the
early 1960s and played a press secretary on "The Governor & J.J.,"
which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1972. More recently, Callahan had
appeared on several episodes of the medical drama "Body & Soul" on the
Pax TV network.

One of his favorite film roles was as the band leader in "Lady Sings
the Blues" (1972), his wife said. He also portrayed a country-western
singer in "Outlaw Blues" (1977) with Peter Fonda. Callahan's final
film, a horror movie called "Born," has not been released.

In 1994, at 63, he married for the first time. His wife survives him.

By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 8, 2007

Nell

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Aug 9, 2007, 5:02:34 AM8/9/07
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"wazzzy" <enter...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1186562706.2...@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-callahan8aug08,1,1569675.story?coll=la-news-obituaries&ctrack=6&cset=true

Oh, I'm so sorry. I sure hated reading about that and that it was cancer
(though there are few really easy ways out).

The first time he stood out on TV was on "Wendy and Me" in 1964. I developed
an instant crush on him. I was 15. I asked for and got an autographed
picture signed "Love, Jimmy Callahan". :)

RIP Jimmy

Nell


Brad Ferguson

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Aug 9, 2007, 7:04:53 AM8/9/07
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In article <3LydnS2qOuygRSfb...@comcast.com>, Nell
<nelly...@comcaustic.net> wrote:

> The first time he stood out on TV was on "Wendy and Me" in 1964. I developed
> an instant crush on him. I was 15. I asked for and got an autographed
> picture signed "Love, Jimmy Callahan". :)

Swear to God, "Wendy and Me" was the first thing I thought of.
Callahan was in the first two episodes as a horndog airline pilot who
lived in the building George Burns owned.

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