TV Science Guru "Mr. Wizard" Dies at 89

Posted Jun 13th 2007 8:30AM by TMZ Staff

Don HerbertDon Herbert -- TV's favorite science teacher who taught kids to try everything at home -- died yesterday at 89 in Bell Canyon, Calif.

In the earliest days of TV, Herbert turned the idiot box into a science classroom that every child -- and plenty of adults -- could love and learn from. "Watch Mr. Wizard" ran from 1951 to 1964, but Mr. Wizard lived on well beyond that, through the 1980s, when "Mr. Wizard's World" ran on Nickelodeon. "The show today might seem slow, but it was in-depth and forced you to think along," said Steve Jacobs, a former on-air sidekick, to the AP. Herbert was also one of the first guests on David Letterman's NBC show.

The cause of death was bone cancer, said his son-in-law, Tom Nikosey.



Filed under: TV


Tags: Don Herbert, DonHerbert

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1. God Speed Mr.Wizard.

Posted at 9:00AM on Jun 13th 2007 by MJ

2. HEY!!!!! WHERE'S THE TELE-TUBBIES WAVING GOOD-BYE?

Posted at 9:12AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Amost First

3. I am too young to be familiar with his show, but it sounds like he contributed something positive to the universe. :)
Rest in peace, Mr Wizard.

Posted at 9:21AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Liz

4. RIP Mr. Wizard. Kids today have no clue. You were great.

Posted at 9:22AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Dottie

5. I have always loved you Mr. Wizard and always will !!! Blessings to your family and friends !! x0x0x0x0x0x0

Posted at 9:23AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Chip

6. Damn, I loved that guy :(

RIP, Mister Wizard.

Posted at 9:32AM on Jun 13th 2007 by AC

7. Was from my hometown of Waconia, MN. Never met the guy, but sounds like back then he was pretty cool (hey I was born 30 years shy of the 50s).

Posted at 9:42AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Kristin

8. i used to love watching mr wizard on nickolodeon. he made science accessible to normal people. i was always so jealous of the kids that got to help him do his experiments. thanks for the lessons and rest in peace.

Posted at 9:49AM on Jun 13th 2007 by amy

9. Mr. Wizard, you will be missed! I remember trying several of the science experiments that they had on the show in the 80's. I watched the show every morning before school. How sad that such a wonderful man has passed on. God bless Mr. Wizard!

Posted at 9:50AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Kate

10. I remember Mr. Wizard! He was a positive influence on children long before there were 98,345 channels to watch and MTV and video games. He made science fun. There will never be another one like him. Condolences to his family. RIP Mr. Wizard.

Posted at 9:53AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Tired and Ready for A Nap

11. This was by far the coolest show I'd watch. Sad to hear about the death, but happy to remember all the episodes that I actually learned stuff from. RIP Mr. Wizard, you were the koolest kat in my book (close tie with "you can't do that on television")

Posted at 9:59AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Bi-Polar Hippie

12. A little straight reporting becomes you, TMZ. It was very nice of you to acknowledge the passing of an early TV original without the usual "old age", and "body function" jokes attached.

Posted at 10:07AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Prince Romanoff

13. I used to watch Mr. Wizard as kid on Nickelodeon. I learned so much from that man. Rest in peace.

Posted at 10:08AM on Jun 13th 2007 by Haley

14. Good Bye Mr. Wizard... I watched your show many times...RIP

Posted at 10:11AM on Jun 13th 2007 by nance

15. the world was a bit better with Mr. Wizard around. peace.

Posted at 10:29AM on Jun 13th 2007 by lisa

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