| James Wall | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Earl Wall December 12, 1917 Wilmington, North Carolina, USA |
| Died | October 27, 2010 (aged 92) New York City, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Actor stage manager |
| Years active | 1968–1979 |
James Earl "Jimmy" Wall (December 12, 1917 – October 27, 2010[1]) was an American stage manager and actor.
Having performed on radio, theater, and in the Army during World War II, Wall worked as a stage manager on Broadway before being hired as the stage manager for the children's television series Captain Kangaroo by CBS in 1962. In a interview clip that aired on the October 28, 2010, CBS Evening News, Wall recalled how he made the case to Kangaroo's producers for an African-American character. However, he still had to audition for the role which became Mr. Baxter, a teacher and Captain Kangaroo's neighbor.[2] Wall joined the cast in 1968, remaining with the show until 1979; he made a guest appearance in 1981. He was also the stage manager for 41 consecutive years on the US Open Tennis Championships telecasts.[2]
Wall was presented with the Directors Guild of America's Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award in 1994. He continued to work for CBS in semi-retirement until 2009.