DIGGER
Does anyone know why DIGGER O'DELL the friendly undertaker was not on the TV series with RILEY? I loved the ol'Digger!
Enrique Sanchez
John Brown, who played Digger on the radio and TV 1949-1950 Jackie Gleason Riley was blacklisted in the early 1950's "red scare" run by Sen. MacCarthy and was unable to find work. He died in 1957.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_blacklist
They probably thought no one else would be good in the role, so they discontinued it.
Oh man...so sad...oh well...he was, for me, the real SPICE and ICING on the RILEY cake. Tragic for him. Thank you JOEY!
Enrique Sanchez