Edgar Bergen

Edgar Bergen was a ventriloquist, comedian, and vaudevillian who was best known for performing his two dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. He is not really a Muppet performer but was rather a Muppet Show guest star in the 2nd season. I heard that Edgar held a particular meaning to Jim Henson who called his work an inspiration. Bergen is another ventriloquist to guest star with Muppet characters, others include Shari Lewis, Mallory Lewis, and Paul Zaloom. I never knew Henson really admired the one ventriloquist for many years. Edgar Bergen even received a thank you letter from him after guest starring on The Muppet Show. Outside of The Muppet Show, he made many appearances on many television shows, films, and he even created comic strips (according to Wikipedia). Who knew that he can also create comic strips as well as appear on screen? Sadly, Edgar's life came to an end back in 1978. Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, made one last cameo in The Muppet Movie, where the two of them played judges. He died shortly after filming his scene and the film was dedicated to him. I've read that Charlie McCarthy is currently on permanent display in the Smithsonian Institution, but I have no idea what ever happened to Mortimer Snerd. Mortimer was either rotted/burned or put on display in a separate museum. It's a shame that such an inspiration for imagination doesn't live very long, especially when that someone was a like a hero to someone else. Edgar Bergen, you've lived a great life and made millions of people laugh from your performances as Charlie and Mortimer. I hope that you will still be remembered today and that you're living a peaceful life in heaven. You are probably the only man who has served as Jim Henson's inspiration Edgar. Rest in peace and may you always have magic Bergen!

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