Allan Blye, a two-time Emmy winner best known for his role as Captain Blye on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and his work on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, died on October 4 in Palm Desert, California. He was 87.
🕊Allan Blye Dead; Emmy-Winning Comedy Writer Who Played Capt. Blye on 'Mister Rogers Neighborhood' 🕊
Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Blye appeared more than 200 times on Mister Rogers from 1961-65 before Tom and Dick Smothers convinced him to move to Los Angeles to write and produce their variety show. Blye helped assemble a notable writing staff that included young comedians such as Steve Martin, Bob Einstein, Rob Reiner and Carl Gottlieb. With Blye as head writer and producer, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour won an Emmy for writing in 1969.
Along with Chris Bearde, Blye went on to create, produce and serve as head writer for The Andy Williams Show and The Sonny and Cher Show. After writing a number of television specials, including Elvis Presley's iconic "68 Comeback Special," Blye partnered with Bob Einstein and won his second Emmy in 1977 for writing the Van Dyke and Company show starring Dick Van Dyke.
In 1980, Blye and Einstein created Bizarre starring John Byner, followed by the spin-off series The Super Dave Osborne Show. By moving production to Canada, Blye not only hired hundreds of local Canadian talent and crew, but also developed a business model of simulcasting and producing American productions on Canadian soil, which has since become a common practice.
