R.I.P.: WWII Vet, Radio Pioneer Cliff Carpenter

Cliff Carpenter

Cliff Carpenter, an old-time radio performer who was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, blacklisted during the McCarthy era, and resurrected late in life on Jon Stewart's "Daily Show," died Thursday.

He was 98, according to The NY Daily News.

He was the radio voice of Terry on "Terry and the Pirates" from 1937 until he enlisted in the Army, where he served as a rifleman in the 101st Airborne.

He also worked with legendary radio writers Norman Corwin and Arch Oboler, and after the war he performed in Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

His performing career was cut short when he was blacklisted, though he remained in show business.

He appeared three times on "The Daily Show." On one episode he played a 21-year-old who aged prematurely when he was assigned to watch the "Sean Hannity Show" during Stewart's feud with Hannity.
For years he was also a popular regular at the annual Friends of Old-Time Radio convention.