Ken Weatherwax, the actor who played
Pugsley in ‘The Addams Family’, has died at the age of 59.
Weatherwax’s niece Shanyn Vieira
confirmed the news on her Facebook page yesterday.
“Just want to let you know that my
uncle Ken Weatherwax (please look him up) who played Pugsley from The Addam’s
Family died today from a heart attack,” she wrote.
Born
Kenneth Patrick Weatherwax in 1955 in Los Angeles, he played the part of portly
Pugsley, son to Morticia and Gomez and brother to Wednesday, on the original
run of the ABC show, from 1964 to 1966.
He starred in the series and also in
‘Halloween with the New Addams Family’, a 1977 TV film which reunited many
of the original cast, playing Pugsley Sr.
He also voiced Pugsley in the animated adaptation.
But sadly, after the show was
cancelled, he found it difficult to get work as a child actor, and at the age
of 17 joined the US Army.
He later
worked behind the camera as a set builder and a grip – a lighting and rigging
technician – for Universal Studios.
He also did the rounds at Addams Family
events, including occasional TV appearances.
Weatherwax died at his home in West
Hills, California.
