Dayton Allen

Comedian, actor

By VARIETY STAFF

Dayton Allen, a comedian and actor best known for his work as the voice of the cartoon character Deputy Dawg and the grumpy mayor Phineas T. Bluster on "The Howdy Doody Show," died November 18 in Hendersonville, N.C. after suffering a stroke. He was 85.

His most notable voice work came from his longtime association with the cartoon studio Terrytoons. He provided most of the voices for "The Deputy Dawg Show," a syndicated series that debuted in 1960. He was also the voice of the cartoon magpies Heckle and Jeckle, and many other characters.

Allen also was a regular on "The Steve Allen Show."

Earlier, he spent four years on the original "Howdy Doody Show" with Buffalo Bob Smith, voicing such puppet characters as Phineas T. Bluster and Flub-a-Dub as well as such on-camera characters as Pierre the Chef.

On "The Steve Allen Show," he often appeared as a bogus expert or in the comic Man on the Street interviews. His frequent comment, "Why-y-y-y-y not?," became a popular catch phrase.

He is survived by his wife, Elvi, and a brother.