Cosmo Allegretti, the actor and puppeteer who performed as a variety of characters on CBS children show "Captain Kangaroo" died on July 26 in Phoenix, according to the New York Times.

The death was confirmed by John Munzel, Allegretti's lawyer. Allegretti, a set painter who become a puppeteer and voice artist on the children's TV classic, died of emphysema at the age of 86, according to United Press International. His death was not widely reported until Wednesday.

"Captain Kangaroo" was an hour-long show starring Bob Keeshan as the Captain, made its debut on October 3, 1955. The child-friendly show stayed on the air for nearly 30 years. It included puppets, animated segments, songs, books read aloud and special guests like Dolly Parton and Andy Griffith.

Allegretti's first worked on the show as a set painter, but he was soon making and voicing puppets.

"'You look too tough for a children's show. You'll scare the kids,' they told me," Allegretti told The Miami Herald in 1985, according to The New York Times. "So I was the puppeteer."

Allegretti also played Dancing Bear, in a full-sized costume and other inanimate objects, like Grandfather Clock and the Magic Drawing Board. During the later years of the show, Allegretti showed his face, and played Dennis the Apprentice. Allegretti remained with the show until CBS canceled it in 1984, for a news morning show.

Allegretti was born in Manhattan on April 6, 1927, to Sergio and Anna Lepenna Allegretti. He studied art at Marietta College in Ohio and was in basic training when World War II ended.

According to the Washington Post, Allegretti was briefly married during the 1950's to Carol Lawrence, a Broadway actress who went on to appear on TV series such as "Saved by the Bell" and "Sex and the City."

His second marriage, to Ilolya Korody, ended in divorce. He is survived by his son Peter, and two grandchildren, according to the Times.

Allegretti also played the boxing promoter Perelli in the 1985 Broadway production of "Requiem for a Heavyweight." He had roles in movies such as "Prince of the City" (1981) and "Author! Author!" (1982), starring Al Pacino.