Jim Fowler, who hosted 'Wild Kingdom' series, is dead at 89 - CNN

[Duppers]

Last edited Fri May 10, 2019, 03:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

Jim Fowler who with his friend Marlin Perkins co-hosted "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom," died Wednesday, according to the official website for the show.
He was 89 and died at his home in Connecticut.


Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/us/jim-fowler-wild-kingdom-obit-trnd/index.html

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[shenmue]

1. Rest in peace

[EveHammond13]

2. I grew up watching this

[Submariner]

3. I'm surprised he lived that long

I forget how many times Marlin would say things like “Children, watch Jim now get a closeup shot of the mating Lions, something you should avoid so as not to get nearly mauled to death like Jim just did”.

RIP

[Skittles]

4. I remember Marlin droning on while Jim was brawling with some huge critter in the background

[Brother Buzz]

8. Marlin Perkins was droning on, ensconced in the safety of a helicopter while...

Jim Fowler was wrestling the crocodile

[Skittles]

10. yessssss

LOL - I remember sometimes yelling at Merlin going, HEY, Jim's in trouble back there!! OMG

[Dave Starsky]

13. "While Jim fights for his life with the 15-foot venomous cobra..."

"I'll be back at the campsite setting up the radios."

Johnny Carson had a lot of fun with Wild Kingdom over the years.

[Brother Buzz]

16. Johnny had a blast NEVER enjoyed the visits

[Dave Starsky]

18. Those Fowler appearances were always a riot.

There will never be another late-night host like Johnny Carson.

Thanks for the thrills and laughs, Jim. You were a legend.

[csziggy]

14. To be fair, sometimes Marlin Perkins was right in the brawl!

[Mr. Evil]

5. Damn. I used to love watching Wild Kingdom.

You never had to wait long for Marlin to announce that Jim was going to do something with a wild animal that isn't normally done.
"Now watch as Jim is going to grab this 25 ft. Anaconda."

Jim had a superhuman reputation long before that total wimp, Chuck Norris!

R.I.P. Jim. You made us kids say "wow" more times than we can remember.

[Snackshack]

6. Sad to read this.

As a kid I loved watching that show!

R.I.P. Mr. Fowler.

[Duppers]

7. Same here.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

9. RIP, Jim Fowler and thanks for the good memories.

........... .........

[lunamagica]

11. ...

[MasonDreams]

12. RIP Jim & thanks you were fearless.

Don't try this at home kids. Every deadly animal got up close and personal with Jim. Just amazing! I think he had a magical ESP communication with all those deadly animals. Relax my friend, just want to show you to all the Wild Kingdom watchers at home. Easy now, wow look at those teeth and claws!
RIP "I can't believe he did that" Jim

[Aristus]

15. He was so brave. I loved watching 'Wild Kingdom'.

It's the only show I can remember watching that just had a single sponsor, Mutual of Omaha.

'Wild Kingdom' was a ritual in my house growing up. Church and Sunday dinner over, everyone relaxing in the living room, and my brother and father and I avidly watching the adventures of Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler.

[Dave Starsky]

19. That was our exact Sunday ritual.

Then we'd all bail from Grandma's house just as soon as the Lawrence Welk Show came on. Sorry, Grandma.

My brother and I used to get such a kick out of how Marlin Perkins pronounced HEEL-icopter. He said it at least once in every episode.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Saw a post about this in another DU forum

Wow. Always fascinating - especially in the days before the web and youtube videos of the stuff they used to show.

Nebraska sure did get a lot of P.R. with the insurer sponsoring that show too.

R.I.P. and thanks for the memories!

[yellowcanine]

20. Marlin Perkins was kind of a twit but Jim was great.

It was a fun show and very educational.

[steve2470]

21. RIP Jim Fowler

I always really liked that show. Somehow it never registered that Jim was doing all the dangerous work. Marlin Perkins made it all sound like a walk in the park usually, from my memory.