Eddie Carroll, what a performance!

[Rodchester Van Jones]

I had the great opportunity to see Eddie Carroll's performance "Laughter in Bloom". I also got a chance to meet Mr. Carroll after the show. I have to say that both the show and the man are A+. This show is a must see. The way Mr. Carroll performs as Jack Benny is surpurb. It felt as if I was actually watching Jack Benny onstage!
As I said, after the show I had the great opporunity to meet the man. He really is an incredible guy! Thanks to Mr. Carroll for keeping the spirit of Jack Benny alive! This show was on September 23. Five days later I attended a Bill Cosby show in Green Bay (another great guy). I guess you could say the week was a "JELL-O" themed one! I have to say, Laughter in Bloom was the best stage show I have ever seen. Thanks again Mr. Carroll!

[Jhammes]

Jack, Mary, and the gang are greeting Eddie, and no doubt saying (as on the program) "...good to know you...".

Thank you, Eddie.

[Chasitykins]

I never got the chance to see Mr. Carroll live (my first show would have been the Waukegan one in May), but he has a special spot in my heart as both Jack Benny and as Jiminy Cricket. Not to mention all the love he has for Disney and Jack Benny & Co. was shown so softly and wonderfully in all the interviews I've seen with him.

Here's a bit of Mr. Carroll's Jiminy Cricket to put a smile on everyone's face - we all need it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gi06kH7jmM

[Mister Kitzel]

I am glad that I got to see Eddie's show and meet him a couple of years ago. He was nice to everyone that stuck around to talk to him.

[Brad from Georgia]

I posted this in the "Associates" section, but this seems to be the place.

My wife Barbara was waiting in my office when I got out of class this afternoon with the news that Eddie had passed away. We cried together, and I called Carolyn to express our sympathy. She is coping. She said the first thing she saw today when coming home from the hospital was a note from Joan Benny with condolences.

Jack was the nicest man in show business. Eddie inherited his mantle and wore it well. He was a truly talented, truly wonderful actor and human being, and no one could have kept Jack alive with the same care and dedication that Eddie did. And like the real Jack, Eddie was a generous man. When he did his show for our college, he graciously spoke, gratis, to an acting class, moving them both to laugher and tears, and last year he again agreed to do an interview for our college's history of animation class.

He had so much class himself, and was such a dear man. We are going to feel his loss very, very deeply. Eddie, my friend, rest in peace, and if you see Jack, give him our best.

[mrdj]

I was lucky enough to have seen Mr. Carroll's show. It was wonderful. RIP

From someone who knew him...

http://www.newsfromme.com/

[Brad from Georgia]

I posted the news of Eddie's passing on our school's electronic bulletin board, and you'd be amazed how many folks have dropped by to offer their condolences, based only on Eddie's doing his show for us back in 2006. He radiated charm, kindness, and good will, and he touched so many lives.

[mrdj]

Eddie with a story about Jack and Lucy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6UEp_ReDYk

[Sy]

This is a page from laughter.com, a Disney-related site, with links to articles/interviews from 2006 & 2008:

http://www.laughingplace.com/Latest-ID-73954.asp

My condolences to his family, friends, and fans. He was a great and unique talent.

[Yhtapmys]

I had no idea Eddie was from the Edmonton area.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/E ... story.html

Yhtapmys

[LLeff]

I attended Eddie's funeral today, and Brad - you'll be glad to know that your letter was read by the pastor at the top of the service.

It was mainly people who were close to him getting up and speaking. And I had no idea they were going to ask me to speak. They put me between Jamie Farr (his best friend) and Tom Kennedy! Yow...talk about stage nerves, and having absolutely nothing prepared. I'll probably tell you more about what I said in the Times.

But it was a very nice service, very befitting Eddie. Lots of tears and laughter (including my own). And we all went and had drinks and canapes at a club afterward, watching videos of Eddie on a very large screen TV. So we very much turned from mixed emotions to celebrating his life. Hooray for Eddie.

[Brad from Georgia]

Thanks for the report, Laura. Today was the meeting of my writers' group in Atlanta, and of the six of us who showed up, five had seen Eddie's "Laughter in Bloom" when he did it for us two years or so ago--and I produced it. We toasted him and everyone talked about what a great guy he was. My son, Jonathan, called my wife in tears on Monday when he first got word that Eddie had passed. He and his wife had eaten with Carolyn, Eddie, Barbara, and me the night we picked them up at the airport--we spent four hours over dinner, and Jonathan, like me, said that after that one meeting he felt as if he had known Eddie for years.

All those wonderful stories, all that warmth and humor and courage. We really loved the man.

Thanks again.

[Yhtapmys]

So we very much turned from mixed emotions to celebrating his life. Hooray for Eddie.

Thanks for going, Laura.

I've never met or seen Eddie so I can only go with what I've read here and there. He seems to have been well-liked by everyone and, like Jack himself, left a legacy of laughter. Isn't that a nice way to be remembered?

Yhtapmys

[mrdj]

Mr Carroll's obituary from the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/ ... 4566.story

[CBSTelevisionCity]

I feel a great sadness about Eddie Carroll's passing. I'd hoped I'd sometime get an opportunity to see his Jack Benny show and perhaps meet Mr. Carroll before or after the performance too. I did have the good fortune to receive one of his nice "Jiminy Cricket" signed photos from him a few years ago.
Sincerely, William Carroll
(no relation as far as I know)
Denham Springs, Louisiana