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(AP) - Don Herbert, who as television's "Mr.
Wizard" introduced generations of young viewers to the joys of science, died Tuesday. He was 89.

      Herbert, who had bone cancer, died at his suburban Bell Canyon home, said his son-in-law, Tom Nikosey.  

      "He really taught kids how to use the thinking skills of a
scientist," said former colleague Steve Jacobs. He worked with
Herbert on a 1980s show that echoed the original 1950s "Watch Mr.
Wizard" series, which became a fond baby boomer memory.

Born in Waconia, Minn., Herbert was a 1940 graduate of LaCrosse
State Teachers College and served as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot
during World War II. He worked as an actor, model and radio writer
before starting "Watch Mr. Wizard" in Chicago on NBC.

      The show moved to New York after several years.
 
In "Watch Mr. Wizard," which was produced from 1951 to 1964
and received a Peabody Award in 1954, Herbert turned TV into an
entertaining classroom. On a simple, workshop-like set, he
demonstrated experiments using household items.

      "He modeled how to predict and measure and analyze. ... The
show today might seem slow but it was in-depth and forced you to
think along," Jacobs said. "You were learning about the forces of
nature."

      Herbert encouraged children to duplicate experiments at home,
said Jacobs, who recounted serving as a behind-the-scenes "science
sidekick" to Herbert on the '80s "Mr. Wizard's World" that aired
on the Nickelodeon channel.

      When Jacobs would reach for beakers and flasks, Herbert would
remind him that science didn't require special tools.

      "'You could use a mayonnaise jar for that,'" Jacobs recalled
being chided by Herbert. "He tried to bust the image of scientists
and that science wasn't just for special people and places."

      Herbert's place in TV history was acknowledged by later stars.
When "Late Night with David Letterman" debuted in 1982, Herbert
was among the first-night guests.

      He is survived by six children and stepchildren and by his
second wife, Norma, his son-in-law said. A private funeral service
was planned.
     

Gallery

Herbert, who was born in Waconia, Minnesota, hosted "Watch Mr. Wizard" on television from 1951 to 1964. Herbert turned TV into an
entertaining classroom.

TV's Mr. Wizard, Minnesota native Don Herbert, dies

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