Updated Jul 23, 2014 - 5:55 pm

‘Wallace and Ladmo’ star Bill Thompson dies at 82

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By KTAR.com, July 23, 2014 | 5:07 pm

Listen: Arizona's own 'Wallace and Ladmo' show turns 60

"Wallace and Ladmo," a popular Valley children's show, first aired April 1, 1954. Sandra Haros reports.

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PHOENIX — Bill Thompson, co-star of the “Wallace and Ladmo Show,” passed away Wednesday in Phoenix.

He was 82. The cause of his death was not immediately known.

According to a biography posted by KPHO-TV, Thompson was born in New York City on Dec. 18, 1931. He grew up an actor and attended DePauw University.

Thompson invented the Wallace Snead character in January 1954. After several appearances on popular shows, he was paired with Ladimir Kwiatkowski, also known as Ladmo, in 1956.

“The Wallace and Ladmo Show” was launched shortly after and was on the air until Dec. 29, 1989. It was one of the longest-running local television shows for children in history.

Thompson moved to Arizona in 1952, where he married Donna Cope. The couple eventually had three children.

Kwiatkowski passed away in 1994.

The show’s other member, Pat McMahon, is a host at News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

Send your condolences and memories to webmaster@ktar.com.