Actor Marty Ingels Voice Of Pac-Man Cartoon Character Dies At 79

TARZANA, CA -- Marty Ingels, a comic and actor who voiced Pac-Man in the 1980s cartoon series, has died. He was 79. His death, according to his wife, Academy Award winning actress Shirley Jones, was from complications of a stroke.

"Pac-Man: The Animated Series" ran from 1982 to 1983 on ABC. It was the first cartoon based on a videogame. The 30-minute cartoon was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Saturday morning airing. The series lasted for 44 episodes and continues to be a camp favorite for those who have rediscovered classic videogames.

Brooklyn-born Ingels' colorful career began as a talking peanut in Times Square, and progressed through standup comedy, and a sitcom, "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster," which co-starred John Astin. His television work also included guest appearances on "The Addams Family," "The Phyllis Diller Show," "Murder, She Wrote" and "CSI." He also appeared in films "Wild and Wonderful" (1964) with Tony Curtis and "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" (1969) with Ian McShane.

Ingels possessed a well-earned reputation for eccentricity, neurosis and volatility. He once arrived at an Emmy Awards ceremony with a life-size cardboard cut-out of his wife when she was unable to attend, lived in an abandoned branch of the Federal City Bank when between homes and was famously found dancing on his front lawn with his wife's Oscar trophy accompanied by a mariachi band. In later years, Ingels formed a talent agency that specialized in placing celebrities into television commercials.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three stepsons Shaun, Patrick and Ryan Cassidy, from Jones's marriage to the actor Jack Cassidy, and 12 grandchildren.

HE'S FENSTER:Marty Ingels (right) with John Astin in their short-lived 1960s sitcom "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster."