Don Adams of 'Get Smart' Dies at 82

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Sep 26, 1:36 PM EST


The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Don Adams, the wry-voiced comedian who starred as the fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the 1960s television spoof of James Bond movies, "Get Smart," has died. He was 82.

Adams died of a lung infection late Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his friend and former agent Bruce Tufeld said Monday, adding the actor broke his hip a year ago and had been in ill health since.

As the inept Agent 86 of the super-secret federal agency Control , Adams captured TV viewers with his antics in combatting the evil agents of Kaos.

When his explanations failed to convince the villains or his boss, he tried another tack: "Would you believe ...?"

It became a national catch phrase.

Smart was also prone to spilling things on the desk or person of The Chief (actor Edward Platt). Smart's apologetic "Sorry about that, chief" also entered the American lexicon.

The spy gadgets, which aped those of the Bond movies, were a popular feature, especially the pre-cell-phone telephone in a shoe.

Smart's beautiful partner, Agent 99, played by Barbara Felden, was as brainy as he was dense, and a plot romance led to marriage and the birth of twins later in the series.

Adams, who had been under contract to NBC, was lukewarm about doing a spy spoof. When he learned that Mel Brooks and Buck Henry had written the pilot script, he accepted immediately. "Get Smart" debuted on NBC in September 1965 and scored No. 12 among the season's most-watched series and No. 22 in its second season.

"Get Smart" twice won the Emmy for best comedy series with three Emmys for Adams as comedy actor.

First we lose Gilligan and now... Maxwell Smart! /Inspector Gadget...dang...I watched both of those shows as a kid...kinda hits home..right in the heart...

[Trojan]

I admit, hit home alright... .

[Hellfighter]

hit me i like the guy, he maybe not the best but he was good in my book, love 99 she is real nice person and sweet to look at even today she still rock.

[BADDOG]

I remember watching that show as a kid.....very sad news and God rest his soul.....


Regards