Jim Boyd

Born November 11, 1933
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died January 2, 2013 (aged 79)
Manhattan, New York
Nationality American
Known for Actor on The Electric Company
Spouse(s) Kathleen Paris
Children Jeanne Billings

James A. "Jim" Boyd (November 11, 1933 – January 2, 2013) was an American actor, born in Philadelphia.

Boyd spent four years in the Air Force and studied at the American Academy for Dramatic Arts.

He did voice work (along with Wayland Flowers and Cleavon Little) for puppets on The Surprise Show, a children's program that aired locally in the New York City area in the late 1960s. The puppets used on the show, called Aniforms, had been developed by puppeteer Morey Bunin.

In 1971, the Children’s Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) contacted Boyd because it wanted to use Aniforms in a television show that became known as The Electric Company. During the first season, Boyd’s voice was used extensively, especially for the character J. Arthur Crank, who was just an angry voice on the telephone at the time. Boyd was unseen until season two, when he became a regular cast member, appearing on-camera until the show stopped production in 1977.

Boyd's wife was Kathleen Paris, and they have a daughter.

http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tec/images/wallpaper/ec_crank_1024.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLEjpWX1UxY