‘Bob’ Of Bob And Ray Dies [Video]

Lost in the onslaught of all the celebrity deaths this year, was a comedy genius who helped fuel my desire to get into radio. Bob Elliot of the '50s and '60s comedy team Bob and Ray was 92 years old.

Bob Elliot passed away on February 2 after a battle with cancer.

With partner Ray Goulding, Bob started off on radio in Boston, doing fake interviews during rain delays of Red Sox games. They later adapted their act for television and became national celebrities from 1952 when their NBC show premiered through the comedy boom of the early '60s.

Later, in the '70s, they were best known for their fake (and real) radio ads for products like 'Danka' coffee and Monitor Radio.

Ray Goulding passed away in 1990.

Their deadpan delivery of news reporters asking stupid questions became the inspiration for later hit shows that spoof the media, like The Daily Show (particularly the Jon Stewart years, and the Colbert Report.

David Letterman was a huge fan and had them on repeatedly during his early NBC years. Bob's son, Chris Elliot, got his start on the Letterman show and later cast his dad in his own FOX series 'Get A Life'.

And much of their TV work can be found on You Tube.