Durward Kirby (August 24, 1912, Covington, Kentucky - March 15, 2000, Fort Myers, Florida (congestive heart failure)), sometimes credited as Durwood Kirby, was a 20th Century American television personality.
Kirby is most noted as a host, announcer, and sketch comic, particularly on the Garry Moore show and later on Candid Camera, where he served as Allen Funt's sidekick from 1961 through 1966.
Kirby, who was born in Kentucky but was graduated from high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, attended Purdue University, but dropped out to begin his career as a radio announcer. He hosted the Club Matinee show with Moore on the NBC Blue radio network before moving to the then-infant television medium in 1949 as an announcer for advertisements (performed live in TV's early days). He was a regular on Moore's television shows, which appeared intermittently from 1950 to 1968. He also appeared as a host, announcer, or guest on several other television programs.
Kirby, who was a lanky 6'4", projected a mellow personality that served well as a foil for the bigger stars he worked with and was helpful to advertisers whose products he pitched.
Kirby also published three books: "My Life, Those Wonderful Years"; "Bits and Pieces of This and That"; and a children's book.
His name of Durwood Kirby was spoofed in the animated TV series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show as a man's hat with special powers called the Kerwood Derby. Mr. Kirby considered suing in court for damages for this public abuse of his name. However, a wise attorney pointed out this fact: when the news was distributed by the newspapers that Kirby had sued over the "Kerwood Derby", that fact would throw ever-increasing publicity upon "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" and its creators, benefiting them from the increased recognition. Thus, Kirby was dissuaded from suing, and the subject was dropped by him.
