RIP Alfie Scopp

Toronto Star

July 27, 2021

 

SCOPP, ALFIE July 24, 2021 Happiness was always his goal but not only for himself. Of course you need a little happiness for yourself if you are going to share it generously with others. That's what Alfie Scopp did. He created Clarabelle the clown on the Canadian Howdy Doody TV show which entertained thousands of children from St. Johns to Victoria. He acted in dozens of other shows including multiple episodes in series. He also appeared in six feature films including the part of Avram in Norm Jewison's classic film Fiddler on the Roof. I met Alf in 1965 at the first rehearsal of my first Wayne and Shuster show and learned that he was a dedicated supporter of my Bohemian Embassy coffee house. He never saw new talent as competition. He saw it as his duty to be actively supportive. Without any thought of remunerations he was a talent scout par excellence. Dozens of successful musicians, singers and other performers adore Alfie because of his help and encouragement. As Program Manager for Front Page Challenge, CBC's long-running super show, Alfie introduced the world to a wide range of interesting characters. He helped his writing buddies Frank Peppiatt and John Aylward mount their classic series Hee Haw. He also assisted them mounting the flagship show getting the Global network off the ground, Everything Goes. All this from a depression kid from a poor family in Montreal who got involved with comedy skits while in the armed forces in World War 2. He had to quit school at grade seven to help the family but his curiosity never left him. He couldn't afford the academy but I insist that he was a non-academic intellectual. He was never that interested in reward. The artistic outcome was what interested him. I occasionally wondered if he had an ego. He never sought celebrity but celebrity sought him. He was Robert Goulet's best man for two of Bob's marriages. He was often invited to Los Angeles or Las Vegas to events overflowing with celebrities. With his dearly loved mate and partner Cheryl Wyre, Alfie got together with his much-loved friends Keith and Linda McKie. He and Keith wrote songs together. There was huge emotional support among them. When we celebrated Alfie's one hundredth birthday a couple of years back at Performing Arts Lodge, the turnout and the gratitude was overwhelming. Thanks for everything Alfie.

 

SCOPP, Alfie

Born: 9/15/1919, London, England, U.K.

Died: 7/24/2021, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Alfie Scopp’s western – voice actor:

Willie McBean and His Magic Machine (TV) – 1965 [voice of General Custer, Buffalo Bill]