Ken Weatherwax, the actor known for his role in The Addams Family, passed away Sunday at his home in California following a heart attack. He was only 59 years-old.

Weatherwax starred as Pugsley, the introverted oldest child of Gomez and Morticia Addams who had a habit of eating insects in the 1960s The Addams Family TV show. The show centered on a family of oddballs with a macabre sense of values and was known for its finger-snapping theme song. They were first created by cartoonist Charles Addams for the New Yorker magazine, then the show aired 64 episodes on ABC from 1964 to 1966.

Weatherwax was born in Los Angeles in a showbusiness family. His aunt is actress Ruby Keeler (42nd Street) and his uncle is Rudd Weatherwax, trainer of canine actor Lassie. Prior to his work on the show he starred in toothpaste commercials and an episode of Wagon Train.

He also voiced Pugsley in the animated version of The Addams Family in the ‘70s. In 1977 he also played Pugsley in a TV special Halloween with the New Addams Family. After starring in The Addams Family he appeared in TV commercials and served in the army then moved on to work as a grip for Universal Studios. During an interview in 2007 he commented to Fox News that he found it difficult to get work due to typecasting from his previous work.

He retired a few years ago due to medical difficulties.