Long before Bill Nye donned a bow tie or the MythBusters blew things up for science, there was Don Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard, the calm, curious, and endlessly inventive host who brought science into America’s living rooms. His show Watch Mr. Wizard debuted in 1951 and quickly became a cultural touchstone, inspiring generations of kids to ask “why?” and then figure it out.
Here are some things you might not know about the man who made beakers and balloons cooler than cartoons.
Mr. Wizard Was a Bomber Pilot in World War II
He served in the United States Army Air Forces, flying B-24 bombers on 56 combat missions from Italy. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
He Was a Science Teacher Turned Actor Turned Science Star
Don Herbert originally studied general science and English at La Crosse State Teachers College in Wisconsin, intending to become a science teacher. But after serving as a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II, he pivoted to radio and acting. That blend of education and performance made him the perfect host for a show that made science both accessible and entertaining.
Watch Mr. Wizard Sparked a Nationwide Science Club Craze
By 1956, just five years after the show’s debut, there were more than 100,000 members of Mr. Wizard Science Clubs across 42 states including Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico. Kids would gather to replicate the experiments they saw on TV, turning living rooms and classrooms into makeshift labs.
He Promoted Electricity with Ronald Reagan
In the 1950s, Herbert appeared as a “progress reporter” on General Electric Theater, hosted by none other than Ronald Reagan. He encouraged viewers to “live better electrically”, a slogan that doubled as a plug for GE appliances. Even earlier, in 1939, Herbert had acted on stage with Nancy Davis, who would later become Nancy Reagan.
He Was a Guest on David Letterman’s First-Ever Late Night
When Late Night with David Letterman premiered in 1982, Herbert was the very first guest. He brought his signature science tricks to the stage, though the segment took a hilariously awkward turn (as Letterman segments often did). Herbert also made appearances on The Tonight Show, Hollywood Squares, and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
He Made Science Look Easy
Herbert’s genius wasn’t in flashy effects or high-tech gadgets. It was in simplicity. He used everyday items like bottles, eggs, straws, balloons to demonstrate scientific principles like air pressure, magnetism, and chemical reactions. His calm demeanor and clear explanations made science feel like something anyone could do.
He Came Back for a New Generation
After Watch Mr. Wizard ended in 1965, Herbert returned in the 1980s with Mr. Wizard’s World on Nickelodeon. The format was faster, the graphics were brighter, but the heart of the show remained the same: making science fun, hands-on, and just a little bit magical.
Don Herbert passed away in 2007 at the age of 89, but his legacy lives on in every kid who ever asked, “What happens if I mix these two things together?” He wasn’t just a TV host, he was a mentor, a pioneer, and the original science guy.
I remember watching him on Nickelodeon.
Mr. Wizards World was one of my favorite shows back then when it was on Nickelodeon.