Missouri History Today January 6, 1963: Wild Kingdom Premieres With Missouri’s Own Marlin Perkins
Marlin Perkins
Marlin Perkins was born in Carthage, MO on this date. He was an effective and popular head of the St. Louis Zoo and his national television show, “Wild Kingdom,” ran for 23 years.
On January 6, 1963, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom debuts. Marlin Perkins became a household name across America thanks to the popularity of his wildlife show. Perkins was born in Carthage, educated at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, and later studied at Mizzou.
Marlin Perkins, host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and director of the St. Louis Zoo, was bitten by a Gaboon viper and became one of only a few people to ever survive such a bite.
