Remaining clues (some more obvious than others)

Played Cpl.Peter Newkirk on Hogans Heroes 1965-1971
A regular on the game show Match Game
Was a guest host 14 times on The Tonight Show 1979-80
Hosted a popular game show starting July 12,1976 (Family Feud)
Earned the nickname "The Kissing Bandit"
Also starred in the movie The Running Man
Died at age 79 from esophageal cancer on June 2,2012

Well done Cliff!

Tag, you're it.

1) I was born in 1916, and I am still alive today!
2) I come from Oregon
3) I was raised on a farm for the first few years of my life.

4) When I was six years old, Dad's farm failed and we moved to the big city. (Portland Oregon)

Kirk Douglas?

No, not Kirk....

5) I had a very hard time adjusting to city life, I did very badly in first grade and was put in a low level remedial reading class.

James Beard

Not James Beard.

6) I would never have been a reader, or turned my life away from failure had it not been for a kindly teacher who took me under her wing and taught me how to read successfully. After that things began to go better for me.

7) I earned a bachelor's degree in English from U.C. Berkeley.

8) I moved to Washington State and earned a masters degree in Library Science. Soon after I accepted my first Librarian job.

Ferlenghetti?

No, not Larry. Good guess though.

9) I married by eloping. Our parents did not approve as we were of different religious faiths.

Hey Cliff: A couple of your clues don’t make sense:

4) When I was six years old, Dad's farm failed and we moved to the big city. (Portland Oregon)

8) I moved to Washington State and earned a masters degree in Library Science.

I know clue #7 mentions U.C. Berkeley, but did this person move there during college, or were they still a resident of WA state?

OK Arthur, lets see if I can make this a little clearer.

6a) After learning to read and learning to love to read from that kindly teacher, I had an uneventful Elementary, middle and high school life.
6b) I was accepted to U.C. Berkeley and either left home (Portland Oregon) temporarily or permanently at that point since Berkeley is in California.

7a) After college I moved to Washington state and went into a graduate program there.

Does that clear it up? Let me know if it does not.

I guess so, Cliff. Still haven't a clue who this might be. Is it someone most of us would be familiar with?

I honestly believe everyone here, if raised in America, or even some other countries, will know this name and be familiar with their work. the more revealing clues are coming.

10) While working at the library, I noticed that elementary aged kids really had no literature that was based on their own lives and situations. All the kids books were for very young, or middle school aged youngsters. I decided to do something about it, and began to write.

Well, I must admit you’ve got me fooled. I can’t even think of anyone that old … let alone someone fitting your clues.

Good one, Cliff!

11) my first book was published in 1950. It was about an elementary school aged boy dealing with elementary school type of issues; it was a huge success.

Beverly Cleary? If it's not her, I got one more guess--a playwright and novelist.

No, no. I forgot--the person is still living. Neither Cleary nor my second person are still alive.

Beverly Cleary is still alive at 104. If she is not, then she must have passed recently and the web is not up on it yet. Not only that, but she is the one I was speaking of. Landmark, you've got it.

12) I have written close to 50 books
13) My most successful series is about an annoying kindergarten aged girl.
14) That character has appeared on the small screen and big screen as well.
15) In the later 50s I somehow got permission to write three books based on a then popular TV series. (Leave it to Beaver)
16) in the year 2000 I received the equivalent of a life time achievement award from the Library of Congress.