<P> The other main character throughout the series is Wilbur's generally tolerant young wife, Carol (Connie Hines). The Posts also have two sets of neighbors, to whom Ed delights in making Wilbur appear as eccentric as possible . They included the Addisons, Roger (Larry Keating) and his wife Kay (Edna Skinner), who both appeared from the pilot episode until Keating's death in 1963; thereafter, Skinner continued appearing as Kay, without mention of Roger's absence, until the neighbors were recast . During this period, Kay's brother Paul Fenton (Jack Albertson), who had made occasional appearances before, appears . Following the Addisons, the Posts' new neighbors were Col. Gordon Kirkwood, USAF (Ret .), Wilbur's former commanding officer (Leon Ames), and his wife Winnie (Florence MacMichael). They appeared on the series from 1963 to 1965 . In the final season, the Kirkwoods were phased out, while Carol's grumpy and uptight father, Mr. Higgins (Barry Kelley), who appeared occasionally throughout the entire series, apparently moved in with Wilbur and Carol during the final episodes . Wilbur and his father - in - law did not get along at all because Mr. Higgins loathed Wilbur, whose quirky eccentricity and klutzy, half - hearted attempts to be friendly always clashed with Mr. Higgins's emotionless and uptight personality . Carol's father never stopped trying to persuade her to divorce Wilbur, whom he often and openly referred to as a "kook" because of Wilbur's clumsiness . Alan Young performed double duty during the final season of the series, also directing nearly all episodes . </P> <P> Ed's ability to talk was never explained, or ever contemplated much on the show . In the first episode, when Wilbur expresses an inability to understand the situation, Ed offers the show's only remark on the subject: "Don't try . It's bigger than both of us!" </P> <P> The Posts resided at 17230 Valley Spring Road in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Main cast </Dt> </Dl>

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