WALPOLE, N.H. – A Walpole resident and recently retired assistant director for the Keene Public Works Department in Keene, N.H., Duncan Watson is what you could call a renaissance man, yet not in a way anyone could imagine.
For, along with his nearly 35 years of service as a solid waste manager overseeing the operation of the Keene Recycling Center and Transfer Station on Old Summit Road, Watson’s real “claim to fame” actually occurred when he was just a teen: He performed the voice of the iconic and loveable Peanuts character Charlie Brown in several animated specials from 1975-1977. Additionally, Watson published his first book in 2024, titled “Everyone’s Trash: One Man Against 1.6 Billion Pounds.”
Originally from Montclair, N.J., Watson has lived in various locations – among them Mexico, Utah, and California – before settling in southern New Hampshire. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1985 and attended graduate school at Antioch University.
In 1975, at the age of 12, Watson began his acting career, cast as the official voice actor of Charlie Brown while appearing in four films over a three-year span. Watson was discovered by Peanuts producer Bill Melendez while he was attending Reed Elementary School in East Longmeadow, Mass.
During recess, Watson saw an unusual line forming outside a classroom and got in the line, not even knowing what it was for. When it was his turn to enter the room and the casting director asked Watson what character he was reading for, he simply said that he did not even know why he was in the room. When the casting crew suggested he read for the character of Charlie Brown, young Watson read a few simple lines from the script before being sent back to class.
The honesty and nativity worked like a charm, for a few weeks later, Watson’s parents received a very surprising phone call from the Peanuts crew inviting him back. After a series of callbacks and interviews, Watson finally secured his role as Charlie Brown.
Watson would go on to do the character voice for four animated titles over a three-year period, including the television specials “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown” (1975), “You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown” (1975), and “Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown” (1976), as well as the feature film “Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown” (1977). Watson also voiced the character of Franklin in “You’re a Good Sport.”
In 1976, “You’re a Good Sport” won a television Emmy Award, “Happy Anniversary” celebrated 25 years of the Peanuts comic strip with a prime-time special, and “Race For Your Life” was just the third feature film ever produced by the iconic franchise.
“Race For Your Life” would be Watson’s final Peanuts appearance, after which he would pursue a career in environmental management and public service. In the early ‘90s, he began working for the City of Keene, and would spend the next 35 years as both the solid waste manager and assistant director of public works, retiring just a few months ago.
In 2024, Watson published his first book, a funny and unique memoir which explores the social aspects revolving around subjects such as local landfills, recycling, and area waste disposal.
Just as you would imagine Charlie Brown could, Watson cleverly turns the process of recycling into positive and even fun action that truly makes a difference in our world. You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.