Thursday, December 30, 2021
In Memoriam: Remembering TV Legend Betty White and the Other Sitcom Stars We Lost in 2021
Today we remember the sitcom actors, actresses, producers, directors, writers, composers, and other crew members who died in 2021.
We lost stars from The Addams Family, Arrested Development, Barney Miller, Bosom Buddies, Dennis the Menace, Evening Shade, F Troop, The Facts of Life, The Goldbergs, The Golden Girls, Happy Days, Just Shoot Me!, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mayberry R.F.D., The Monkees, Newhart, Night Court, The Norm Show, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, Sanford and Son, Saved by the Bell, That '70s Show, WKRP in Cincinnati and many more who are greatly missed. We thank them for the laughter and entertainment they brought us over the years.
We will begin with our tribute to the legendary Betty White. She was very sadly lost today (December 31). The other names are listed in alphabetical order by surname. Visit the IMDB and Wikipedia links for a full listing of their credits and other biographical information. View video interviews at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television links.
Betty White (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Emmy-winning actress and comedian Betty White, who starred as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls and Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland, has died. She died at her home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on the morning of December 31, 2021, at the age of 99, seventeen days before what would have been her 100th birthday.
White's first starring role was as Elizabeth on the 1953-1955 syndicated sitcom Life with Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Alvin (Del Moore) are an ordinary suburban couple, but inevitably get into predicaments. The series also starred Lois Bridge, Dick Garton and Ray Erlenborn. She was the first woman to produce a sitcom with Bandy Productions, which she formed with George Tibbles.
She next starred as Vicki Angel on the 1957-1958 ABC sitcom Date with the Angels. The series revolves around newly married Vicki Angel and her insurance salesman husband Gus Angel (Bill Williams) who get themselves and their friends and neighbors into various comedic situations. The cast included Natalie Masters, Roy Engle, Maudie Prickett, Richard Reeves, Lillian Bronson, Gage Clark, Burt Mustin, Richard Deacon and Jimmy Boyd.
White starred as Sue Ann Nivens on the CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Sue Ann Nivens was the acerbic, man-hungry hostess of WJM's Happy Homemaker show. Betty White joined the cast for the fourth season in 1973. She won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1975 and 1976. The cast included Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Ted Knight, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Cloris Leachman (1970-1975), Lisa Gerritsen (1970-1975), John Amos (1970-1973), Georgia Engel (1973-1977), Joyce Bulifant (1971-1977), Priscilla Morrill (1973-1974) and Robbie Rist (1976-1977).
After The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended in 1977, she starred as Joyce Whitman on the short-lived 1977-1978 CBS sitcom The Betty White Show. Joyce Whitman (Betty White) is a middle-aged actress, who lands the lead in a fictitious police series, Undercover Woman. The series also starred John Hillerman, Georgia Engel, Caren Kaye, Alex Henteloff, Barney Phillips and Charles Cyphers.
She starred as Rose Nylund on the 1985-1992 NBC sitcom The Golden Girls. Rose Nylund is a Norwegian American from the small farming town of St. Olaf, Minnesota. She moved to Miami after the death of her husband, Charlie. During its original run, The Golden Girls received 68 Emmy nominations, 11 Emmy awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Viewers for Quality Television awards. Betty White won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986. She appeared as Rose Nylund in three episodes of Empty Nest from 1989 to 1992. The Golden Girls cast included Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.
White continued to play the Rose Nylund character on the 1992-1993 CBS sitcom The Golden Palace. Bea Arthur didn't return for the spin-off series, but she did guest star. The cast included Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, Cheech Marin, Don Cheadle and Billy L. Sullivan.
She starred as Shirley Wallace on the 1995-1996 ABC sitcom Maybe This Time. Shirley Wallace is a worldy mother who had been married five times. The series also starred Marie Osmond, Ashley Johnson, Craig Ferguson, Amy Hill and Elliot Reed.
White starred as Mitzi Stiles on the 1999-2001 CBS sitcom Ladies Man. Mitzi Stiles was the sarcastic mother of Jimmy Stiles (Alfred Molina). The cast included Sharon Lawrence, Dixie Carter (1999-2000), Park Overall (1999-2000), Shawna Waldron (1999-2000), Kaley Cuoco (2001), Alexa Vega, Stephen Root, Elizabeth Beckwith (2001), Kathleen McClellan (2001) and Nicholas and Noah Hight (2001).
She starred as Elka Ostrovsky on the 2010-2015 TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland. Elka Ostrovsky is an elderly Polish caretaker. The cast included Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick. The women of The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Cloris Leachman, Valerie Harper, Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, and Georgia Engel – reunited in the episode which aired on September 4, 2013.
White had a recurring role as Ellen Harper Jackson in 15 episodes of Mama's Family from 1983-1984 and 1986. Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Petticoat Junction, The Odd Couple, The Love Boat (5 episodes), Best of the West, Love, Sidney (1982), Who's the Boss?, The Naked Truth, Suddenly Susan, The John Larroquette Show, Ladies Man, The Ellen Show, Yes, Dear (2002), That '70s Show (4 episodes as Bea Sigurdson), I'm with Her, My Wife and Kids, Malcolm in the Middle, Complete Savages, Joey, My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, The Middle, Community, Save Me, Crowded and Young & Hungry.
She was dubbed "the first lady of game shows" for her appearances on Password, Match Game, Tattletales, To Tell the Truth, The Hollywood Squares and The $25,000 Pyramid. She became the first woman to receive the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for the show Just Men! in 1983.
Some of her later television credits included Boston Legal, The Bold and the Beautiful, Saturday Night Live (the oldest host in 2010 when she was 88) and Betty White's Off Their Rockers.
Ms. White was a true TV legend and pioneer. She had a remarkable career that spanned over nine decades. She won eight Emmy Awards in various categories, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Grammy Award. It's heartbreaking that we lost her so close to her 100th birthday. There should be many tributes to her in the upcoming weeks. We thank her for the many laughs and entertainement she brought us over the years. She will be deeply missed.
Share your memories on our The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland message boards. View photos in our galleries.
TV Land is airing a Celebration of Betty White this weekend.
Saturday
January 1st
6pm-11pm The Golden Girls
11pm-6am Hot in Cleveland
Sunday
January 2nd
6am-11pm The Golden Girls
11pm-5am Hot in Cleveland
The Lost Valentine: Remembering Betty White (Hallmark Hall of Fame) has been scheduled for this Sunday, January 2nd from 8-10pm, followed by The Golden Girls block from 10p-1a on Hallmark Channel.
The Lost Valentine: Remembering Betty White
(2011): CC: HD TV-PG
Susan Allison, TV reporter, receives a sentimental news assignment: the story of Caroline Thomas, who has waited 60 years for her pilot husband; declared missing in action during World War II, to return to her. Hallmark Hall of Fame.
Stars Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
On January 3rd from 9am-4am ET, CMT will celebrate the iconic Betty White with The Golden Girls All-Day Marathon featuring back-to-back episodes of some of the best Rose Nylund episodes of all-time.
MeTV will air select episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mama's Family and The Love Boat on Sunday, January 9th from 2-6pm ET/PT.
Ed Asner (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner was best known for his role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series Lou Grant. He died of natural causes at his home in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on August 29, 2021. Mr. Asner was 91.
Asner made his television debut on Studio One in 1957. Some of his early television guest appearances included Route 66, Naked City, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Outer Limits, The Defenders, Mr. Novak, Slattery's People, Profiles in Courage, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, The Invaders, Judd for the Defense, The F.B.I., Ironside, The Name of the Game, Mod Squad, Hawaii Five-0, Police Story and Insight. His early sitcom guest appearances included The Farmer's Daughter, Please Don't Eat the Daisies and Here Come the Brides.
He starred as Lou Grant on the 1970-1977 CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran for 7 seasons and 168 episodes. Lou Grant was the tough but lovable boss of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore). He was the producer (later executive producer) of WJM-TV's Six O'Clock News in Minneapolis. Asner won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy three times in 1971, 1972 and 1975. He won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor – Television in 1972 and 1976. Asner appeared in the 1974 episode of Rhoda titled "Rhoda's Wedding." The Mary Tyler Moore Show also starred Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Cloris Leachman (1970-1975), Georgia Engel (1972-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).
Asner continued to play the Lou Grant character on the 1977-1982 CBS newspaper drama Lou Grant. The spin-off series ran for 5 seasons and 114 episodes. Lou Grant works as city editor of the fictional Los Angeles Tribune daily newspaper called the Los Angeles Tribune, a job he takes after being fired from WJM-TV in Minneapolis at the end The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Asner received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1978 and 1980. He became the first person to win an Emmy Award for both Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for portraying the same character. He won two Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1977 and 1979. Asner later appeared as Lou Grant on Roseanne in 1996.
He starred as Sam Waltman on the short-lived 1985 ABC sitcom Off the Rack. Sam Waltman was the gruff co-owner of a Los Angeles (New York in the pilot episode) garment factory. The series also starred Eileen Brennan, Pamela Brull, Claudia Wells, Cory Yothers, Dennis Haysbert and Sandy Simpson.
Asner had a recurring role as George Lahti in 12 episodes of the first season (1992-1993) of the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire. George Lahti was the cantankerous father of Georgie Anne Lahti (Markie Post). The first season cast included John Ritter, Justin Burnette, Clark Duke, Billy Bob Thornton, Wendie Jo Sperber, Doren Fein, Beth Broderick, George Gaynes, Beah Richards and Adam Carl.
He played Gil Jones on the 1994-1995 ABC sitcom Thunder Alley. Gil Jones was a retired stock car driver who operated Thunder Alley, a specialty racing garage in Detroit. The series also starred Diane Venora (Season 1), Robin Riker (Season 2), Kelly Vint, Lindsay Felton, Haley Joel Osment, Jim Beaver and Ritch Brinkley (Season 1).
Asner appeared as Marshall "Old Man" Russell on the short-lived 1998 Fox sitcom Ask Harriet. Russell was the owner of the New York Dispatch. The series also starred Anthony Tyler Quinn, Willie Garson, Patrick Y. Malone, Lisa Waltz, Julie Benz, Jamie Renée Smith and Damien Leake.
He starred as Carl "Dobbs" Dobson on the short-lived 1998 CBS sitcom The Closer. Carl was the crusty saracastic creative director of an advertising agency. The series also starred Tom Selleck, Penelope Ann Miller, David Krumholtz, Hedy Burress and Beverly Andolini.
Asner starred as Art Barnett on the short-lived 2004-2005 CBS sitcom Center of the Universe. Art Barnett was the combative father of John Barnett (John Goodman). He was married to Marge (Olympia Dukakis). The series also starred Jean Smart, Diedrich Bader, Melinda McGraw and Spencer Breslin.
He starred as Hank Greziak on the short-lived 2011 CMT sitcom Working Class. Hank Greziak was the father of single mom Carli Mitchell (Melissa Peterman). The series also starred Steve Kazee, Patrick Fabian, Lachlan Buchanan, Courtney Merritt and Cameron Castaneda.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included D.C. Follies, Dinosaurs (voice), Mad About You (3 episodes), Soul Man, Maggie Winters, Arli$$, Dharma & Greg, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Ellen Show, Andy Barker, P.I., The Sarah Silverman Program, The Middle, Hot in Cleveland, The Crazy Ones, Men at Work, Mom, Dead to Me (5 episodes), Modern Family and Grace and Frankie (2 episodes).
Asner starred as Principal Joe Danzig in the 1987-1988 NBC drama The Bronx Zoo. He played Walter Kovacs on the second season of the CBS legal drama The Trials of Rosie O'Neill from 1991 to 1992. He had a recurring role as Wilson White in six episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
Some of his other drama guest appearances included Highway to Heaven, The Practice, The X-Files, Touched by an Angel, ER, The Dead Zone, The Line, CSI: NY, Royal Pains, Hawaii Five-0 (2012), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Glades, Chasing Life, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Forgive Me, Bones, Cobra Kai, MacGyver (2018) and Blue Bloods.
Asner was also known for his extensive voice work. Some of his voice credits included Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Fish Police, Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, Spider-Man, The Boondocks, Freakazoid, The New Adventures of Zorro, Superman: The Animated Series, The Simpsons, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. He was the voice of Carl Fredricksen in the 2009 Pixar animated film Up.
He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series for his role as Axel Jordache in the 1976 ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. His other Emmy Award was for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series for his role as Capt. Thomas Davies in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots.
Asner played John Wayne's adversary Bart Jason in the 1966 Western film El Dorado. He played Santa Claus in the 2003 film Elf.
Actress Lisa Banes starred as Mayor Anita Massengil on Son of the Beach and had a recurring role on The King of Queens. She died on June 14, 2021, in New York City, New York. She was struck by a motorized scooter in a hit and run collision on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on June 4. Ms. Banes was 65.
She starred as Mayor Anita Massengil on the first two seasons of the FX comedy Son of the Beach. She appeared as Georgia Boone, Carrie's (Leah Remini) boss, in two episodes of The King of Queens in 2004.
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included American Dreamer, Roseanne, High Society, Frasier, It's All Relative, Jake in Progress, Out of Practice and How to Be a Gentleman.
She starred as Doreen Morrison on 1990-1992 CBS drama The Trials of Rosie O'Neill. She played Meredith Holt on four episodes of Girls Club in 2002. She had a recurring role as Ellen Collins on nine episodes of Royal Pains from 2010 to 2016.
Some of her film credits included Cocktail (1988), Young Guns (1988), Freedom Writers (2007) and Gone Girl (2014).
Anne Beatts (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Comedy writer Anne Beatts worked on Saturday Night Live and was the creator of Square Pegs. She died on April 7, 2021, at her home in West Hollywood, California. Ms. Beatts was 74.
Beatts worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1980. She received five Emmy nominations, winning once in 1976 for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series.
She created the 1982-1983 CBS sitcom Square Pegs. The series follows Patty Greene (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Lauren Hutchinson (Amy Linker), two awkward teenage girls desperate to fit in at Weemawee High School. Beatts appeared in two episodes as Miss Rezucha. The series also starred Merritt Butrick, John Femia, Tracy Nelson, Jami Gertz, Claudette Wells, Jon Caliri, Basil Hoffman, Steven Peterman and Caitlin Adams.
Beatts was a producer for the first season (1987-1988) of the NBC sitcom A Different World. Her other sitcom writing credits included Murphy Brown and Committed (2 episodes).
Actor Ned Beatty was best known for his work in more than 160 films, but he also starred in two short-lived sitcoms and had a recurring role as Ed Conner on Roseanne. He died at his home in Los Angeles, California, of natural causes on June 13, 2021. Mr. Beatty was 83.
Beatty's early television drama guest appearances included The Waltons, The Marcus-Nelson Murders (TV movie pilot for Kojak), The Rockford Files (3 episodes), Lucas Tanner, Gunsmoke, Petrocelli, The Rookies, Hawaii Five-0, The Streets of San Francisco, Delvecchio and Lucan. He appeared as Colonel Hollister in the 1975 M*A*S*H episode "Dear Peggy."
He starred as Nick Szysznyk on the short-lived 1977-1978 CBS sitcom Szysznyk, which ran for two seasons and 15 episodes (4 unaired). Nick Szyszynk was a retired marine who takes a new job as playground supervisor at the Northwest Community Center in a poor neighborhood in Washington, D.C. The cast included Olivia Cole, Susan Lanier (2 episodes), Leonard Barr, Jarrod Johnson, Barry Miller, Scott Colomby and Thomas Carter.
Beatty starred as Herbert Francis "Bert" Greenblatt on the short-lived 1993 CBS sitcom The Boys. The series was about a horror novelist who moves into a house and starts hanging out with the friends of the man who recently died there. Bert was a loud, antagonistic retired fireman. The series also starred Chris Meloni, Isabella Hoffmann, Doris Roberts, John Harkins and Richard Venture.
He had a recurring role as Ed Conner, the father of Dan Conner (John Goodman), in six episodes of the ABC sitcom Roseanne from 1989 to 1994. His other sitcom guest appearances included The Golden Palace as Tad Hollingsworth in 1993 and Go On as Coach Spence, which was his final television role in 2013.
He starred as Detective Stanley Bolander ("The Big Man") on the first three seasons of the NBC police drama Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to 1995. Some of his other drama guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote (1984), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985), Highway to Heaven (2 episodes), B.L. Stryker, Road to Avonlea, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law & Order.
Beatty appeared in more than 160 films during his career, which spanned from 1972 to 2013. He made his film debut as Bobby Trippe in Deliverance (1972). He received his only Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Arthur Jensen in the acclaimed film Network (1976). He played Otis Berg, Lex Luthor's (Gene Hackman) inept henchman, in Superman: The Movie (1978) and Superman II (1980). In 1993, he starred as Daniel Ruettiger, Sr., the father of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger (Sean Astin), in Rudy. Some of his other credits included All the President's Men (1976), The Toy (1982), Stroker Ace (1983), Back to School (1986) and Toy Story 3 (2010) as the voice of Lotso.
Writer and actor Ben Best was one of the creators of Eastbound & Down. He died on September 10, 2021, a day before his 47th birthday.
Best, Danny McBride and Jody Hill created the comedy series Eastbound & Down, which ran on HBO for four seasons from 2009 to 2013. Best appeared in eight episodes of the series as Clegg, a local bartender and Kenny's longtime friend. His other acting credits included Superbad, What Happens in Vegas, Observe and Report and Land of the Lost.
Actor and television director Frank Bonner was best known for his role as sales manager Herb Tarlek on WKRP in Cincinnati. He died on June 16, 2021, at his home in Laguna Niguel, California, of complications from Lewy body dementia. Mr. Bonner was 79.
Bonner's early television drama guest appearances included The Young Lawyers, Mannix, Nichols, The F.B.I., Hawkins, Emergency!, Cannon (2 episodes), Police Woman, Most Wanted and Man from Atlantis. His early sitcom guest appearances included Nancy in 1970 and Love, American Style in 1974.
He starred as Herb Tarlek on the 1978-1982 CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. Herb Tarlek is the boorish, tasteless and vain sales manager at WKRP, who is sometimes referred to as "Little Guy" to Mr. Carlson's "Big Guy". He often wears loud plaid suits, with his belt matching his white shoes. Bonner also directed six episodes of the series from 1980 to 1982. The cast included Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders, Tim Reid, Jan Smithers and Howard Hesseman.
Bonner starred as Father Robert Hargis on the 1988-1990 ABC sitcom Just the Ten of Us. Father Robert Hargis is the affable headmaster of St. Augustine's Academy, an all-boys private Catholic school in Eureka, California. Bonner also directed eight episodes of the series. The cast included Bill Kirchenbauer, Deborah Harmon, Heather Langenkamp, Jamie Luner, Brooke Theiss, JoAnn Willette Matt Shakman, and Heidi Zeigler.
He reprised the role of Herb Tarlek on the 1991-1993 first-run syndicated sitcom The New WKRP in Cincinnati. Gordon Jump (Arthur Carlson) and Richard Sanders (Les Nessman) also reprised their roles from the original show, while Howard Hesseman reprised the role of Dr. Johnny Fever on a recurring basis (four episodes in the first season, then five in season two). Bonner also directed seven episodes of the series. The cast included Mykel T. Williamson (Mykelti Williamson), Kathleen Garrett (1991-1992), Michael Des Barres (1991-1992), Tawny Kitaen (who also sadly recently died on May 7), Hope Alexander-Willis (1991-1992), Lightfield Lewis (1991-1992), Wendy Davis (1991), John Chappell, Marla Jeanette Rubinoff and French Stewart (1992-1993).
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Facts of Life (as Garth Kiley in The Facts of Life Goes to Paris), Gimme a Break! (2 episodes), The Love Boat, Newhart, New, Love American Style (1986), Punky Brewster, Night Court (2 episodes), Harry and the Hendersons, Evening Shade, The Mommies, Saved by the Bell: The New Class (4 episodes as Mr. Harrington and 1 episode as Mr. Spalding) and City Guys.
Bonner directed all 105 episodes of the 1997-2001 NBC Saturday morning sitcom City Guys. Some of his other sitcom directing credits included Family Ties, Frank's Place, The Van Dyke Show, Who's the Boss?, Head of the Class (2 episodes), The Famous Teddy Z (2 episodes), Evening Shade, You Take the Kids, Harry and the Hendersons (11 episodes), Fudge, The Mommies (4 episodes), Campus Cops, Saved by the Bell: The New Class (4 episodes) and USA High (19 episodes).
He had a recurring role as Det. R.T. Mooney in five episodes of the ABC police drama Sidekicks in 1986. Some of his other drama guest appearances included Fantasy Island, Legmen, Simon & Simon, Matt Houston, Crazy Like a Fox, Scarecrow and Mrs. King (3 episodes), Blacke's Magic and Murder, She Wrote.
Perry Botkin Jr. (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Composer Perry Botkin Jr. worked on Mork & Mindy, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. He died on January 18, 2021, at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California. Mr. Botkin was 87.
Botkin composed the theme music for Mork & Mindy and worked on 71 episodes. Some of his other sitcom composing credits included Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Quark, Roxie and The Tortellis. He appeared in a 1956 episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
He composed "Nadia's Theme" with Barry De Vorzon. It was used as the theme music for The Young and Restless. They won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement in 1978.
Some of his film composing credits included Bless the Beasts and Children (1971), Skyjacked (1972), Tarzan the Ape Man (1981) and Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984).
Actor and comedian Marty Brill starred in The New Dick Van Dyke Show. He died on January 23, 2021. Mr. Brill was 86.
Brill starred as Bernie Davis for the first two seasons (1971-1973) of the CBS sitcom The New Dick Van Dyke Show. Bernie and Carol Davis (Nancy Dussault) were friends of Dick (Dick Van Dyke) and Jenny Preston (Hope Lange).
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style (1973), All in the Family, Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort. He wrote episodes of Carter Country, What's Happening!! and One in a Million. He played Mel in the 1984 film The Pope of Greenwich Village.
Allan Burns (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Emmy-winning screnwriter and producer Allan Burns was the co-creator of The Munsters, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda. He died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on January 30, 2021, from Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. Mr. Burns was 85.
Burns and Chris Hayward created The Munsters, which aired for 2 seasons on CBS from 1964 to 1966. The series starred Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Beverly Owen (1964) and Pat Priest.
They later created the short-lived 1965-1966 NBC sitcom My Mother the Car. He wrote six episodes of the series. The series starred Jerry Van Dyke, Ann Sothern (voice), Maggie Pierce, Cindy Eilbacher, Randy Whipple and Avery Schreiber.
Burns and James L. Brooks created The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970. The popular CBS sitcom ran for 7 seasons and 168 episodes from 1970 to 1977. Burns and Brooks won Emmys for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1971 and 1977. The Mary Tyler Moore Show won for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Burns wrote eight episodes of the series. The cast included Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Cloris Leachman (1970-1975), Georgia Engel (1972-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).
Burns and Brooks created the spin-off series Rhoda. The CBS sitcom ran for five seasons and 110 episodes from 1974 to 1978. The cast included Valerie Harper, Julie Kavner, David Groh (seasons 1-3), Nancy Walker (seasons 1-2, 4-5), Harold Gould (seasons 1-2, 4-5), Ron Silver (seasons 3-4), Ray Buktenica (seasons 3-5), Kennth McMillan (seasons 4-5) and Lorenzo Music (voice only).
He won his first Emmy in 1968 for his work on the CBS sitcom He & She. He wrote 10 episodes of the series from 1967 to 1968. Some of his other sitcom writing credits included Get Smart (11 episodes), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Room 222 (4 episodes), Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (co-created with James L. Brooks), Rhoda, The Duck Factory, Eisenhower and Lutz (also the creator and directed one episode), FM (also the creator) and Cutters.
His producing credits included Room 222, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Rhoda, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Duck Factory, Eisenhower and Lutz, FM and Cutters.
Some of his other television writing credits included The Bullwinkle Show, Dudley Do-Right and George of the Jungle. Burns, Brooks and Gene Reynolds created the 1977-1982 CBS drama Lou Grant. He worked as an executive producer on the series from 1977 to 1978.
Linda Carlson (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Linda Carlson had a recurring role on Newhart and made many sitcom guest appearances. She died on October 26, 2021, in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ms. Carlson was 76.
She appeared as Bev Button, the manager of the small Vermont television station where Bob Loudon (Bob Newhart) hosted a Sunday afternoon interview program, in eight episodes of Newhart from 1985 to 1987. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included WKRP in Cincinnati, Growing Pains, Mr. President, My Two Dads, Baby Talk, Double Rush and Clueless.
Ralph Carmichael (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Composer Ralph Carmichael worked on My Mother the Car and O.K. Crackerby. He composed the score for the 1958 science fiction horror film The Blob. He died on October 18, 2021, in Camarillo, California. Mr. Carmichael was 94.
Roy Christopher (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Art director and production designer Roy Christopher worked on Frasier, Wings, NewsRadio and Murphy Brown. He died on February 2, 2021, at his home in West Hollywood, California. Mr. Christopher was 85.
Christopher's art director credits included Lotsa Luck!, Chico and the Man, Welcome Back, Kotter, Jennifer Slept Here, Growing Pains, My Sister Sam, Frasier, Wings, NewsRadio and Murphy Brown.
Some of his production designer credits included Love & War, Wings, NewsRadio, Jenny, Murphy Brown, Titus, Kristin, In-Laws, Becker, Frasier and Freddie.
He won ten Emmy Awards for his work on various series.
Michael Constantine (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Emmy-winning actor Michael Constantine starred as high school principal Seymour Kaufman on Room 222. He died on August 31, 2021, of natural causes at his home in Reading, Pennsylvania. Mr. Constantine was 94.
Constantine's early television credits included Brenner, The Detectives, The Defenders, Naked City, Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, The Untouchables (5 episodes), Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Eleventh Hour, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Perry Mason, Death Valley Days, I Spy and The Fugitive.
His first sitcom starring role was as Jack Ellenhorn on the 1966-1967 NBC sitcom Hey, Landlord. Jack Ellenhorn was a photographer and tenant at a New York City brownstone apartment building in Manhattan's East 30s. The series also starred Will Hutchins, Sandy Baron, Pamela Rodgers, Miko Mayama, Ann Morgan Guilbert and Kathryn Minner.
Constantine's best known television role was as Seymour Kaufman on the 1969-1974 ABC comedy-drama Room 222. Seymour Kaufman was the dryly humorous school principal of the fictional Walt Whitman High School, an extremely racially diverse school in Los Angeles, California. The critically acclaimed series ran for five seasons and 113 episodes. Constantine won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1970. The cast included Lloyd Haynes, Denise Nicholas, Karen Valentine, Howard Rice (1969-1971), Judy Strangis, Heshimu, Pendrant Netherly (1969-1971), David Jolliffe (1970-1974), Ta-Tanisha (1970-1973) and Eric Laneuville (1971-1973).
He next starred as Matthew J. Sirota on the 1976-1977 NBC sitcom Sirota's Court. Matthew J. Sirota was a night court judge in a large metropolitan city. Constantine received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical for the role in 1977. The series also starred Cynthia Harris, Kathleen Miller, Fred Willard, Ted Ross and Owen Bush.
Constantine reprised his role of Gus Portokalos from the 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding on the short-lived 2003 CBS sitcom My Big Fat Greek Life. Gus and Maria Portokalos (Lainie Kazan) owned a neighborhood restaurant. The series also starred Nia Vardalos, Steven Eckholdt, Louis Mandylor, Gia Carides, Andrea Martin and Victoria Adams.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Hogan's Heroes, The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, My Favorite Martian, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Jean Arthur Show, The Good Guys, The Odd Couple, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Love, American Style (1972), Benson, Amanda's, The Love Boat, Mama's Family, Free Spirit, Cosby and In-Laws.
His other film credits included The Last Mile (1959), The Hustler (1961), Skidoo (1968), The Reivers (1969), The North Avenue Irregulars (1979), Prancer (1989), Thinner (1996) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016).
Douglas C. Cramer (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Television producer Douglas C. Cramer worked on The Brady Bunch, The Odd Couple and The Love Boat. He died from heart and kidney failure at his home on Martha's Vineyard on June 4, 2021. Mr. Cramer was 89.
Cramer's sitcom producing credits included Love, American Style, The Brady Bunch, The Odd Couple, Bridget Loves Bernie, The Love Boat, The San Pedro Beach Bums and Aloha Paradise.
Some of his other telvision producing credits included The Young Lawyers, Wonder Woman, Vega$, Strike Force, Matt Houston, Glitter, Hollywood Beat, The Colbys and Nightingales.
Johnny Crawford (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor and singer Johnny Crawford starred as Mark McCain on The Rifleman and made several sitcom guest appearances. He died in a personal care home on April 29, 2021, after contracting COVID-19 and catching pneumonia before later succumbing to Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Crawford was 75.
Crawford was best known for his role as Mark McCain on the 1958-1963 ABC western series The Rifleman. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Emmy Award at age 13.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Mr. Adams and Eve, The Danny Thomas Show, The Donna Reed Show and Mister Ed. He was one of the original Mouseketeers in 1955.
Character actor Lou Cutell made guest appearances on many sitcoms. He died on November 21, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Cutell was 91.
Some of his guest appearances included The Dick Van Dyke Show, My Three Sons, Room 222, Bridget Loves Bernie, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat, The Bob Newhart Show (2 episodes), Gimme a Break!, Barney Miller (2 episodes), Alice (4 episodes), Throb, Baby Boom, Small Wonder, Newhart, Amen, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, The Wonder Years, Mad About You (2 episodes), Seinfeld, Almost Perfect (2 episodes), Will & Grace, Spin City, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2 episodes) and How I Met Your Mother.
Actor Henry Darrow was best known for his role as Manolito "Mano" Montoya on the 1967-1971 western television series The High Chaparral. He starred in The New Dick Van Dyke Show and Zorro and Son. He died of natural causes on March 14, 2021, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Mr. Darrow was 87.
He starred as stage manager Alex Montenez on the final season (1973-1974) of the CBS sitcom The New Dick Van Dyke Show. He starred as Don Diego de la Vega (Zorro Sr.) on the short-lived 1983 sitcom Zorro and Son. He voiced Don Diego / Zorro for the 1981 CBS animated series The New Adventures of Zorro. He starred as Don Alejandro de la Vega on The Family Channel series Zorro from 1990 to 1993.
His sitcom guest appearances included The Golden Girls, Nurses, The Brothers Garcia and Just Shoot Me!
Actor Leo DeLyon starred in the 1952 sitcom It's a Business. He died on September 18, 2021. Mr. DeLyon was 96.
DeLyon starred in the short-lived 1952 DuMont Television Network sitcom It's a Business. It also starred Bob Haymes and Dorothy Loudon.
He guest starred on My Mother the Car and Bewitched.
He was best known for his role as Spook and Brain in the primetime animated series Top Cat.
Dustin Diamond (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Dustin Diamond was best known for his role as Samuel "Screech" Powers throughout the Saved by the Bell franchise. He died on February 1, 2021, in Cape Coral, Florida, from small-cell lung carcinoma. He had been diagnosed with the disease in early January 2021. Mr. Diamond was only 44.
Diamond first played the role of Samuel "Screech" Powers in the 1988-1989 Disney Channel sitcom Good Morning, Miss Bliss. It aired for one season and 13 episodes. The series focuses on the life of junior high school teacher Miss Carrie Bliss (Hayley Mills) at John F. Kennedy Junior High in Indianapolis. Samuel "Screech" Powers was an awkward nerd with a crush on Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies). It also starred Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Max Battimo, Heather Hopper, T.K. Carter, Joan Ryan and Dennis Haskins.
Good Morning, Miss Bliss was retooled as Saved by the Bell. It premiered on August 20, 1989, and aired on Saturday mornings on NBC. The reformatted series follows a group of high school friends and their principal at the fictional Bayside High School in Los Angeles. It ran for four seasons and 86 episodes. The cast included Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Lark Voorhies, Leanna Creel (1992-1993) and Dennis Haskins.
NBC aired the spin-off series Saved by the Bell: The College Years starting on May 22, 1993. It aired in primetime for one season and 19 episodes from 1993 to 1994. The series revolves around the six characters getting into trouble each week at the fictitious California University (Cal U), under the watchful eye of Mike Rogers (Bob Golic), their resident adviser. The cast included Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Mario Lopez, Anne Tremko, Kiersten Warren, Patrick Fabian and Holland Taylor (1994).
After the cancellation of Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Diamond continued to play the role of Screech in Saved by the Bell: The New Class starting in the second season. The series follows a new group of students at Bayside High School. Screech returns to Bayside High initially on a work-study program, and later as Mr. Belding's assistant. It ran for 7 seasons and 143 episodes on NBC. He appeared in 67 episodes.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included It's a Living, The Wonder Years (2 episodes), The Munsters Today, Getting By, Hang Time (2 episodes) and Off Centre.
Diamond later did stand up comedy. He appeared on Weakest Link in 2001, Celebrity Boxing 2 in 2002, Celebrity Fit Club in 2007-2008 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. In 2009, he published an inside story of the show's cast and crew, from his point of view, titled Behind the Bell. He was an executive producer for the TV movie The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, which aired on Lifetime on September 1, 2014.
Suzzanne Douglas (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Suzzanne Douglas was best known for her role as matriarch Jerri Peterson on The WB sitcom The Parent 'Hood. She died on July 6, 2021, at her home on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Ms. Douglas was 64.
Douglas starred as Jerri Peterson on The WB sitcom The Parent' Hood, which aired from 1995 to 1999. The series is about the Petersons, an upper-middle-class black family in Harlem, New York City. Jerri Peterson is a law student and mother of four kids. It ran for five seasons and 90 episodes. The series also starred Robert Townsend, Kenny Blank (seasons 1-3), Reagan Gomez-Preston, Curtis Williams, Ashli Adams, Bobby McGee (season 1), Carol Woods (season 1), Faizon Love (seasons 2-4), Tyrone Dorzell Burton (seasons 4-5) and Kelly Perine (season 5).
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Cosby Show as Rebecca Shorter in 1990, The Parkers in 1999 and 2000 (2 episodes as Constance McFarland) and Are We There Yet? in 2011.
She starred as Yvette Carruthers on the 1990-1991 Fox dramedy Against the Law. She played Grace Cuffe on the 2019 Netflix crime drama miniseries When They See Us. Some of her other drama credits included Guiding Light, A Man Called Hawk, I'll Fly Away (3 episodes), Angel Street, Touched by an Angel (2 episodes), NYPD Blue, Promised Land (4 episodes), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, Bones and Bull.
Douglas starred with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1989 film Taps. She played Cissy Houston in the 2015 Lifetime TV movie Whitney. Some of her other film credits included The Inkwell (1994), Jason's Lyric (1994) and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998).
Olympia Dukakis (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis was best known for her work in films such as Moonstruck and Steel Magnolias, but she also starred on Center of the Universe in 2004-2005. She died under hospice care at her home in Manhattan, New York, on May 1, 2021. Ms. Dukakis was 89.
She starred as Marge Barnett, the mother of John Barnett (John Goodman), on the 2004-2005 CBS sitcom Center of the Universe. The series also starred Jean Smart, Diedrich Bader, Melinda McGraw, Spencer Breslin and Edward Asner.
Some of her sitcom credits included One of the Boys, The Simpsons (voice), Frasier (voice), It's All Relative, Worst Week and Bored to Death (4 episodes).
She performed in more than 130 stage productions, more than 60 films and in 50 television series. She won an Academy Award for her role as Rose Castorini in Moonstruck (1987).
Television director and producer John Erman worked on My Favorite Martian, That Girl and The Ghost & Mrs. Muir. He died on June 25, 2021, in New York City, New York, after a brief illness. Mr. Erman was 85.
Erman's sitcom directing credits included Father of the Bride, My Favorite Martian (12 episodes), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (6 episodes), Occasional Wife, That Girl (10 episodes), The Second Hundred Years (4 episodes), The Flying Nun (4 episodes), Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (2 episodes), The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (8 episodes), Room 222 (2 episodes), Arnie, The Girl with Something Extra, Karen (3 episodes), The Bob Newhart Show and M*A*S*H.
He won an Emmy Award for the TV movie Who Will Love My Children? in 1983.
Jahmil French (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Canadian actor Jahmil French starred on the sitcom Let's Get Physical. He died on March 1, 2021. Neither the circumstances nor the cause of his death have been divulged. Mr. French was only 29.
French was best known role for his role as Dave Turner in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2009-2013), for which he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards in 2013.
He starred as Snacks on the short-lived 2018 Pop sitcom Let's Get Physical. Some of his other television credits included Flashpoint, The Divide, Remedy, Incorporated and the 2019 Netflix series Soundtrack.
Actor John Gabriel had a recurring role as WJM-TV sportscaster Andy Rivers on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He died on June 11, 2021, from complicaitons of Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Gabriel was 90.
Gabriel had a recurring role as WJM-TV sportscaster Andy Rivers in five episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1973 to 1975.
He played the Professor in the original, unaired Gilligan's Island pilot. Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Bachelor Father, The Flying Nun, The Girl with Something Extra, Here's Lucy, The Love Boat, Kate & Allie (2 episodes) and Seinfeld.
He was best known for his role as Seneca Beaulac on Ryan's Hope (1975–1985, 1988–1989). He he received an Emmy Award nomination for the role in 1980.
Willie Garson (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Willie Garson played Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City. He died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 21, 2021, from pancreatic cancer. Mr. Garson was 57.
Garson had a recurring role as Carl, Kevin Owens' (Rob Stone) best friend, on seven episodes of Mr. Belvedere from 1986 to 1990. Some of his other early sitcom guest appearances include Family Ties, Cheers, You Again?, The New Gidget, My Two Dads, Newhart, It's a Living (three episodes as Phil Roman), Coach, Chicken Soup, Flying Blind, A League of Their Own, Boy Meets World (four episodes), Pig Sty, Partners, Mad About You, The Single Guy and Mad About You.
He starred as Ronnie Rendall on the short-lived 1998 Fox sitcom Ask Harriet. Ronnie Rendall was Jack Cody's (Anthony Tyler Quinn) best friend and the newspaper critic for the New York Dispatch. The cast included Patrick Y. Malone, Lisa Waltz, Julie Benz, Edward Asner, Jamie Renée Smith and Damien Leake.
Garson had a recurring role as Stanford Blatch on 27 episodes of the 1998-2004 HBO romantic comedy-drama Sex and the City. Stanford Blatch is a gay talent agent from an aristocratic family. He is Carrie Bradshaw's (Sarah Jessica Parker) best friend outside of the other three women (Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, Kristin Davis as Charlotte York and Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes). Garson reprised his role as Stanford Blatch in the films Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City (2010). He appeared in three episodes of the HBO Max revival series And Just Like That....
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Conrad Bloom, Friends, Just Shoot Me!, Spin City, Greetings from Tucson, All About the Andersons, Yes, Dear (2004), Wizards of Waverly Place, Two and a Half Men, Wendell & Vinnie, Girl Meets World (also directed a 2015 episode) and Weird Loners. He provided various voices for three episodes of Big Mouth.
Garson had a recurring role as Henry Coffield on seven episodes of the ABC police drama NYPD Blue from 1996 to 1999. He appeared as Meyer Dickstein on the 2007 HBO drama John from Cincinnati. He starred as Mozzie on the 2009-2014 USA Network police drama White Collar. In 2013, he directed an episode of White Collar. He had a recurring role as Gerard Hirsch on nine episodes of Hawaii Five-0 from 2015 to 2020.
Some of his other drama guest appearances included Quantum Leap, thirtysomething, Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Touched by an Angel, The Practice, Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Party of Five, Star Trek: Voyager, Early Edition, Stargate SG-1 (three episodes), Special Unit 2, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Pushing Daisies, Medium, Franklin & Bash, The Mysteries of Laura, Scandal, Supergirl (three episodes) and Magnum, P.I. (2019).
He appeared in three films from the Farrelly brothers – Kingpin (1996), There's Something About Mary (1998) and Fever Pitch (2005). Some of his other film credits included Groundhog Day (1993), The Rock (1996), Being John Malkovich (1999), Fortress 2: Re-Entry (2000), Out Cold (2001), Freaky Friday (2003), Just Like Heaven (2005), Little Manhattan (2005) and Labor Pains (2009).
Character actor Larry Gelman appeared as Vinnie, the poker playing friend of Oscar and Felix, on The Odd Couple and as Dr. Bernie Tupperman on The Bob Newhart Show. He died of complications from a fall on June 7, 2021. Mr. Gelman was 90.
Gelman appeared as Vinnie in 12 episodes of The Odd Couple from 1970 to 1974. He appeared as Dr. Bernie Tupperman in 13 episodes of The Bob Newhart Show from 1972 to 1976. He played Herbie Binder in six episodes of Maude from 1976 to 1978.
He starred as Max, the fabric cutter, on the short-lived 1973 NBC sitcom Needles and Pins. The series also starred Norman Fell, Louis Nye, Deirdre Lenihan, Sandra Deel, Bernie Kopell, Alex Henteloff and Milton Seltzer.
Gelman starred as Leo Gold on the short-lived 1978 ABC sitcom Free Country. The series also starred Rob Reiner, Judy Kahan, Fred McCarren, Renee Lippin and Joe Pantoliano.
He starred as Irv Schlosser on the short-lived 1990 CBS sitcom Grand Slam. The series also starred John Schneider, Paul Rodriguez, Abel Franco and Lupe Ontiveros.
Some of his many other sitcom guest appearances included I Dream of Jeannie, Occasional Wife, The Monkees, My Three Sons, Nanny and the Professor, The Flying Nun (2 episodes), The Doris Day Show (3 episodes), The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time (2 episodes), Barney Miller (4 episodes), The Facts of Life, Archie Bunker's Place (2 episodes), The Duck Factory, You Again?, What a Country, Mr. Belvedere (2 episodes), Night Court (3 episodes), Kirk, Weird Science, The Steve Harvey Show and Oliver Beene.
Richard Gilliland (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Character actor Richard Gilliland appeared as J.D. Shackelford on Designing Women. He died on March 18, 2021, following a short illness in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Gilliland was 71.
Gilliland starred as Lt. Nick Holden in the first season (1977-1978) of the ABC sitcom Operation Petticoat. Lt. Nick Holden was a wheeler-dealer supply officer. The first season also starred John Astin, Melinda Naud, Yvonne Wilder, Dorrie Thomson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bond Gideon, Richard Brestoff and Jim Varney.
He starred as Tom Stafford on the short-lived 1989 CBS sitcom Heartland. The series was about an old-fashioned farmer named B. L. McCutcheon (Brian Keith) moves in with his daughter (Katie Layman), son-in-law (Richard Gilliland) and their family. The series also starred Jason Kristofer, Devin Ratray and Daisy Keith.
Gilliand starred as Keith Barrow on the short-lived 1983 ABC sitcom Just Our Luck. Keith Barrow was a mild-mannered TV weatherman for KPOX-TV who frees a hip, fun-loving 3,000-year-old genie named Shabu (T.K. Carter) after being imprisoned in his bottle for nearly two centuries. The series also starred Ellen Maxted, Rod McCary, Richard Schaal, Hamilton Camp and Leonard Simon.
He had a recurring role as J.D. Shackelford on 14 episodes of the CBS sitcom Designing Women from 1986 to 1991. J.D. Shackelford was Mary Jo Shively's (Annie Potts) boyfriend who worked as a talent scout for the Atlanta Braves. Gilliland married Jean Smart (Charlene Frazier-Stillfield) in 1987. The series also starred Dixie Carter, Delta Burke (1986-1991), Meschach Taylor, Julia Duffy (Season 6), Jan Hooks (Seasons 6-7) and Judith Ivey (Season 7).
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Mary, Night Court, Valerie, Davis Rules and Becker.
He had a recurring role as Jeffrey Milgrom in seven episodes of thirtysomething from 1989 to 1990. Some of his television drama guest appearances from the 1970 and 1980s included The Streets of San Francisco, Medical Center, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Blue Knight, McMillan and Wife (as Sgt. Steve DiMaggio), Trapper John, M.D., The Waltons, Fantasy Island, Hotel, St. Elsewhere, Hunter, Hearbeat and Jake and the Fatman.
Some of his later guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Winnetka Road, Touched by an Angel, Dark Skies, Early Edition, The Practice, Party of Five, Judging Amy, Joan of Arcadia, Crossing Jordan, 24, Dexter, Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds and Imposters.
Arlene Golonka (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Arlene Golonka starred as Millie Swanson on Mayberry R.F.D.. She died on May 31, 2021, in her sleep at a memory care facility in West Hollywood, California, after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. Ms. Golonka was 85.
Golonka's early drama guest appearances included The United States Steel Hour, Naked City (2 episodes), The Defenders, The Doctors (5 episodes), The Doctors and the Nurses (3 episodes), The Big Valley (2 episodes) and I Spy.
Some of her early sitcom guest appearances included Car 54, Where Are You?, The Flying Nun, Accidental Family and Get Smart. She played Millie Hutchins in the eighth and final season of The Andy Griffith Show episodes "Howard's Main Event" and "Howard and Millie." She works at the bakery and becomes engaged to Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson) before they decide to break the engagement.
Her character was named Millie Swanson on The Andy Griffith Show spinoff series Mayberry R.F.D., which premiered on September 23, 1968. The 1968-1971 CBS sitcom aired for 3 seasons and 78 episodes. Millie Swanson was the love interest of Sam Jones (Ken Berry). The cast included Frances Bavier (1968-1970), George Lindsey, Jack Dodson, Paul Hartman, Buddy Foster and Alice Ghostley (1970-1971).
She starred as Stella Sweetzer in the second season of the short-lived 1978-1979 NBC sitcom Joe & Valerie. Stella Sweetzer was the mother of Valerie Sweetzer (Char Fontane). The season two cast included Paul Regina, Lloyd Alan, David Elliott, Donna Ponterotto, Robert Costanzo and Jack Riley.
Golonka appeared as Lieutenant Edwina “Eddie” Ferguson, an attractive but clumsy nurse, in the M*A*S*H episode "Edwina." She played Tina, an escort of one of Archie's old pals (Larry Storch), in the All in the Family episode "Oh Say Can You See." Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included That Girl (3 episodes), Love, American Style (3 episodes), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (2 episodes), The Girl with Something Extra, Maude (2 episodes), The Cop and the Kid (2 episodes), Alice, Carter Country, One Day at a Time, Taxi, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Gimme a Break!, Benson, Valerie, We Got It Made, Growing Pains (2 episodes), 1st & Ten (3 episodes) and Drexell's Class. Her final credit was a 2005 episode of The King of Queens.
Some of her drama guest appearances included Sarge, The Rookies, The F.B.I., Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1972), The Delphi Bureau, Young Dr. Kildare, Cannon, Faraday and Company, The Manhunter, Police Woman, Barnaby Jones (2 episodes), The Streets of San Francisco (2 episodes), The Rockford Files, Police Story, Trapper John, M.D., Fantasy Island (3 episodes), Simon & Simon, Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes), In the Heat of the Night and Matlock (2 episodes).
Her voice credits included Speed Buggy, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Scooby's Laff-A Lympics and The New Yogi Bear Show.
Some of her film credits included Harvey Middleman, Fireman (1965), Penelope (1966), The Busy Body (1967), Welcome to Hard Times (1967), Hang 'Em High (1968), Airport '77 (1977), The In-Laws (1979), Love at First Bite (1979), The Last Married Couple in America (1980), My Tutor (1983), The End of Innocence (1990) and A Family Affair (2001).
Charles Grodin (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor, comedian and television talk show host Charles Grodin was best known for his work in films such as The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run and Beethoven. He had a recurring role on Louie. He died from bone marrow cancer at his home in Wilton, Connecticut, on May 18, 2021. Mr. Grodin was 86.
Grodin had a recurring role in Louis C.K.'s FX show Louie as Dr. Bigelow, C.K.'s philosophical doctor and mentor in five episodes in seasons 4 and 5.
His sitcom guest apperances included My Mother the Car in 1965 and The Michael J. Fox Show in 2013. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special in 1978 for the Paul Simon Special alongside Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, and Lily Tomlin. He hosted The Charles Grodin Show on CNBC and MSNBC from 1995 to 1999.
Some of his film credits included The Heartbreak Kid (1972), King Kong (1976), Heaven Can Wait (1978), Real Life (1979), Seems Like Old Times (1980), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), Ishtar (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Beethoven (1992), Dave (1993), and Clifford (1994).
James Hampton (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor, director and screenwriter James Hampton starred as Private Hannibal Shirley Dobbs on F Troop. He died of complications from Parkinson's disease on April 7, 2021, at his home in Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Hampton was 84.
Hampton starred as Private Hannibal Shirley Dobbs on the 1965-1967 ABC sitcom F Troop. Private Hannibal Shirley Dobbs was F Troop's inept bugler, originally from New Orleans, who can only play "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixie" with regularity. The series also starred Ken Berry, Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Melody Patterson, Frank de Kova, Don Diamond, Bob Steele and Joe Brooks.
He appeared as Leroy B. Simpson, the handyman at the ranch, on the CBS sitcom The Doris Day Show. Hampton was a regular the first season (1968-1969) before appearing in one episode in season two and one episode in season three. The cast in the first season included Doris Day, Denver Pyle, Fran Ryan, Philip Brown, Todd Starke and Naomi Stevens.
Hampton starred as Len Weston on the short-lived 1981-1982 ABC sitcom Maggie. Len Weston was the husband of Maggie Weston (Miriam Flynn). He was vice principal of schools in Dayton, Ohio. The series also starred Doris Roberts, Judith-Marie Bergan, Margie Impert, Billy Jacoby (also known as Billy Jayne) and Christian Jacobs.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Who's the Boss?, Punky Brewster, She's the Sheriff, Mama's Family, Full House, Perfect Strangers, Newhart, Get a Life, Evening Shade, The Hogan Family, Hearts Afire, Hope and Gloria and Fired Up.
He later worked as a director for a number of sitcoms. His directing credits included Evening Shade (16 episodes), Hearts Afire (6 episodes), Kirk, Hudson Street, Boston Common (8 episodes), Grace Under Fire (4 episodes), Sister, Sister (9 episodes), The Tony Danza Show (2 episodes), Rude Awakening, Smart Guy (8 episodes), Katie Joplin, Linc's (3 episodes) and Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane (3 episodes).
Some of his drama guest appearances included Dr. Kildare, Death Valley Days, Gunsmkoke, Rawhide, The F.B.I., Mannix, The Rockford Files, The Dukes of Hazzard, Boone, The Greatest American Hero, Matt Houston, Simon & Simon, Murder, She Wrote and Melrose Place.
He starred as Caretaker in The Longest Yard (1974). He played Harold Howard, the father of Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) in Teen Wolf (1985). He voiced Harold Howard on the 1986-1987 animated Teen Wolf series. In 1987, he returned as Uncle Harold Howard in the sequel Teen Wolf Too. Some of his other film credits included Hawmps! (1976), The Cat from Outer Space (1978), The China Syndrome (1979), Condorman (1981), Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988) and Sling Blade (1996).
Bridget Hanley (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Bridget Hanley starred on Here Come the Brides and Harper Valley PTA. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and died on December 15, 2021, at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, California. Ms. Hanley was 80.
Hanley starred as Candy Pruitt on the 1968-1970 ABC comedy/adeventure series Here Come the Brides. Hanley's character was the love interest of Jeremy Bolt, played by teen heartthrob Bobby Sherman. The cast included Robert Brown, David Soul, Joan Blondell, Mark Lenard, Bo Svensen, Susan Tolsky, Henry Blackman, Mitzi Hoag, Hoke Howell, Eric Chase (1969-1970) and Patti Cohoon (1969-1970).
She appeared as Wanda Reilly Taylor on the 1981-1982 NBC sitcom Harper Valley PTA. The cast included Barbara Eden, Jenn Thompson, Anne Francine, Fannie Flagg, George Gobel, Suzi Dean, Rod McCary and Christopher Stone.
Some of her sitcom guest appearnaces included Hank, Gidget, The Farmer's Daughter, Love on a Rooftop, Bewitched, Occasional Wife, I Dream of Jeannie, The Second Hundred Years, The Odd Couple, Nanny and the Professor, Love, American Style (4 episodes), Welcome Back, Kotter (1975) and Mama's Family.
Actress Magda Harout made guest appearances on The Nanny and many other sitcoms. She died in California on September 9, 2021. Ms. Harout was 95.
Harout guest starred as Madam Moleska in one episode and as Sarah in two episodes of The Nanny from 1993 to 1997. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included I Dream of Jeannie, Family Affair, Mr. Terrific, Mr. Belvedere, Gimme a Break! (3 episodes), The New Gidget, Punky Brewster, Mama's Family, Webster, The Golden Girls, The Famous Teddy Z, Night Court, Newhart, The Family Man, Seinfeld, Blossom, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Bless This House, The Crew, Caroline in the City, Complete Savages and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Cynthia Harris (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Cynthia Harris appeared as Sylvia Buchman on Mad About You and starred in several short-lived sitcoms. She died on October 3, 2021, in New York City. She had suffered from Type 1 diabetes for much of her life. Ms. Harris was 87.
Harris starred as Maureen O'Connor, a court clerk, on the short-lived 1976-1977 NBC sitcom Sirota's Court. The series also starred Michael Constantine, Kathleen Miller, Fred Willard, Ted Ross and Owen Bush.
She starred as Paula Zuckerman on the short-lived 1978 CBS sitcom Husbands, Friends & Lovers. The series also starred Jesse Welles, Ron Rifkin, Stephen Pearlman, Eddie Barth, Lynne Marie Stewart, Mark Lonow, Randee Heller, Charles Siebert and Claudette Nevins.
Harris starred as Sheila Hufnagel on the short-lived 1989-1990 NBC sitcom Ann Jillian. The series also starred Ann Jillian, Lisa Rieffel, Amy Lynne, Zachary Rosencrantz, Noble Willingham and Chantel Rivera-Batisse.
She had a recurring role as Sylvia Buchman, Paul Buchman's (Paul Reiser) mother, in 71 episodes of the NBC sitcom Mad About You from 1993 to 1999. She reprised the role in two episodes of the limited series revival in 2019.
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Bob Newhart Show, On the Rocks, Three's Company, Benson, Archie Bunker's Place, Everything's Relative, Kate & Allie and The Geena Davis Show.
Actress Billie Hayes was best known for her comic portrayal of Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo on NBC's Sid and Marty Krofft television series H.R. Pufnstuf, as well as in the 1970 film Pufnstuf based on the series. She died of natural causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, on April 29, 2021. Ms. Hayes was 96.
She played Weenie the Genie on ABC's 1971-1973 Sid and Marty Krofft television series Lidsville.
Her sitcom guest appearances included The Monkees, Bewitched and Tabitha. Some of her television guest appearances included Trapper John, M.D., Murder, She Wrote and General Hospital.
Actress Gloria Henry starred as Alice Mitchell on Dennis the Menace. She died on April 3, 2021, the day after her 98th birthday, at her home in Los Angeles, California.
Henry starred as Michele "Mike" Malone on the 1954-1955 syndicated crime drama The Files of Jeffrey Jones. Jeffrey Jones (Don Haggerty) was a New York City private investigator working his way through law school. Michele "Mike" Malone was an impulsive newspaper reporter who often had to be rescued by Jones while she was trying to help with his investigations.
She starred as Alice Mitchell on the 1959-1963 CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace. Alice Mitchell was the mother of Dennis (Jay North) and the wife of Henry Mitchell (Herbert Anderson). The series ran for four seasons and 146 episodes. The cast included Joseph Kearns (1959-1962), Sylvia Field (1959-1962), Jeannie Russell, Gil Smith (1959-1960), Irene Tedrow, Billy Booth, Gale Gordon (1962-1963), Sara Seegar (1962-1963), Willard Waterman, Mary Wickes (1959-1962), Kathleen Mulqueen (1961), George Cisar (1960-1963) and Robert John Pittman (1961-1963).
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included My Little Margie, The Abbott and Costello Show, Father Knows Best, The Life of Riley, Hazel, The Farmer's Daughter, The Brady Brides, Newhart, Silver Spoons, Easy Street, Mr. Belvedere and Doogie Howser, M.D.. Her final television credit was as Mary-Elizabeth Clinch on the 2012 Parks and Recreation episode "Campaign Shake-Up."
Her drama guest appearances included Fireside Theatre, The Ford Television Theatre, TV Reader's Digest, Navy Log, Perry Mason, The Walter Winchell File, Tales of Wells Fargo, Broken Arrow, Rescue 8, Alcoa Theatre, The Thin Man, Bare Essence, Simon & Simon, Our House, Dragnet (1989), Dallas and Sisters. Some of her film credits included Sport of the Kings (1947), Keeper of the Bees (1947), The Strawberry Roan (1948), Triple Threat (1948), Racing Luck (1948), Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), Riders in the Sky (1949), Kill the Umpire (1950) and Rancho Notorious (1952). Her final film credit was as Mrs. Porter in Her Minor Thing (2005).
Actor Gerald Hiken was a frequent guest star on Car 54, Where Are You? and made many other sitcom guest appearances. He died on January 6, 2021, in San Francisco, California. Mr. Hiken was 93.
Hiken made seven guest appearances as Katz the Butcher and various characters on Car 54, Where Are You? from 1961 to 1963. The show was created by his cousin Nat Hiken.
He appeared as Dennis, the father of executive Martin Teale, in two episodes of Cheers in 1988. Some of his other sitcom guest appearancs included The Phil Silvers Show, The Farmer's Daughter, Occasional Wife, Getting Together, The Partridge Family (2 episodes), Maude (2 episodes), All in the Family, Carter Country, Gloria, Three's Company, 1st & Ten, Newhart and Who's the Boss?
Some of his drama guest appearances included Naked City, The Defenders, Mission: Impossible, McMillan & Wife, McCloud, Bonanza, S.W.A.T., Tales of the Gold Monkey, Simon & Simon, Whiz Kids, Remington Steele, St. Elsewhere and Matlock.
Basil Hoffman (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Basil Hoffman played Principal Dingleman on the 1982-1983 CBS sitcom Square Pegs. He died on September 17, 2021. Mr. Hoffman was 83.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Sanford and Son (2 episodes), Barney Miller, M*A*S*H (2 episodes), Out of the Blue, Park Place, Here's Boomer, Maggie (1982), Ace Crawford... Private Eye, Gimme a Break!, Night Court, Too Close for Comfort, It's a Living, You Again?, Small Wonder, 227, Babes and Seinfeld.
Hal Holbrook (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Emmy-winning actor Hal Holbrook starred as Evan Evans in Evening Shade. He died on January 23, 2021, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. Mr. Holbrook was 95.
Holbrook had a recurring role as Reese Watson in nine episodes of the CBS sitcom Designing Women from 1986 to 1989. Reese Watson was a widowed and successful Atlanta attorney who was Julia Sugarbaker's (Dixie Carter) love interest. Holbrook was married in real life to Dixie Carter from 1984 until her death in 2010.
He starred as Evan Evans in the 1990-1994 CBS sitcom Evening Shade. Evan Evans was the father of Ava Evans Newton (Marilu Henner). He was the publisher of the local newspaper, The Evening Shade Argus. The series also starred Burt Reynolds, Ossie Davis, Charles Durning, Elizabeth Asheley, Michael Jeter, Jay R. Ferguson, Melissa Martin (1990-1991), Candace Hutson (1991-1994), Jacob Parker, Charlie Dell and Ann Wedgeworth.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included Becker, Good Morning Miami and Hope & Faith.
Holbrook starred as Sen. Hayes Stowe in the 1970-1971 NBC political drama The Bold Ones: The Senator. He won an Emmy Award for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series for the role. He had a recurring role as James Dempsey in the NBC series The Event from 2010 to 2011. Some of his other television credits included The Brighter Day, The Name of the Game, The Outer Limits (2000), Family Law, The West Wing, The Sopranos, NCIS, ER, Sons of Anarchy, Bones, Grey's Anatomy and Hawaii Five-0.
He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ron Franz in Into the Wild (2007). Some of his other film credits included All the President's Men (1971), Julia (1977), The Fog (1980), Creepshow (1982), Wall Street (1987), The Firm (1993), Hercules (1997) and Men of Honor (2000).
Sound designer Sondra James worked on Sex and the City, Bored to Death and Alpha House. She died at her home in New York City on September 12, 2021, from lung cancer, which had been diagnosed five months earlier. Ms. James was 82.
Some of her other credits included The Philanthropist, Damages, Boardwalk Empire, Smash and Royal Pains.
Actress Amy Johnston starred on Brothers and Sisters in 1979. She died on March 17, 2021, in West Fork, Arkansas, after a long battle with cancer. Ms. Johnston was 66.
Johnston starred as Mary Lee on the short-lived 1979 NBC sitcom Brothers and Sisters. The series attempted to capitalize on the success of the 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House. It also starred Chris Lemmon, Randy Brooks, Jon Cutler, Larry Anderson, Mary Crosby, Roy Teicher, William Windom and Susan Cotten.
She guest starred as Cassy in the two-part episode "Barbarino's in Love" of Welcome, Back Kotter in 1977. Some of her other television guest appearances included Charlie's Angels, Cagney & Lacey and Highway to Heaven. She starred as Cindy Lou in the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story.
Television writer Bernie Kahn worked on The Addams Family, Get Smart, Bewitched and Three's Company. He died on April 21, 2021, at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. Mr. Kahn was 90.
Kahn's sitcom writing credits in the 1960s included My Favorite Martian, The Smothers Brothers Show (aka My Brother the Angel), My Mother the Car, The Lucy Show, The Addams Family, Petticoat Junction (2 episodes), Hank, Get Smart, Bewitched (15 episodes from 1967 to 1972), Occasional Wife, The Second Hundred Years, The Ugliest Girl in Town and The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
He co-created the short-lived 1978-1979 NBC sitcom Joe & Valerie with Ronald Rubin. Some of his sitcom writing credits in the 1970s included My World and Welcome to It, Nanny and the Professor, Make Room for Granddaddy, The Good Life, Love, American Style (3 episodes), The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Room 222 (2 episodes), The Paul Lynde Show, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Maude, Chico and the Man, Viva Valdez (2 episodes), The Practice (3 episodes), Tabitha (also an executive story consultant), Three's Company, The Love Boat and Brothers and Sisters.
Kahn received two Writers Guild Award nominations for Episodic Comedy for Get Smart in 1968 and My World and Welcome to It in 1971. He penned more than 100 episodes of television series during his career, which spanned from the 1960s to the 1990s.
He co-wrote the 1971 Disney television movie The Barefoot Executive with Joseph McEveety, Lila Garrett and Stu Billett. He wrote the 1985 comedy film Basic Training.
Irma Kalish (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Television producer and writer Irma Kalish worked on F Troop, Family Affair, Maude, All in the Family, Good Times, Too Close for Comfort, The Facts of Life and 227. She died on September 3, 2021, from complications of pneumonia at the Motion Picture & Television Fund cottages in Woodland Hills, California. Ms. Kalish was 96.
Kalish married her husband and writing partner Austin "Rocky" Kalish in 1948. Their writing careers began on radio for The Martin and Lewis Show, which starred Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Some of her early sitcom writing credits included The Millionaire, The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, Gidget, My Favorite Martian, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, The Hero, That Girl, F Troop (8 episodes), He & She, The Flying Nun, Family Affair (22 episodes, also a story consultant for 41 episodes) and My Three Sons (8 episodes).
They wrote the 1972 two-part Maude episode titled "Maude's Dilemma," in which Maude contemplates an abortion. They worked on four episodes of All in the Family, including "Gloria the Victim," in which Gloria is the victim of an attempted rape and "Edith's Christmas Story," in which Edith has a breast cancer scare. Some of her other 1970s writing credits included Nanny and the Professor, Anna and the King, The Bob Newhart Show, The Brian Keith Show, Dusty's Trail, Good Heavens, Good Times and Carter Country.
Some of her 1980s writing credits included Too Close for Comfort (8 episodes), Foot in the Door, Oh Madeline, The Facts of Life, 227 and Sugar and Spice (also one of the creators). She was one of the writers of the 1985 TV movie I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later.
Irma and Rocky produced 48 episodes of Good Times from 1976 to 1978. They produced 40 episodes of Too Close for Comfort from 1980 to 1982. She was an executive producer of 46 episodes The Facts of Life for the final two seasons from 1986 to 1988. She was interviewed for the E! True Hollywood Story on The Facts of Life in 1999. Irma was an executive producer of 39 episodes of 227 from 1988 to 1990. Some of her other producing credits included Good Heavens, Carter Country, Out of the Blue (1979), Foot in the Door, Oh Madeline and The Hogan Family.
Larry King (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Television and radio host Larry King hosted Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years. He died on January 23, 2021, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, from sepsis as a complication of COVID-19. Mr. King was 87.
King was a WMBM radio interviewer in the Miami area in the 1950s and 1960s. He gained prominence beginning in 1978 as host of The Larry King Show, an all-night nationwide call-in radio program heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
He started hosting the CNN nightly interview television program Larry King Live on June 3, 1985. The program ran for 20 seasons and over 6,000 episodes until it ended on December 16, 2010. It became the longest-running television show hosted by the same person, on the same network and in the same time slot. He won a Peabody Award in 1992, an Emmy in 1999 and ten Cable ACE Awards for Best Interviewer and for Best Talk Show Series. He later hosted Larry King Now on Ora TV, Hulu and RT America from 2012 to 2020.
King made many television guest appearances, in which he usually played himself. Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Larry Sanders Show, Coach, Bonnie, Murphy Brown (2 episodes), Spin City, Frasier, Arli$$, Fat Actress, 30 Rock and 1600 Penn. He provided his voice in two episodes of The Simpsons and two episodes of Gravity Falls. He played himself in episodes of Law & Order: Trial by Jury in 2005, Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2006 and The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story in 2016.
His film credits included Ghostbusters (1984) and Enemy of the State (1998). He voiced Bee Larry King in the 2007 computer-animated comedy film Bee Movie.
Character actor Bruce Kirby appeared as Officer Kissel in Car 54, Where Are You?, starred in several short-lived sitcoms and made many sitcom guest appearances. He died in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2021. Mr. Kirby was 95.
Kirby had a recurring role as Office Kissel in the 1961-1963 NBC sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?. The cast included Joe E. Ross, Fred Gwynne, Bea Pons, Paul Reed, Albert Henderson, Nipsey Russell, Joe Warren, Al Lewis, Hank Garrett and Charlotte Rae.
He starred as Capt. Harry Sedford in the short-lived 1976 ABC sitcom Holmes and Yoyo. The series follows Detective Alexander Holmes (Richard B. Schull) and his new android partner Yoyo (John Schuck), on their adventures and misadventures, as Holmes teaches Yoyo what it is like to be human, while trying to keep his quirky partner's true nature a secret from criminals and fellow cops.
Kirby starred as Al Brennan in the short-lived 1979 NBC sitcom Turnabout. Al Brennan was the boss of sportswriter Sam Alston (John Schuck). The series also starred Sharon Gless, Richard Stahl, Bobbi Jordan and James Sikking.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances in the 1960s and 1970s included The Phil Silvers Show, The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Mothers-in-Law, Hogan's Heroes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Coursthip of Eddie's Father, Room 222, The Doris Day Show, Me and the Chimp, The Bob Newhart Show, Chico and the Man, Operation Petticoat, Alice and Barney Miller.
Some of his 1980s and 1990s sitcom guest appearances included Park Place, Three's a Crowd, Night Court, Punky Brewster, Anything But Love (4 episodes as Leo Miller), Have Faith, It's Garry Shandling's Show, The Fanelli Boys, The Golden Girls, Madman of the People, Bless This House, The Single Guy, Murphy Brown and Caroline in the City. He appeared in a 2007 episode of Scrubs.
Kirby had several roles in the long-running series Columbo from 1973 to 1995, most notably as the gullible Sergeant George Kramer in six episodes. He starred as Inspector Schmidt in the 1981-1982 CBS police drama Shannon. He played District Attorney Bruce Rogoff in 13 episodes of L.A. Law from 1986 until 1991.
Actress Tawny Kitaen starred as Mona Loveland on The New WKRP in Cincinnati. She died at her Newport Beach, California, home on May 7, 2021. The cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, a common type of heart disease. Ms. Kitaen was 59.
Kitaen starred as night-time DJ Mona Loveland on the 1991-1993 syndicated sitcom The New WKRP in Cincinnati. The cast included Gordon Jump, Richard Sanders, Frank Bonner, Mykel T. Williamson, Michael Des Barres, Hope Alexander-Willis, Lightfield Lewis, Wendy Davis, John Chappell, Marla Jeannette Rubinoff and Frenh Stewart.
She guest starred as Isabel in the 1991 Seinfeld episode "The Nose Job" and as Dominque in the 1994 Married with Children episode "Shoeway to Heaven." She was a co-host of America's Funiest People from 1992 to 1994.
Some of her film credits included The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak (1984), Bachelor Party (1984) and the horror film Witchboard (1986). She was also known for her appearances in heavy metal music videos, including Ratt's "Back for More" (1984) and Whitesnake's "Still of the Night" and "Here I Go Again" (both 1987).
Cloris Leachman (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Emmy and Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman starred as Phyllis Lindstrom in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Phyllis and as Beverly Ann Stickle in The Facts of Life. She died on January 27, 2021, at her home in Encinitas, California. The cause of death was a stroke with reports that COVID-19 was a contributing factor. Ms. Leachman was 94.
Leachman's early television credits included Actor's Studio, Kraft Theatre, Bob and Ray, Suspense, Danger and The Philco Television Playhouse. She starred as Effie Perrine in the detective drama Charlie Wild, Private Detective from 1950 to 1952. She played Ruth Martin, Timmy's (Jon Provost) adoptive mother, in 28 episodes of the fourth season of Lassie from 1957 to 1958. Some of her other guest appearances from the 1950s and 1960s included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Thriller, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, 77 Sunset Strip, Dr. Kildare, Perry Mason, The Virginian, Adam-12 and Mannix.
She played Phyllis Lindstrom, the downstairs landlady and snobbish friend of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), in 35 episodes of the CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1975 (and the final episode in 1977). Phyllis was a recurring character in the first two seasons. She was the mother of Bess (Lisa Gerritsen). Leachman won Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in Comedy in 1974 and for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series in 1975. She also appeared as Phyllis in the one-hour episode Rhoda titled "Rhoda's Wedding" in 1974. The Mary Tyler Moore Show also starred Edward Asner, Ted Knight, Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Georgia Engel (1973-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).
Leachman continued the role of Phyllis Lindstrom in the spin-off series Phyllis. The CBS sitcom ran for two seasons from 1975 to 1977. Phyllis and her daughter Bess Lindstrom moved from Minneapolis to San Francisco, after the death of her husband, Dr. Lars Lindstrom. Leachman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1976, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1976. The series also starred Liz Torres (1975-1976), Richard Schaal (1975-1976), Jane Rose, Henry Jones, Judith Lowry, John Lawlor (1976-1977), Garn Stephens (1976-1977), Carmine Caridi (1976-1977), Burt Mustin (1976) and Craig Watson (1977).
She starred as Beverly Ann Stickle, Edna Garrett's (Charlotte Rae) sister, in the final two seasons of the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life from 1986 to 1988. The character of Beverly Ann had a similar personality to Leachman's previous Emmy-winning role as Phyllis Lindstrom. Beverly Ann later legally adopted Over Our Heads worker Andy Moffett (Mackenzie Astin). The cast in the final seasons included Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Nancy McKeon, George Clooney (Seasons 7-8) and Sherrie Krenn (Season 9).
Leachman starred as Ms. Frick and Mrs. Edwina Nutt (in the pilot episode) in the short-lived 1989 NBC sitcom The Nutt House. Ms. Frick was the head of housekeeping at Nutt House, a once-prestigious New York City hotel. The Mel Brooks and Alan Spencer produced series also starred Harvey Korman, Mark Blankfield, Brian McNamara, Molly Hagan and Gregory Itzin.
She starred as Emily Collins, the wife of Walter Collins (Brian Keith), in the short-lived 1991-1992 NBC sitcom Walter and Emily. They were the parents of Matt Collins (Christopher McDonald) and grandparents of 11-year-old Zach (Matthew Lawrence). The cast included Edna Gross, Sandy Baron and Shelley Berman.
Leachman played Grammy Winthrop in the short-lived 1999 CBS sitcom Thanks. The program explores the trials and tribulations of the Winthrops, a 17th-century Puritan family, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The series also starred Tim Dalton, Kirsten Nelson, Erika Christensen, Amy Centner, Andrew Ducote, Jim Rash, Keith Szarabajka and Robert Machray.
She played the recurring role of Grandma Ida in 11 episodes of the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle from 2001 to 2006. Ida was Lois Wilkerson's (Jane Kaczmarek) tyrannical mother. Leachman won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2002 and 2006.
Leachman starred as Dot Richmond in the 2001-2002 CBS sitcom The Ellen Show. Dot Richmond was the eccentric mother of Ellen Richmond (Ellen DeGeneres). The series also starred Martin Mull, Jim Gaffigan, Emily Rutherford, Diane Delano and Kerri Kenney.
She starred as Barbara June "Maw Maw" Thompson in 2010 to 2014 Fox sitcom Raising Hope. She was Virginia's (Martha Plimpton) 84-year-old grandmother, Jimmy's (Lucas Neff) great-grandmother, and Hope's (Baylie and Rylie Cregut) great-great-grandmother. The series also starred Garret Dillahunt, Shannon Woodward and Gregg Binkley.
Leachman reunited with her The Mary Tyler Moore Show cast members Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper and Georgia Engel in a 2013 episode of the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included The Donna Reed Show, That Girl, The Love Boat, The Associates, Ferris Bueller, The Powers That Be, The Nanny, Maybe This Time, Norm, Love & Money, Happy Family, Two and a Half Men, The Office, Blue Mountain State, Kirstie, The Millers, Girl Meets World and Teachers. Some of her voice credits included The Simpsons, Phineas and Ferb, Bob's Burgers, Creative Galaxy, Justice League Action and Elena of Avalor.
She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ruth Popper, the jaded wife of a closeted schoolteacher in the 1950s, in the 1971 film The Last Picture Show. She appeared in the Mel Brooks' films Young Frankenstein (1974) as Frau Blücher, High Anxiety (1977) as Charlotte Diesel and History of the World, Part I (1981) as Madame Defarge. Some of her other film credits included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), WUSA (1970), Yesterday (1981), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Now and Then (1995), Bad Santa (2003), Spanglish (2004), Mrs. Harris (2005) and New York, I Love You (2008).
Norman Lloyd (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Actor, producer and director Norman Lloyd was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Daniel Auschlander on the medical drama St. Elsewhere. He starred in the short-lived sitcom Home Fires. He died of natural causes in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles, California, on the morning of May 11, 2021. Mr. Lloyd was 106.
Lloyd starred as Dr. Daniel Auschlander on the 1982-1988 NBC medical drama St. Elswhere. He appeared in 132 of the 137 episodes during the show's six season run.
He starred as Dr. Frederick Marcus on the short-lived 1992 NBC sitcom Home Fires, which was from the producers of St. Elsewhere. It also starred Kate Burton, Nicole Eggert, Jarrad Paul, Alice Hirson and Tyagi Schwartz.
His sitcom guest appearances included Wings in 1996 and Modern Family in 2010.
Actress Betty Lynn was best known for her role as Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show. She died on October 16, 2021, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, after a brief illness. Ms. Lynn was 95.
Lynn's first sitcom starring role was as June on the first season of the ABC sitcom Where's Raymond? from 1953 to 1954. June was the wife of Jonathan (Allyn Joslyn) and mother of Ginny (Frances Karath). The series was renamed The Ray Bolger Show for the second season. The Where's Raymond? cast included Ray Bolger, Richard Erdman and Sylvia Lewis.
She played Pearl on the short-lived 1958 ABC sitcom Love That Jill. Pearl was the secretary of Jack Gibson (Robert Sterling). The cast included Anne Jeffreys, James Lydon, Polly Rose, Barbara Nichols, Nancy Hadley and Kay Elhardt.
Lynn appeared in the recurring role as Thelma Lou, Deputy Barney Fife's (Don Knotts) girlfriend, on the CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. She appeared as Barney's sweetheart in 26 episodes from 1961 to 1966. She reprised the role in the 1986 NBC TV reunion movie Return to Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show cast included Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Francis Bavier, Elinor Donahue (1960-1961), Jim Nabors (1963-1964), George Lindsey (1965-1968), Aneta Corsaut (1964-1968), Howard McNear, Jack Dodson (1966-1968), Hal Smith (1960-1967) and Jack Burns (1965-1966).
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Gale Storm Show (aka Oh, Susanna), The Farmer's Daughter, The Smothers Brothers Show (aka My Brother the Angel), Family Affair (4 episodes as Miss Lee) and My Three Sons (1 episode as Lois Bradley, 6 episodes as Janet/Janice Dawson).
She appeared as Viola Slaughter on eight episodes of the ABC western Texas John Slaughter from 1959 to 1960. Some of her drama guest appearances included M Squad, Lawman, Wagon Train, Bronco, Sugarfoot, Tales of Wells Fargo, National Velvet, Mod Squad, Little House on the Prairie, Police Story, Barnaby Jones and Matlock (4 episodes as Sarah).
Lynn appeared in many films during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of her credits included Sitting Pretty (1948), June Bride (1948), Mother is a Freshman (1949), Cheaper by the Dozen (1950), Payment on Demand (1951) and Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956).
Norm Macdonald (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor Norm Macdonald starred as Norm Henderson on The Norm Show (aka Norm). He died on September 14, 2021, from acute leukemia at a hospital in Pasadena, California. He had been diagnosed nine years prior, though he disclosed his diagnosis to only a few close friends and family members. Mr. Macdonald was 61.
Macdonald's early television appearances included a 1990 episode of Star Search as a stand-up comedy competitor and a 1991 episode of the HBO stand-up series One Night Stand. He worked as a writer for The Dennis Miller Show in 1992. He worked as a story editor on four episodes and wrote two episodes of Roseanne in 1992 and 1993. In 1993, he guest starred on an episode of The Jackie Thomas Show.
He was hired as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1993. He spent a total of five seasons on the show until 1998. He was the anchor of the Weekend Update segment starting in 1994 for three and a half seasons. Some of his impressions included Larry King, Burt Reynolds, David Letterman, Quentin Tarantino, Charles Kuralt and Bob Dole. He returned to host the October 23, 1999, show. He reappeared as Burt Reynolds on Celebrity Jeopardy! on the May 16, 2009, show.
Macdonald starred as Norm Henderson on the 1999-2001 ABC sitcom The Norm Show (later shortened to Norm). Norm Henderson is a former NHL hockey player who is banned for life from the league because of gambling and tax evasion. He avoided jail time by agreeing to five years of community service as a full-time social worker. The first season aired as The Norm Show before they shortened the title to Norm in season two to avoid a legal conflict with Michael Jantze's comic strip The Norm. Macdonald also worked as a producer for the series, which aired for 3 seasons and 54 episodes. The cast included Laurie Metcalf, Ian Gomez, Amy Wilson (season 1), Bruce Jarchow (season 1), Max Wright, Faith Ford (seasons 2-3), Artie Lange (seasons 2-3) and Nikki Cox (recurring).
He next starred as Stan Hooper on the short-lived 2003 Fox sitcom A Minute with Stan Hooper. Stan Hooper is a famous newspaper columnist turned television commentator. He moves his family from their New York home to a small Wisconsin town, Waterford Falls, where he hopes to better get in touch with Middle America in an attempt to make his weekly minute-long television commentaries more appealing to a larger audience. Macdonald also worked as an executive producer for the series. They produced 13 episodes, although only 6 episodes were aired. The cast included Penelope Ann Miller, Brian Howe, Eric Lively, Reagan Dale Neis, Garret Dillahunt, Daniel Roebuck and Fred Willard.
Macdonald had a recurring role as Orville "Rusty" Heck, Mike's (Neil Flynn) irresponsible, dim-witted but well meaning brother, on ten episodes of the ABC sitcom The Middle from 2010 to 2018. Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Larry Sanders Show, The Drew Carey Show (2 episodes), NewsRadio, Oliver Beene, My Name Is Earl (2 episodes), Real Rob and Girlboss (3 episodes). He worked as a consultin producer on Roseanne in 2018.
He was also known for his voice work. He voiced the character of Lucky the Dog in Dr. Dolittle (1998), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006), Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008) and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts (2009). He provided the voice of Pigeon on Mike Tyson Mysteries from 2014 to 2020. He voiced Glumshanks on Skylanders Academy from 2016 to 2018. Macdonald was the voice of Lieutenant Yaphit, an amorphous, gelatinous, shapeshifting engineer on The Orville from 2017 to 2019. His other voice credits included Family Guy (2 episodes) and The Fairly OddParents (2 episodes).
He hosted Sports Show with Norm Macdonald on Comedy Central in 2011. He co-hosted the podcast Norm Macdonald Live with Adam Eget for three seasons from 2013 to 2017. They worked again on Netflix's Norm Macdonald Has a Show in 2018.
Macdonald co-wrote and starred as Mitch Weaver in the 1998 film Dirty Work. Some of his other film credits included Billy Madison (1995), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Man on the Moon (1999) and Screwed (2000). He made cameos in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999), The Animal (2001), Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005), Funny People (2009), Grown Ups (2010), Jack & Jill (2011) and The Ridiculous Six (2015).
Gavin MacLeod (IMDB/Wikipedia//The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Actor Gavin MacLeod starred as Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and as Captain Merrill Stubing on The Love Boat. He died on May 29, 2021, at his home in Palm Desert, California, after a period of ill health. No cause of death was given. Mr. MacLeod was 90.
MacLeod made his television debut in 1957 on the crime drama The Walter Winchell File. Some of his early drama guest appearances included The Thin Man, U.S. Marshal, Steve Canyon, Manhunt, Peter Gunn (2 episodes), Mr. Lucky (2 episodes), Men Into Space, The Untouchables (5 episodes), Dr. Kildare, Death Valley Days (2 episodes), Perry Mason (3 episodes), Rawhide, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Ben Casey, The Rat Patrol, Combat!, Death Valley Days (2 episodes), The Big Valley (3 episodes), It Takes a Thief (3 episodes) and Hawaii Five-0 (2 episodes).
His first sitcom starring role was as Joseph "Happy" Haines on the ABC sitcom McHale's Navy. He appeared on the show for the first two seasons from 1962 to 1964 before leaving to appear in the film The Sand Pebbles (1966). He also played Seaman Joseph Haines in the films McHale's Navy (1964) and McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force (1965). The series cast in the first two seasons included Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, Tim Conway, Carl Ballantine, Gary Vinson, Billy Sands, Edson Stroll, Jane Dulo (1962-1964) and Yoshio Yoda.
MacLeod's breakout role was as Murray Slaughter on the 1970-1977 CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran for 7 seasons and 168 episodes. Murray Slaughter was the head writer of WJM-TV's Six O'Clock News in Minneapolis. MacLeod received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor in 1975 and 1977 for the role. The series also starred Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Cloris Leachman (1970-1975), Georgia Engel (1972-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).
He next starred as Captain Merrill Stubing on the 1977-1986 ABC sitcom The Love Boat, which ran for 9 seasons and 250 episodes. Merrill Stubing was the captain of the luxury passenger cruise ship MS Pacific Princess. MacLeod received three Golden Globe nominations for the role in 1979, 1981 and 1982. The series also starred Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, Ted Lange, Lauren Tewes (1977-1984), Jill Whelan (1979-1986), Pat Klous (1984-1986) and Ted McGinley (1984-1986). MacLeod reprised the role of Captain Merrill Stubing in a 1998 episode of Love Boat: The Next Wave.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Andy Griffith Show (2 episodes), My Favorite Martian (2 episodes), The Flying Nun, Hogan's Heroes (4 episodes), Love, American Style (1974), Rhoda (as Murray Slaughter), The King of Queens (2 episodes), That '70s Show (2 episodes) and The Suite Life on Deck (2 episodes).
Some of his other drama guest appearances included Wonder Woman, Charlie's Angels, Hotel, Murder, She Wrote (1990), Burke's Law, Oz, JAG and Touched by an Angel.
MacLeod's first credited film role was as The Lieutenant in I Want to Live! (1958). Some of his other film credits included Operation Petticoat (1959), Twelve Hours to Kill (1960), The Sword of Ali Baba (1965), The Sand Pebbles (1966), A Man Called Gannon (1968), The Thousand Plane Raid (1969) and Kelly's Heroes (1970).
Stand-up comedian and actor starred as Jackie Fisher on Chicken Soup. He died on July 24, 2021, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan after being hospitalized for over two weeks. Mr. Mason was 93.
Mason starred as Jackie Fisher, a New York Jewish man who falls in love with an Irish Catholic woman (Lynn Redgrave), to the intense disapproval of their families on the short-lived 1989 ABC sitcom Chicken Soup. It also starred Rita Karin, Kathryn Erbe, Johnny Pinto, Alisan Porter, Grandon Maggart and Cathy Lind Hayes.
He appeared as himself in a 2007 episode of 30 Rock. He provided the voice of Rabbi Hyman Krustofski for ten episodes of The Simpsons from 1991 to 2019. He won a 1992 Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for the role, shared with five of the show's regular cast members.
He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for his 1988 HBO special The World According to Me! (also known as Jackie Mason on Broadway).
Actor Eddie Mekka was best known for his role as Carmine Ragusa on Laverne & Shirley. He died in Newhall, California, on November 27, 2021. Mr. Mekka was 69.
Mekka starred as Carmine Ragusa on the 1976-1983 ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley. He appeared in 150 of the 178 episodes during the show's eight seasons. Carmine was Shirley's (Cindy Williams) high-school sweetheart and on-again, off-again romance. He was known by the name "The Big Ragoo" and was a part-time boxer and former Golden Gloves champion. He owns a dance studio and was constantly working to make it big as a dancer and singer. Mekka appeared as Carmine Ragusa in two episodes of Happy Days. The cast of Laverne & Shirley also included Penny Marshall, Michael McKean, David L. Lander, Phil Foster, Betty Garrett (1976-1981), Carole Ita White (1976-1977), Ed Marinaro (1980-1981) and Leslie Easterbrook (1980-1983).
He starred as Joey DeLuca on the short-lived 1977 ABC sitcom Blansky's Beauties. Joey DeLuca was the choreographer of the Las Vegas showgirls' big numbers at the Oasis Hotel. He was a younger cousin to Carmine Ragusa, Mekka's 1950s-era character on Laverne & Shirley. The Garry Marshall created and produced series also starred Nancy Walker, Caren Kaye, Lynda Goodfriend, Johnny Desmond, Scott Baio, George Pentecost, Taaffe O'Connell, Rhonda Bates, Bond Gideon, Gerri Reddick, Shirley Kirkes, Antoinette Yuskis, Jill Owens, Elaine Bolton and Pat Morita.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat (3 episodes), The Munsters Today, Family Matters (2 episodes), California Dreams, Dream On, Weird Science, The Jamie Foxx Show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Pastor Greg (2 episodes) and Childrens Hospital.
Some of his drama guest appearances included Fantasy Island (4 episodes), Moonlighting, True Blue, The Big Easy, Power Rangers Wild Force, 24, Crossing Jordan and ER. His soap opera guest appearances included Guiding Light, The Bold and the Beautiful, Sunset Beach and The Young and the Restless.
He had a small role as the dance partner of Mae (Madonna) in the bar in the 1992 film A League of Their Own, which was directed by Penny Marshall. Some of his other film credits included Top of the World (1997), Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), Dreamgirls (2006) and C Me Dance (2009). He played Detective Murdoch in the 1998 Fox television movie Catch Me If You Can.
Mekka was also known for his theater work. He was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for The Lieutenant. He performed in Hairspray at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada and in a national tour of Grease with Cindy Williams.
Wendel Meldrum (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Wendel Meldrum starred in Pursuit of Happiness and had a recurring role as Miss White/Mrs. Heimer in The Wonder Years. She died after a short illness on January 27, 2021. Ms. Meldrum was 66.
Meldrum starred as Margaret Callahan in the short-lived 1987-1988 ABC sitcom Pursuit of Happiness. Margaret Callahan was a brilliant Egyptian studies scholar unable to cope with everyday life. The series also starred Paul Provenza, Brian Keith, Judie Aronson, Wesley Thompson, John Petlock, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Kevin Scannell and Wanda de Jesus.
She had a recurring role as Miss White/Mrs. Heimer, Kevin Arnold's English teacher, in six episodes of the ABC sitcom The Wonder Years from 1988 to 1991. She appeared as "low talking" designer Leslie in the Seinfeld episodes "The Puffy Shirt" and "The Finale." Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Punky Brewster, Family Ties, I Married Dora, Day by Day, Pig Sty and Working the Engels.
She had a recurring role as P.K. Kelly in eight episodes of Knots Landing from 1984 to 1985. She starred as Anne Blecher on the Canadian comedy-drama Less Tha Kind from 2008 to 2012.
Actor and comedian Art Metrano starred as Rico Mastorelli on Joanie Loves Chachi. He died on September 8, 2021, at his home in Aventura, Florida, of natural causes. Mr. Metrano was 84.
He starred as Nick Marr on the short-lived 1971 CBS sitcom The Chicago Teddy Bears. "Big" Nick Marr was a small-time gangster who wants to take over a Chicago speakeasy. The series also starred Dean Jones, Marvin Kaplan, Mickey Shaughnessy, Jamie Farr, Mike Mazurki, Huntz Hall and John Banner.
Metrano starred as Tom on the short-lived 1977 CBS sitcom Loves Me, Love Me Not. Tom was Dick's (Kenneth Gilman) best friend and his editor at the newspaper. Tom's wife, Sue, was played by Phyllis Glick. Susan Dey starred as Dick's wife, June.
He starred as Lt. Iverson on the short-lived 1986 CBS sitcom Tough Cookies. Lt. Iverson was Det. Cliff Brody's (Robby Benson) tough superior. The series also starred Lainie Kazan, Adam Arkin, Matt Craven, Elizabeth Pena and Alan North.
Metrano starred as Rico Mastorelli on the 1982-1983 ABC sitcom Joanie Loves Chachi, which aired for two seasons and 17 episodes. Rico was Chachi's (Scott Baio) uncle who was the band's manager and helped Joanie (Erin Moran) and Chachi advance in their careers. The series also starred Al Molinaro, Ellen Travolta, Robert Pierce, Derrel Maury and Winifred Freedman.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Good Guys, Bewitched, Nanny and the Professor, That Girl, The Partridge Family, The Partners, Adam's Rib, Love, American Style (1972, 1973), Barney Miller, All in the Family, The Ted Knight Show, Benson, WKRP in Cincinnati, Punky Brewster, Lenny, The Golden Girls, Nurses, Empty Nest, The John Larroquette Show, Herman's Head and Police Academy: The Series.
He starred as Detective Rod Pena on the 1974-1975 NBC police drama Amy Prentiss. He played Moose on the NBC adventure series Movin' On from 1975 to 1976.
Metrano starred as Lt./Capt./Cmdt. Mauser in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) and Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986). Some of his other film credits included They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off (1973), History of the World, Part One (1981), Breathless (1983), Teachers (1984) and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998).
Comedian and actor Trevor Moore was the creator, writer, producer and composer for Just Roll with It. He died on August, 7, 2001, after being involved in an accident near his residence in Los Angeles, California, resulting in blunt force head trauma. Mr. Moore was 41.
Moore was the creator, writer, producer and composer for 2019-2021 Disney Channel sitcom Just Roll with It.
He was known for being one of the founding members, alongside Sam Brown and Zach Cregger, of the New York City-based comedy troupe the Whitest Kids U' Know (WKUK), who had their own sketch comedy series on IFC which ran for five seasons.
Television writer and producer Frank Mula worked on The Simpsons, Cosby and Life with Bonnie. He died in Glendale, California on December 17, 2021. Mr. Mula was 71.
Mula's sitcom writing credits included Madame's Place, What a Country, I Married Dora, Out of This World, Grand, Davis Rules, Sibs, Phenom, The Martin Short Show, Local Heroes, Cosby and The Simpsons.
His sitcom producing credits included Grand, Davis Rules, Sibs, The Martin Short Show, Local Heroes, Cosby, The Simpsons, The Hughleys and Life with Bonnie.
For his work on The Simpsons, Mula won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program.
Michael Nader (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Michael Nader had a recurring role on Gidget. He died on August 23, 2021, at his home in San Francisco, California, ten days after being diagnosed with an untreatable form of cancer. Mr. Nader was 76.
Nader had a recurring role as Siddo/Peter Stone, Gidget's schoolmate, in nine episodes of the ABC sitcom Gidget from 1965 to 1966.
He was known for his roles as Dex Dexter on the ABC primetime soap opera Dynasty from 1983 to 1989 and as Dimitri Marick on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children from 1991 to 2001, and in 2013. He starred as Kevin Thompson on the soap opera As the World Turns from 1975 to 1978.
Michael Nesmith (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Musician, songwriter, actor, and producer Michael Nesmith was best known as a member of the pop rock band The Monkees and co-star of the TV series The Monkees. He died from heart failure at his home in Carmel Valley, California, on December 10, 2021. Mr. Nesmith was 78.
The Monkees were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the sitcom The Monkees. Davy Jones had a long-term contract with Screen Gems to appear in television programs. He was shortlisted for the auditions and identified in advance as a potential star for the series. Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter ran an ad to cast the remainder of the band/cast members for the TV series on September 8-10, 1965. Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork were chosen out of 437 applicants. Nesmith had been working as a musician since early 1963 and had been recording and releasing music under various names, including Michael Blessing and "Mike & John & Bill" and had studied drama in college. In October 1965, Nesmith landed the role as the wool hat-wearing guitar player "Mike" in the show.
The Monkees premiered on NBC on September 12, 1966. The series follows the adventures of four young men (The Monkees) trying to make a name for themselves as a rock 'n roll band. Mike ("Wool Hat") was the smart and serious one who played the guitar. Although the series ran for only two seasons (1966 to 1968) and 58 episodes, it remains hugely popular to this day. They received two Emmy Awards in 1967: Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy (James Frawley). Nesmith wrote and directed the 1997 ABC comedy special Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees. It was the last time all four of the original Monkees appeared together in a new television program.
The band was originally active from 1966 to 1971. They released six albums, four of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Some of their big hits included: (Theme From) The Monkees; Last Train to Clarksville; I'm a Believer; (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone; A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You; Pleasant Valley Sunday; Daydream Believer; and Valleri. In 1968, they appeared in the feature film Head. They appeared in the 1969 NBC TV special 33 1⁄3 Revolutions per Monkee. The band reunited in 1986 and toured intermittently with different lineups for a number of years.
Nesmith continued his successful songwriting and performing career, first with the seminal country rock group the First National Band, with whom he had a top-40 hit, "Joanne." His songwriting credits include "Different Drum", which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys.
He founded Pacific Arts, a multimedia production and distribution company, in 1974, through which he helped pioneer the music video format. He created one of the first television programs dedicated to music videos, PopClips, which aired on Nickelodeon from 1980 to 1981. In 1981, he wrote and produced Elephant Parts, an one hour long with parody commercials and comedy sketches, and features five full-length music videos. Elephant Parts won the first Grammy in the Music Video category in 1981.
Nesmith created the short-lived 1985 NBC comedy-variety series Michael Nesmith in Television Parts. The show was a mix of music videos (by both himself and others) mixed in with comedy sketches, commercial parodies, and general silliness. Guest appearances included Martin Mull, Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling and Arsenio Hall.
He guest starred as the father of the mayor (Kyle MacLachlan) of Portland, Oregon, in a 2014 episode of Portlandia. Some of his film appearances included Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982), Repo Man (1984), Burglar (1987) and Tapeheads (1988). He was the executive producer for the films Repo Man, Tapeheads, and Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann. He also did the music score for Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann.
Gavan O'Herlihy (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Gavan O'Herlihy played Chuck Cunningham in the first season of Happy Days. He died in Bath, England, on September 15, 2021, of undisclosed causes. Mr. O'Herlihy was 70.
O'Herlihy appeared as Chuck Cunningham in seven episodes of the first season of the ABC sitcom Happy Days in 1974. Chuck Cunningham was the oldest son of Howard (Tom Bosley) and Marion Cunningham (Marion Ross) and older brother of Richie (Ron Howard) and Joanie (Erin Moran). He was a college student and basketball player. After O'Herlihy asked to leave the series, he was replaced by Randolph Roberts for two episodes in the second season. Chuck Cunningham was never mentioned again after the second season. O'Herlihy appeared on the Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion special in 2005.
His first TV credit was as Josh McBride in the 1973 episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show titled "Son of 'But Seriously, Folks." Some of his drama guest appearances included Sierra, Lucas Tanner, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Six Million Dollar Man, Police Woman, The Bionic Woman, The Amazing Spider-Man, Matt Houston, Cover Up, Tales from the Crypt, China Beach, Twin Peaks, The Good Guys (1992), Tarzan (1991-1992), Sharpe, Star Trek: Voyager, Jonathan Creek, 18 Wheels of Justice and Midsomer Murders.
O'Herlihy starred as Phil McGee in the 1976 ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man in the episode "Part VIII: Chapters 11 and 12." Some of his other miniseries credits included A Rumor of War (1980), We'll Meet Again (1992), Partners in Crime (1983), A Killing on the Exchange, Lonesome Dove (1989) and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994).
He starred as Airk Thaughbaer, the military commander of the destroyed kingdom of Galladoorn who shares a mixed friendship with Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), in the 1988 fantasy film Willow. It was directed by his TV brother, Ron Howard. Some of his other film credits included Superman III (1983), Never Say Never Again (1983), Death Wish 3 (1985), Hidden Assassin (aka The Shooter) (1995), Prince Valiant (1997), Top of the World (1997), Seven Days of Grace (2006) and The Descent Part 2 (2009).
Walter Olkewicz (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Character actor Walter Olkewicz appeared as Dougie Boudreau on Grace Under Fire. He died after a long illness on April 6, 2021, in Reseda, California. Mr. Olkewicz was 72.
Olkewicz starred as Zach Comstock on the short-lived 1979-1980 CBS sitcom The Last Resort. The series centered on a group of college students working in a hotel kitchen. It also starred Larry Breeding, Stephanie Faracy, Zane Lasky, Ray Underwood, Dorothy Konrad, John Fujioka and Robert Costanzo.
He appeared as Dougie Boudreau on the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1996. Dougie Boudreau was a crew worker at the local oil refinery. He was a regular for the first season before recurring in the second and third seasons. The cast included Brett Butler, Dave Thomas, Julie White (1993-1997), Casey Sander, Jon Paul Steuer (1993-1996), Sam Horrigan (1996-1998), Kaitlin Cullum, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Peggy Rea (1995-1998), Charles Hallahan (1993-1994), Don "D.C." Curry (1997-1998) and Lauren Tom (1997-1998).
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Alice, Barney Miller (2 episodes), It's a Living, Taxi (2 episodes), Cheers, The Love Boat, Making the Grade, The Duck Factory, Newhart, 227, Designing Women, Family Ties, Married with Children, Mr. Belvedere, Who's the Boss?, Night Court, Seinfeld and Dharma & Greg.
Olkewicz starred as Marko in the short-lived 1983 CBS adventure series Wizards and Warriors. He played Harmon Shain in the short-lived 1984 NBC detective drama Partners in Crime. Some of his drama guest appearances included The Rockford Files, Hart to Hart, Trapper John, M.D., The A-Team, Riptide, Hardcastle and McCormick, Falcon Crest, Moonlighting, L.A. Law, ER and Twin Peaks.
Actress Markie Post starred as Christine Sullivan on Night Court and as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on Hearts Afire. She died of cancer in Los Angeles, California, on August 7, 2021. She had been diagnosed almost four years earlier. Ms. Post was 70.
Post made her television series debut on a 1979 episode of CHiPs. Some of her early television guest apperances included Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (2 episodes), Hart to Hart, B.J. and the Bear, Eight Is Enough, The Greatest American Hero, Simon & Simon, McClain's Law and Code Red. She played Chris Brennan on the 1981 crime drama television miniseries The Gangster Chronicles.
Her first sitcom starring role was as Barbara Jane Bookman on the short-lived 1980 ABC series Semi-Tough. The slapstick comedy was based on the 1977 film Semi-Tough, which starred Burt Reynolds. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Dan Jenkins. The series starred Bruce McGill, David Hasselhoff, Hugh Gillin, Mary Jo Catlett, Jim McKrell, Ed Peck, Bubba Smith and Freeman King.
Post joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Night Court as Christine Sullivan for the third season in the fall of 1985. She made her first appearance as Christine Sullivan on the second season episode "Daddy for the Defense" in 1984. Christine Sullivan was the public defender at New York's Manhattan Night Court. Post appeared in 159 episodes from 1984 to 1992. The cast from seasons 3-9 included Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Charlie Robinson (seasons 2-9) Florence Halop (1985-1986) and Marsha Warfield (1986-1992). Post, Anderson and Robinson reprised their roles on the 2008 30 Rock episode, "The One with the Cast of Night Court".
She starred as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the 1992-1995 CBS sitcom Hearts Afire. The show was set in Washington, D.C., and centered on a conservative senator's aide (John Ritter) and a liberal political reporter (Post) whose professional disagreements masked a growing attraction for one another. The cast included Billy Bob Thornton, Clark Duke, Wendie Jo Sperber (1992-1993), Doren Fein, Beth Broderick (1992-1993), George Gaynes (1992-1993), Edward Asner (1992-1993), Beah Richards (1992), Adam Carl (1992-1993), Conchata Ferrell (1993-1995), Leslie Jordan (1993-1995), Debbie Gregory (1993-1994), Justin Burnette (1992-1994) and J. Skylar Testa (1994-1995).
Post starred as Julia Whitney on the 1999-2000 ABC sitcom Odd Man Out. Julia Whitney was the mother of fifteen-year-old Andrew Whitney (Erik von Detten), the only male in a house full of females. The series also starred Natalia Cigliuti, Agnes Bruckner, Marina Malota, Jessica Capshaw and Trevor Fehrman.
She had a recurring role as Lily Reid, the mother of Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), on three episodes of Scrubs from 2002 to 2006. She played Betsy on the 2014 web series Rack and Ruin. Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included House Calls, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Cheers, Dave's World (2 episodes), Man Up!, Back in the Game, Santa Clarita Diet and The Kids Are Alright (4 episodes as Helen Portollo).
She starred as bail bondswoman Terri Michaels on the ABC action/adventure series The Fall Guy from 1982 to 1985. She had a recurring role as Barbara "Bunny" Fletcher on 18 episodes of Chicago P.D. from 2014 to 2017. Some of her other drama guest appearances included Matt Houston, Fantasy Island (2 episodes), Glitter, Scene of the Crime, The A-Team (2 episodes), Hotel (3 episodes), VR.5, The District (2 episodes), Ghost Whisperer and Soundtrack. She was the voice of June Darby on the computer animated robot superhero TV series Transformers: Prime.
Post was a card dealer on Card Sharks. She was an associate producer of CBS's Double Dare from 1976 to 1977. Some of her game show appearances included Go, Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, Body Language, The (New) $25,000 Pyramid, The $100,000 Pyramid, Super Password and Hollywood Squares.
She played Mary's (Cameron Diaz) mom in the 1998 film There's Something About Mary. Some of her TV movie credits included Tricks of the Trade (with Cindy Williams and John Ritter), Glitz, Someone She Knows and Visitors of the Night.
Actress, singer and dancer Jane Powell had a recurring role on Growing Pains. She died of natural causes in Wilton, Connecticut, on September 16, 2021. Ms. Powell was 92.
Powell appeared as Irma Seaver Overmier, the mother of Dr. Jason Roland Seaver (Alan Thicke), in eight episodes of Growing Pains from 1988 to 1990. She appeared in two episodes of The Love Boat in 1981 and 1982. She first appeared in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals in the 1940s.
Television writer Joel Rapp worked on many sitcoms. He died in Beverly Hills, California, on September 15, 2021. Mr. Rapp was 87.
Some of his sitcom writing credits included Topper, The Adventures of Hiram Holliday, The Jim Backus Show, Peter Loves Mary (10 episodes), The Bill Dana Show, Broadside (4 episodes), The Joey Bishop Show (2 episodes), McHale's Navy (14 episodes), Tammy (2 episodes), It's About Time, Green Acres (2 episodes), Gilligan's Island (3 episodes), The Lucy Show (2 episodes), The Flying Nun and Bewitched.
David Richardson (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Television writer and producer David Richardson worked on The Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle and Two and a Half Men. He died of heart failure on January 18, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Richardson was 65.
Richardson's sitcom writing credits included Safe at Home, Grand, Empty Nest, Phenom, The John Larroquette Show, Local Heroes, Soul Man, Malcolm in the Middle, Manhattan AZ, What About Joan, Married to the Kellys and Two and a Half Men. His animated series writing credits included The Simpsons and F Is for Family.
Some of his producing credits inlcuded Empty Nest, The Simpsons, Phenom, The John Larroquette Show, Local Heroes, Soul Man, Malcolm in the Middle, Manhattan AZ, What About Joan, My Big Fat Greek Life, Married to the Kellys, Two and a Half Men and F Is for Family.
Peter Mark Richman (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Peter Mark Richman (often credited as Mark Richman) appeared as Reverend Snow on Three's Company and as Andrew Laird on Dynasty. He died of natural causes at his home in Woodland Hills, California, on January 14, 2021. Mr. Richman was 93.
Richman had a recurring role as Reverend Snow, Chrissy's (Suzanne Somers) father, in three episodes of Three's Company from 1977 to 1979. He appeared in the episodes "Chrissy Comes Home" (Season 2), "Triangle Troubles" (Season 3) and "The Reverend Steps Out" (Season 4). Suzanne Somers had this to say about him in a statement to People: "Comedy is musical. Peter Mark Richman and I understood the music from the very first time we appeared together on Three's Company. He knew his 'stuff.' We lost a good one. Rest In Peace Peter Mark Richman."
He played Nicholas "Nick" Cain in the 1961 films The Murder Men and The Crimebusters. He reprised the role of Nicholas Cain, a former lawyer for the mob, in the short-lived 1961-1962 NBC police drama Cain's Hundred. Richman later starred as Duke Paige in the short-lived 1971-1972 ABC detective drama Longstreet.
Richman had a recurring role as Andrew Laird, a former criminal attorney who is Blake Carrington's (John Forsythe) shrewd and levelheaded chief legal counsel, in 29 episodes of the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty from 1981 to 1984.
He appeared as Channing Creighton 'C.C.' Capwell in 28 episodes of Santa Barbara in 1984. He had a recurring role as Lawrence Carson in four episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1993 to 1994.
Some of his many television drama guest appearances included The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Combat!, The Fugitive, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Invaders, It Takes a Thief, Hawaii Five-0, The Virginian, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., McCloud, Ironside, Barnaby Jones, Police Story, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Charlie's Angels, Vega$, Galactica 1980, Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island, Knight Rider, Hotel and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
His other sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat in 1985 and Too Close for Comfort in 1986. He voiced The Phantom in the 1986-1987 animated series Defenders of the Earth.
Some of his other film credits included Family Persuasion (1956), The Strange One (1957), Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991).
Tanya Roberts (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Tanya Roberts starred as Julie Rogers on Charlie's Angels and as Midge Pinciotti on That '70s Show. She died on January 4, 2021, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from a blood infection. Ms. Roberts was 65.
Roberts' first television lead role was as Julie Rogers in the fifth and final season of the ABC detective drama Charlie's Angels from 1980 to 1981. Julie Rogers was a streetwise fighter and model from New York who used her fists more than her gun. Roberts was chosen in the summer of 1980 from some 2,000 candidates to replace Shelley Hack (1979-1980). The final season cast included Jacklyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, David Doyle and John Forsythe as the voice of Charles "Charlie" Townsend.
She played the supporting role of Midge Pinciotti in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. She was a regular from seasons 1 to 3 (1998-2001) before making special guest appearances in seasons 6 and 7 (2004). Midge Pinciotti was Bob's (Don Stark) wife, Donna's (Laura Prepon) mother, and Kitty's (Debra Jo Rupp) best friend. Midge was the sexy mom whom Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and his male friends fantasize when coming of age. Her character was written out of the series after the third season after divorcing Bob and moving to California. She returned for five episodes as special guest appearances in seasons 6 and 7.
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included The Love Boat, Off Centre, Eve and Barbershop. Her voice credits included The Blues Brothers Animated Series, The Angry Beavers and Fillmore!.
She starred as Rebecca in the Cinemax erotic anthology series Hot Line from 1995 to 1996. Some of her drama guest appearances included Vega$, Fantasy Island, Burke's Law, Silk Stalkings and High Tide. She portrayed Velda, the secretary to private detective Mike Hammer, in the television movie Murder Me, Murder You in 1983, based on crime novelist Mickey Spillane’s iconic Mike Hammer private detective series. The two-part pilot spawned the syndicated television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.
Roberts starred as Bond girl Stacey Sutton in the 1983 film A View to a Kill. She played Kiri in the 1982 adventure fantasy film The Beastmaster. She starred as Sheena in the 1984 fantasy-adventure film Sheena. Some of her other film credits included Forced Entry (1975), Fingers (1978), Tourist Trap (1979), California Dreaming (1979), Racquet (1979), Hearts and Armour (1983), Body Slam (1986), Night Eyes (1990) and Inner Sanctum (1991).
Charlie Robinson (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Charlie (Charles) Robinson was best known for his role as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson on Night Court. He died on July 11, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, from cardiac arrest with multisystem organ failure due to septic shock and metastatic adenocarcinoma, a type of glandular cancer. Mr. Robinson was 75.
Robinson's first starring role was as Newdell on the 1983-1984 NBC sitcom Buffalo Bill. The series featured the misadventures of an egotistical talk show host named Bill Bittinger (Dabney Coleman) and his staff. Newdell was the makeup man at WBFL-TV, a small TV station in Buffalo, New York. The series also starred Joanna Cassidy, Max Wright, John Fielder, Geena Davis, Meshach Taylor and Claude Earl Jones.
After Buffalo Bill was canceled after two seasons, he joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Night Court for the second season in the fall of 1984 as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson. Mac was the clerk of the court and a Vietnam War veteran. He always wore a cardigan, plaid shirt, and knit tie. The successful series ran for nine seasons from 1984 to 1992. Robinson also directed three episodes of the series from 1990 to 1992. The cast included Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Selma Diamond (1984-1985), Florence Halop (1985-1986), Markie Post (1985-1992), Marsha Warfield (1986-1992), Karen Austin (1984), Paula Kelly (1984) and Ellen Foley (1984-1985). Anderson, Post and Robinson reprised their roles on the 2008 30 Rock episode, "The One with the Cast of Night Court".
Robinson starred as Abe Johnson on the 1992-1995 CBS sitcom Love & War. He joined the cast after John Hancock, who played bartender Ike Johnson, died of a heart attack on October 12, 1992. Abe was the surly brother of Ike. He was an out-of-work auto worker from Detroit, who showed up to claim his inheritance - Ike's shared of the Blue Shamrock restaurant/bar. Robinson also directed an episodes of the series in 1994. The cast included Jay Thomas, Susan Dey (1992-1993), Joel Murray, Michael Nouri, Suzie Plakson, Joanna Gleason and Annie Potts (1993-1995).
He starred as Ernie Trainor on the short-lived 1996-1997 CBS sitcom Ink. Ernie Trainor was the no-nonsense, seen-it-all police reporter at the New York Sun. The series also starred Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Alana Austin, Christine Ebersole, Saul Rubinek, Jenica Bergere and Jonathan Katz.
Robinson had a recurring role as Bud Harper, an owner of Binford, in nine episodes of Home Improvement from 1995 to 1999. He had a recurring role as Wilfred in 11 episodes of The Guest Book from 2017 to 2018. He played Mr. Munson, the blind tenant whom Bonnie avoids helping out with apartment issues, in seven episodes of Mom from 2015 to 2019. He made his final TV appearances on Freeform's Love in the Time of Corona in 2020.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The John Larroquette Show, In the House, The Crew (1996), Malcolm & Eddie (2 episodes), Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (2001), DAG, The Trouble with Normal, My Wife and Kids, Yes, Dear (2003), Abby, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, The Bernie Mac Show, Committed, Still Standing (2 episodes), My Name Is Earl and Hank. His guest appearances from 2010 and later included $#*! My Dad Says, The Soul Man, The Game (4 episodes), Reed Between the Lines (2 episodes), K.C. Undercover, Disjointed, Better Things and Raven's Home.
He had a recurring role as Phil in seven episodes of Flamingo Road in 1981. He played El Jefe in 13 episodes of Buddy Faro from 1998 to 2000. He appeared as Sergeant Jeffries in 16 episodes of Hart of Dixe from 2012 to 2015. Some of his other drama guest appearances included Caribe, The White Shadow, Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Hotel, Touched by an Angel, Soul Food, Charmed, House, Cold Case, The Riches, Big Love, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Harry's Law, Grey's Anatomy, This Is Us and NCIS.
Mario Roccuzzo (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Mario Roccuzzo made many sitcom guest appearances. He died on October 9, 2021, in West Hollywood, California. Mr. Roccuzzo was 80.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Monkees, All in the Family, Barney Miller (6 episodes, he also wrote an episode), Alice (3 episodes), Night Court, Sledge Hammer!, Mr. Belvedere (5 episodes), Hooperman, Have Faith, The Golden Girls, Roseanne, Married with Children, Mad About You, Sister, Sister, Boston Common, California Dreams, The Drew Carey Show, Working, It's All Relative, Dharma & Greg (2 episodes) and Yes, Dear.
Jay Sandrich (IMDB/Wikipedia/The Interviews: An Oral History of Television)
Emmy-winning director Jay Sandrich worked on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Soap and The Cosby Show. He died from complications of dementia on September 22, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Sandrich was 89.
He began his career as an assistant director on I Love Lucy from 1956 to 1957. He was assistant to the producer on The Andy Griffith Show from 1961 to 1963 and an associate producer from 1964 to 1965. He was an associate producer for the first season of Get Smart from 1965 to 1966. In 1967, he worked as a producer for Captain Nice.
Sandrich's early sitcom directing credits included The Danny Thomas Show, The Bill Dana Show, He & She, That Girl, Get Smart, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Here's Lucy and The Governor & J.J..
He directed 119 of the 168 episodes of the 1970-1977 CBS sitcom The Mary Tyle Moore Show. He won Emmy Awards in 1971 and 1973 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy.
Sandrich directed 54 episodes of the ABC sitcom Soap from 1977 to 1980. Some of his other 1970s directing credits included The Bill Cosby Show, Nanny and the Professor, Arnie, The Good Life, Here We Go Again, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Diana, We'll Get By, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, The Odd Couple, The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, Rhoda, Ball Four, Phyllis, The Tony Randall Show, Loves Me, Loves Me Not (1977), Welcome Back, Kotter (1976, 1977), The Betty White Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Stockard Channing in Best Friends, The Stockard Channing Show and Benson.
He directed 100 episodes of the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. He won Emmy Awards in 1985 and 1986 for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.
Some of his 1980s sitcom directing credits included Love, Sidney (1981), Night Court, Off the Rack, It's a Living, The Golden Girls, A Different World, Empty Nest and The Van Dyke Show. His 1990s and 2000s sitcom directing credits included Love & War, Thea, The Office (1995), Pearl, Ink, The Tony Danza Show, Built to Last, LateLine, The Secret Lives of Men, Style & Substance, Thanks, Three Sisters, Charlie Lawrence and Two and a Half Men.
Sandrich directed the 1980 film Seems Like Old Times, which starred Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Charles Grodin.
Camille Saviola (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress and singer Camille Saviola starred on Some of My Best Friends and made a number of sitcom guest appearances. She died from heart failure in Hackensack, New Jersey on October 28, 2021. Ms. Saviola was 71.
Saviola starred as Connie Zito on the short-lived 2001 CBS sitcom Some of My Best Friends. Connie and Joe Zito (Joe Grifasi) were Frankie's (Danny Nucci) parents and Italian restaurateurs. The series also starred Jason Bateman, Jessica Lundy, Michael DeLuise and Alec Mapa.
Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Baby Boom, Friends, Hope & Gloria (2 episodes), Living Single, Becker, Entourage (3 episodes as Turtle's mom) and Younger (4 episodes as Filomena).
She starred as Shelley Abramowitz on the 1992 Fox drama The Heights. She played Justice Esther Weisenberg on the 2002 CBS legal drama First Monday. She appeared as Kai Opaka in 4 episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Peter Scolari (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Emmy-winning actor Peter Scolari starred as Henry Desmond on Bosom Buddies and as Michael Harris on Newhart. He died from leukemia in Manhattan on October 22, 2021. He had been diagnosed with the disease two years earlier. Mr. Scolari was 66.
Scolari's first sitcom starring role was as Benny Loman on the short-lived 1980 ABC series Goodtime Girls. The comedy was set in 1942 in Washington, D.C., during World War II. Benny Loman was a street performer whose pantomime, juggling and unicycle acts were part of the regular physical comedy and pratfalls seen in every episode. He was the roommate of macho hustler cabbie Frankie Millardo (Adrian Zmed). The series also starred Annie Potts, Lorna Patterson, Georgia Engel, Francine Tacker, Marcia Lewis, Merwin Goldsmith and Sparky Marcus.
He next starred as Henry Desmond with Tom Hanks (Kip Wilson) on the 1980-1982 ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies. The show features the misadventures of two single men, working in creative advertising, struggling in their industry while disguising themselves as women (Hildegarde and Buffy) in order to live in the one apartment they could afford. Henry Desmond was a junior copywriter (and aspiring painter) working at a New York City advertising agency. The series also starred Wendie Jo Sperber, Donna Dixon, Telma Hopkins, Lucille Benson (1980-1981) and Holland Taylor.
Scolari starred as Eddie Riddle on the short-lived 1983 ABC sitcom Baby Makes Five. Eddie Riddle was an accountant who found his family growing faster than expected. The series also starred Louise Williams, Janis Paige, Prsicilla Morrill, Andre Gower, Emily Moultrie and Brandy Gold.
He starred as Michael Harris on the CBS sitcom Newhart from 1984 to 1990. Michael Harris was the yuppie producer of Dick Loudon's (Bob Newhart) television show and Stephanie Vanderkellen's (Julia Duffy) husband. Scolari joined the cast a recurring cast member in the second season before becoming a main cast member in the third season. He received three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role in 1987, 1988 and 1989. He also directed one episode of the series in 1990. The cast included Mary Frann, Tom Poston, Jennifer Holmes (1982-1983), Steven Kampmann (1982-1984), William Sanderson, Tony Papenfuss and John Voldstad.
Scolari starred as Dr. Jonathan Lerner on the short-lived 1993 CBS sitcom Family Album. Jonathan and Denise Lerner (Pamela Reed) and their three children move from California to Philadelphia to be closer to their relatives. The cast included Ashlee Levitch, Christopher Miranda, Philip Van Dyke, Doris Belack, Alan North, Rhoda Gemignani, Nancy Cassaro and Giovanni Ribisi.
He starred as Warren Mosbey on the short-lived 1995 CBS sitcom Dweebs. Warren Mosbey was a young computer software writer who owned the highly successful software company named Cyberbyte in Seattle. The series also starred Farrah Forke, Corey Feldman, David Kaufman, Stephen Tobolowsky and Adam Biesk.
Scolari starred as Wayne Szalinski on Disney's Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. The 1997-2000 syndicated series was based on the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Wayne Szalinski was a wacky inventor in Matheson, Colorado. Scolari directed five episodes of the series. The science fiction comedy series also starred Barbara Alyn Woods, Hillary Tuck, Thomas Dekker, George Buza (1998-2000) and Andrew T. Grant (1998-2000).
He had a recurring role as Tad Horvath, the father of Hannah Helene Horvath (Lena Dunham), in 21 episodes of the HBO comedy-drama Girls from 2012 to 2017. He won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the role in 2016.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Angie, Happy Days, Family Ties, The Love Boat (3 episodes), Trying Times, Nurses, Empty Nest, The Mommies (2 episodes), A Whole New Ballgame (2 episodes), Can't Hurry Love, Dave's World (2 episodes), The Home Court (2 episodes), The Drew Carey Show, The Nanny, George & Leo, Reba, The King of Queens, What I Like About You, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2003), Listen Up (2 episodes), Odd Mom Out and Murphy Brown (2018).
Scolari had a recurring role as Gillian B. Loeb, Gotham City’s corrupt police commissioner, in five episodes of Gotham in 2015. He appeared as Bishop Thomas Marx in nine episodes of Evil from 2019 to 2021. Some of his other drama guest appearances included Remington Steele, Finders of Lost Loves, Hotel, The New Mike Hammer, The Twilight Zone (1988), Burke's Law, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Touched by an Angel, Ally McBeal, ER, The West Wing and White Collar.
Some of his voice credits for animated series included Batman: The Animated Series, Animaniacs, Gargoyles, Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man, Pinky and the Brain, Hey Arnold!, What's New, Scooby Doo? and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
Geoffrey Scott (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Geoffrey Scott starred on 1st & Ten and made several sitcom guest appearances. He died from Parkinson's disease on February 23, 2021, in Broomfield, Colorado. Mr. Scott was 79.
Scott starred as quarterback Bob Dorsey on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten. Some of his sitcom guest appearances included It's Your Move, Night Court, The Love Boat (2 episodes), Webster, Married with Children, Hooperman, She's the Sheriff and Murphy Brown.
He appeared as Sky Rumson on Dark Shadows in 1970. He starred as Mark Jennings, the first husband of Krystle Carrington (Linda Evans), on Dynasty from 1982 to 1984. He played David McAllister in 22 episodes of General Hospital in 1989. He played Billy Lewis on two episodes of Guiding Light in 1994.
Willard Scott (IMDB/Wikipedia)
The Today Show weatherman Willard Scott had an occasional role as Peter Poole on Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family. He died on September 4, 2021, of natural causes in Delaplane, Virginia. Mr. Scott was 87.
His career with NBC began as a 16-year-old, working in 1950 as an NBC page at WRC (AM). From 1959–1962, he portrayed Bozo the Clown in the children's television program on NBC Washington, D.C. affiliate WRC-TV. He was the creator and original portrayer of Ronald McDonald from 1963-1965. He became the weatherman for The Today Show in 1980. He announced his full retirement from television on December 11, 2015.
Scott had an occasional role as Peter Poole on five episodes of the NBC sitcom Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family from 1987 to 1989. Peter Poole was the jovial husband of Patty Poole (Edie McClurg), who was the busybody neighor of the Hogan family.
Actor George Segal starred as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me! and as Albert "Pops" Solomon on The Goldbergs. He died of complications from bypass surgery in Santa Rosa, California, on March 23, 2021. Mr. Segal was 87.
Some of Segal's early television guest appearances included The Play of the Week, Armstrong Circle Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, Naked City, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Channing, The Doctors and the Nurses and Arrest and Trial.
His first television starring role was as Andy Kooper on the 1987 CBS sitcom Take Five. The short-lived series was canceled after only two episodes had aired. In the semi-autobiographical series, Andy Kooper has a midlife crisis after his wife had divorced him and her father had fired him from his public relations job. He sang with his buddies in the Lenny Goodman Quartet, a semi-pro Dixieland jazz band in which he sang and played the banjo. The series also starred Severn Darden, Derek McGrath, Bruce Jarchow, Jim Haynie, Melanie Chartoff, Todd Field and Eugene Roche.
Segal starred as Jack Gallo on the 1997-2003 NBC workplace sitcom Just Shoot Me!. The series ran for seven seasons and 148 episodes. Jack Gallo was the successful yet often oblivious owner and publisher of a New York City fashion magazine called Blush. Segal was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999 and 2000 as well as a Satellite Award in 2002 for the role. The series also starred Laura San Giacomo, Wendie Malick, Enrico Colantoni, David Spade, Chris Hogan (1997) and Rena Sofer (2002-2003).
He starred as Alan Robbins on the 2011-2012 TV Land sitcom Retired at 35. It ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The series follows a successful New Yorker named David (Johnathan McClain), who decides to leave the rat race and his job in the big city and visit his father (George Segal) and mother (Jessica Walter) who live in a retirement community in Florida. The series also starred Josh McDermitt, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Season 1) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Season 2).
Segal has starred as Albert "Pops" Solomon on the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs for eight seasons since 2013. "Pops" is the eccentric but lovable grandfather of a semi-autobiographical family based on that of series creator Adam F. Goldberg. He is Beverly Goldberg's (Wendi McLendon-Covey) laid-back widower father and a World War II Veteran. Segal was an accomplished banjo player and played it several times on the show. The cast includes Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, AJ Michalka (Season 3–4; recurring 1–2 and 5–6, guest 7) and Sam Lerner (Season 5–present; recurring 2–4).
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Larry Sanders Show, The Naked Truth (4 episodes), Caroline in the City, Bette, The War at Home and Entourage (3 episodes). He appeared on five episodes of the sketch comedy series Tracy Takes On.... Some of his voice credits included Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, American Dad! and The Simpsons.
He starred as Daedalus Patrick Murphy on the 1988-1989 ABC crime drama Murphy's Law. He played Gordon in seven episodes of the syndicated adventure series High Tide from 1994 to 1995. Some of his television drama guest appearances included Murder, She Wrote, Burke's Law, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Private Practice, Boston Legal and Pushing Daisies.
Segal was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and won two Golden Globe Awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance in A Touch of Class (1973). Some of his other film credits included Ship of Fools (1965), King Rat (1965), The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967), Where's Poppa? (1970), The Hot Rock (1972), Blume in Love (1973), California Split (1974), For the Boys (1991) and Flirting with Disaster (1996).
Actress Jan Shutan had a recurring role on Room 222. She died in Beverly Hills, California on October 7, 2021. Ms. Shutan was 88.
Shutan had a recurring role on as Bonnie on eight episodes of Room 222 from 1969 to 1970.
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included My Three Sons, The Andy Griffith Show, Valentine's Day, Nanny and the Professor, Love, American Style (1972) and Hello, Larry.
Gregory Sierra (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Gregory Sierra was known for his roles as Julio Fuentes on Sanford and Son and as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on Barney Miller. He died after a long battle with stomach and liver cancer on January 4, 2021, in Laguna Woods, California. Mr. Sierra was 83.
Sierra guest starred as Paul Benjamin, a Jewish radical working to stop antisemitism in the neighborhood, in an unusually dramatic episode of All in the Family titled "Archie Is Branded" in 1973. His other early sitcom guest appearances included The Flying Nun (4 episodes), The Bill Cosby Show and Dusty's Trail.
Some of his early drama guest appearances included It Takes a Thief, Medical Center, The High Chapparal, Mod Squad, Alias Smith and Jones, Mission: Impossible (3 episodes), The Waltons, Ironside, Banacek, The Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, Hawaii Five-0, McCloud and Gunsmoke (3 episodes).
He had a recurring role as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx) who befriends Lamont (Demond Wilson), in 12 episodes of the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1975. Fred often makes insulting ethnic jokes about Julio and openly wishes he would return to Puerto Rico, despite the fact that Julio is originally from New York City.
Sierra starred as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual in the first two seasons of the ABC sitcom Barney Miller from 1975 to 1976. Chano is a dauntless, beleaguered Puerto Rican detective, who is very emotionally attached to his job; as such, he has a habit of getting worked up when things go awry and, when this happens, he tends to explode in rapid Spanish should it happen. No explanation was given for his character's absence at the start of season three. The ensemble cast included Hal Linden, Max Gail, Ron Glass, James Gregory, Abe Vigoda, Jack Soo, Barbara Barrie, Steve Landesberg and Ron Carey.
He starred as Dr. Tony Menzies in the short-lived 1978 ABC sitcom A.E.S. Hudson Street. Dr. Menzies was the harried chief resident of the run-down Adult Emergency Service (A.E.S.) hospital on Hudson Street, on the lower west side of Manhattan. The series also starred Rosanna DeSoto, Stefan Gierasch, Susan Peretz, Ralph Manza, Ray Stewart, Bill Cort and Allan Miller.
Sierra had a recurring role as Carlos "El Puerco" Valdez in 12 episodes of the fourth and final season of the ABC sitcom Soap from 1980 to 1981. El Puerco was an anti-communist revolutionary who initially kidnaps Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond), but later falls in love with her.
He appeared as Commandante Paco Pico in the short-lived 1983 sitcom Zorro and Son. The Western sitcom also starred Henry Darrow, Paul Regina, Richard Beauchamp, Bill Dana, Barney Martin, John Moschitta, Catherine Parks and Pete Leal.
Sierra starred as Luis Alvarez, the barber father of John Alvarez (Greg Giraldo), in the short-lived 1996 ABC sitcom Common Law. The series also starred Megyn Price, David Pasquesi, Carlos Scott and Diana-Maria Riva.
Some of his other sitcom guest appearances included It's a Living, Gloria, You Again?, The Munsters Today, Growing Pains, City, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Golden Palace, Nurses, Kirk and Ellen.
He appeared as Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez, Sonny Crockett's (Don Johnson) boss, in four episodes of the NBC police drama Miami Vice in 1984. He starred as Liutenant Victor Maldonado in the short-lived 1988 NBC science fiction series Something Is Out There.
Sierra's later drama guest appearances included Hill Street Blues (4 episodes), Hart to Hart, Simon and Simon, Airwolf, Cagney & Lacey, Falcon Crest, Magnum, P.I, MacGyver, The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (2 episodes), Murder, She Wrote (6 episodes) and Walker, Texas Ranger.
Some of his film credits included Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1972), Papillon (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974), The Prisoner of Zenda (1979), The Trouble with Spies (1987), Deep Cover (1992), Honey I Blew Up the Kid (1992), Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) and Vampires (1998).
Italian-born American actor and stuntman Felix Silla played Cousin Itt on The Addams Family. He died on April 16, 2021, from pancreatic cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Silla was 84.
Silla appeared in the recurring role of Cousin Itt on 17 episodes of the 1964-1966 ABC sitcom The Addams Family. Cousin Itt was Gomez's (John Astin) cousin. The costumed character was composed entirely of floor-length hair accompanied by a bowler hat and sunglasses. He speaks in rapid, unintelligible gibberish that only the family can understand. The voice was provided by studio sound engineer Anthony Magro. Roger Arroyo appeared in two additional episodes as Cousin Itt. The cast included Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, Blossom Rock, Ken Weatherwax, Lisa Loring and Ted Cassidy.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Grindl, Petticoat Junction, The Monkees, Bewitched, Mork & Mindy (uncredited) and Married with Children. He played the Polka Dotted Horse and various characters on the 1969 NBC children's series H.R. Pufnstuf, which was created by Sid and Marty Krofft. He appeared as Colonel Poom on the 1971-1973 ABC Sid and Marty Krofft series Lidsville.
Silla was responsible for the physical performance of the robot Twiki on the 1979-1981 NBC science fiction adventure series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Twiki's voice was mainly voiced by Mel Blanc, with Bob Elyea being a temporary replacement in 1981.
Some of his drama guest appearances included Bonanza, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Night Gallery (uncredited), Battlestar Galactica (uncredited) and The Dukes of Hazzard.
Silla played one of the hang glider Ewoks in the film Return of the Jedi (1983). Some of his other film credits as an actor or stuntman included The Towering Inferno (1974), The Hindenburg (1975), The Black Bird (1975), Spaceballs (1987) and Batman Returns (1992).
Dean Stockwell (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Dean Stockwell was perhaps best known for his role as Rear Admiral Albert "Al" Calavicci on Quantum Leap. He starred on the sitcom The Tony Danza Show. He died of natural causes at his home in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, on November 7, 2021. Mr. Stockwell was 85.
Stockwell starred as Frank DiMeo, Tony DiMeo's (Tony Danza) old-world dad who owned a bakery in Little Italy where he offered incomprehensible advice, on the short-lived 1997 NBC sitcom The Tony Danza Show. The series also starred Majandra Delfino, Ashley Malinger, Maria Canals and Shaun Weiss.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Can't Hurry Love, Ink and The Drew Carey Show.
He starred as Rear Admiral Albert "Al" Calavicci on the 1989-1993 NBC science-fiction series Quantum Leap. He played Navy Secretary Edward Sheffield on JAG from 2002 to 2004. He starred as Brother Cavil on Battlestar Galactica from 2006 to 2009.
Television producer and executive Jamie Tarses was the president of ABC Entertainment from 1996 to 1999. She died on February 1, 2021, in Los Angeles, from complications from a stroke she had suffered in the fall of 2020. Ms. Tarses was 56.
Tarses worked as a casting director for Perfect Strangers from 1987 to 1988. She helped develop Friends, Mad About You, Frasier, NewsRadio and Caroline in the City while working at NBC.
She was the president of ABC Entertainment from 1996 to 1999, the first woman and one of the youngest people to hold such a post in an American broadcast network.
Tarses was co-producer of the 2006-2010 TBS sitcom My Boys. Some of her other sitcom producing credits included Mad Love, Mr. Sunshine, Happy Endings, Men at Work, Marry Me, Your Family or Mine, The Mayor and Champaign ILL.
Singer B. J. Thomas wrote and performed the Growing Pains theme song. He died on May 29, 2021, at his home in Arlington, Texas, from lung cancer. Mr. Thomas was 78.
Thomas wrote and performed "As Long As We Got Each Other," the theme to the 1985-1992 ABC sitcom Growing Pains. The first season theme was a solo for Thomas, but was re-recorded as a duet with Jennifer Warnes for the second and third seasons. For the show's fourth season, it was re-recorded again with British singer Dusty Springfield, but the Thomas/Warnes version was reinstated for season five and some of season seven.
He was a five-time Grammy winner. He made popular recordings of "Hooked on a Feeling" (1968), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969), "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975), "Don't Worry Baby" (1977) and "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love" (1983).
James Michael Tyler (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor James Michael Tyler was best known for his role as Gunther on Friends. He died from prostate cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, on October 24, 2021. Mr. Tyler was 59.
Tyler played the recurring role of Gunther in 148 episodes of the NBC sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004. Gunther was the manager of the Central Perk coffee house who had unrequited love for Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). He appeared in more episodes than any other recurring character. In 2021, he appeared via Zoom on the Friends: The Reunion HBO Max special.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Just Shoot Me!, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2001) and Scrubs. He played himself in a 2012 episode of Episodes, in which Matt LeBlanc tries unsuccessfully to get the other main stars from Friends to appear in the promotional video for the fictional television show Pucks. He appeared as Chad Levitz in the 2013 web series Modern Music.
Kim Tyler (IMDB)
Child actor Kim Tyler was best known for his role as Kyle Nash on Please Don't Eat the Daisies. He died on February 10, 2021, at his home in Hollywood Heights, California, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Tyler was 66.
Tyler starred as Kyle Nash, the oldest son of Joan (Patricia Crowley) and James (Jim) Nash (Mark Miller), on the 1965-1967 NBC sitcom Please Don't Eat the Daisies. The series ran for two seasons and 58 episodes. It also starred Brian Nash, Joe Fithian, Jeff Fithian, Shirley Mitchell, Harry Hickox (1965-1966), King Donovan (1966-1967), Dub Taylor (1965-1966), Ellen Corby, Bill Quinn (1966-1967) and Jean VanderPyl (1966-1967).
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Hazel, The Andy Griffith Show (as Billy Gray in the episode "One-Punch Opie"), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (6 episodes), The Addams Family, My Three Sons and My Favorite Martian. He appeared on episodes of The 20th Century-Fox Hour in 1956 and The Law and Mr. Jones in 1961.
His family said he was a talented musician, a proficient poker player and an amateur videographer. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Michelle.
Jessica Walter (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Emmy-winning actress Jessica Walter starred as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development. She died in her sleep at her home in Manhattan, New York, on March 24, 2021. Ms. Walter was 80.
Walter's early television guest appearances included Flipper, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Name of the Game, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Alias Smith and Jones, Mannix, Banacek, Barnaby Jones, The Magician, Columbo, Hawaii Five-0 and Ironside. She won an Emmy Award in 1975 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for her work in the NBC police drama Amy Prentiss. Amy Prentiss was a relatively young investigator who becomes the first female Chief of Detectives for the San Francisco Police Department following the previous chief's death. The series was a spin-off of Ironside.
She had a recurring role as Claudia Bradford in eight episodes the 1984-1985 ABC sitcom Three's a Crowd. Claudia Bradford was Vicky Bradford's (Mary Cadorette) mother and James Bradford's (Robert Mandan) ex-wife. The Three's Company spin-off also starred John Ritter and Alan Campbell.
Walter provided the voice of Fran Sinclair on the 1991-1994 ABC sitcom Dinosaurs. Fran Sinclair was a ten-ton allosaurus who was the mother and homemaker of the Sinclair family. The cast providing voices included Stuart Pankin, Jason Willinger, Sally Struthers, Kevin Clash, Florence Stanley, Sam McMurray and Sherman Hemsley.
Walter starred as Celia Calloway on the 1998-2000 Lifetime sitcom Oh Baby. Celia was the bossy mother of Tracy Calloway (Cynthia Stevenson). The series also starred Joanna Gleason, Matt Champagne, Dina Spybey, Doug Ballard, Jack Coleman, Patrick Kerr and Don McMarcus.
She starred as the scheming alcoholic socialite matriarch Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development. Lucille is the wife of George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) and the mother of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman). Walter received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series for the role in 2005. The series aired on Fox for three seasons from 2003 to 2005 before being revived by Netflix for seasons four (2013) and five (2018-2019). It also stars Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross and Ron Howard (narrator).
Walter starred as Elaine Robbins on the 2011-2012 TV Land sitcom Retired at 35. It ran for two seasons and 20 episodes. The series follows a successful New Yorker named David (Johnathan McClain), who decides to leave the rat race and his job in the big city and visit his father (George Segal) and mother (Jessica Walter) who live in a retirement community in Florida. The series also starred Josh McDermitt, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Season 1) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Season 2).
She starred as Maggie Doyle on the 2014 TV Land sitcom Jennifer Falls. The series follows Jennifer Doyle (Jaime Pressly), a single mother who, after losing her high salary job, has to move back in with her mother, Maggie. It also starred Missi Pyle, Ethlan Suplee, Nora Kirkpatrick and Dylan Gelula.
Walter provided the voice of Malory Hunter on the FX/FXX animated series Archer for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020. Malory Hunter is the mother Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin). The show has been renewed for season 12. Others providing voices include Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler and Lucky Yates.
Some of her sitcom guest appearances included Love, American Style, Aloha Paradise, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Love Boat, Coach (5 episodes as Susan Miller), You Wish, Just Shoot Me! (as Eve Gallo, the mother of Maya (Laura San Giacomo) and the ex-wife of magazine publisher Jack Gallo (George Segal)), Rules of Engagement, Happy Hour, The Big Bang Theory, The Odd Couple (2016), Difficult People and American Housewife.
She had a supporting role as Phyllis Koster, the wife of David Koster (William Shatner), on the short-lived 1965 CBS police drama For the People. She had a recurring role as Melanie McIntyre, Trapper John's (Pernell Roberts) former wife on the CBS medical drama Trapper John, M.D. from 1979 to 1985. In 1982, she appeared as Anne McPherson on the NBC drama The Round Table. She played Ava Marshall on the short-lived 1983 NBC primetime soap opera Bare Essence. She starred as Connie Lo Verde on the 1988 NBC drama Aaron's Way. She was a regular as Tabitha Wilson on the first half of the first season of 90210 from 2008 to 2009.
Some of her other drama television guest appearances in the 1970s and 1980s included McCloud, The Streets of San Francisco, McMillan and Wife, Wonder Woman, Quincy, M.E., Knots Landing, Matt Houston, Hotel, Magnum, P.I. and Murder, She Wrote. Her later guest appearances included Babylon 5, Law & Order, One Life to Live (6 episodes), Jack & Jill, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Saving Grace, Gravity, NCIS and Good Girls.
Her film credits included Play Misty for Me (1971), Grand Prix (1966), The Group (1966), Going Ape! (1981), Spring Fever (1983), The Flamingo Kid (1984) and PCU (1994).
Yvonne Wilder (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Yvonne Wilder starred on Operation Petticoat and had a recurring role on Full House. She died at home in Los Angeles, California, on November 24, 2021. Ms. Wilder was 84.
Wilder starred as Major Edna Howard on the first season (1977-1978) of the ABC sitcom Operation Petticoat.
She starred as Maria Rodriguez on the short-lived 1983 ABC sitcom Condo. The cast included McLean Stevenson, Brooke Alderson, Mark Schubb, Marc Price, Luis Avalos, Julie Carmen and James Victor.
Wilder had a recurring role as Irene Cochran/Katsopolis in seven episodes of Full House from 1988 to 1991.
Some of her other sitcom guest appearances included Hennesey, Hey, Landlord (1967), Room 222, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Partridge Family, The Girl with Something Extra, Popi, On the Rocks, Archie Bunker's Place, Mama's Family, Gimme a Break! and 227.
Cara Williams (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actress Cara Williams starred on Pete and Gladys and The Cara Williams Show. She died on December 9, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California. Ms. Williams was 96.
Williams starred as Gladys Porter on the 1960-1962 CBS sitcom Pete and Gladys. She was nominated for a 1962 Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by a Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The cast included Harry Morgan, Verna Felton (1960-1961), Barbara Stuart (1960-1961), Peter Leeds, Shirley Mitchell, Ernest Truex (1961), Mina Kolb (1961-1962), Joe Mantell (1961-1962), Gale Gordon, Frances Rafferty (1961-1962) and Bill Hinnant (1961-1962).
She starred as Cara Bridges/Wilton on the 1964-1965 CBS sitcom The Cara Williams Show. Williams and Frank Aletter (who played Frank Bridges) portrayed a married couple who had to keep their marriage secret from their employer. It also starred Paul Reed, Reta Shaw, Jack Sheldon, Jeanne Arnold and Audrey Christie.
Michael K. Williams (IMDB/Wikipedia)
Actor Michael K. Williams had recurring roles on Community and F Is for Family. He died on September 6, 2001, in Brooklyn, New York, of an accidental drug overdose. Mr. Williams was 54.
Williams had a recurring role as Biology Professor Marshall Kane in three episodes of Community in 2011 and 2012.
He had a recurring role as the voice of Smokey Greenwood for seasons 2-5 of F Is for Family.
Some of his television drama credits included The Wire, Alias, Six Degrees, The Kill Point, Boardwalk Empire, Hap and Leonard, When They See Us and Lovecraft Country.
Television writer, producer, actor, and comedian Marc Wilmore worked on The PJs, The Simpsons and F Is for Family. He died on January 30, 2021, from COVID-19 complications. Mr. Wilmore was 57.
Wilmore provided the voice of Walter Burkett for the 1999-2001 Fox/WB animated sitcom The PJs. He also wrote two episodes and worked as an executive story editor for 41 episodes.
Some of his other voice acting credits included The Simpsons and F Is for Family. He appeared in a 2000 episode of Manhattan, AZ.
Some of his other writing credits included Harry and the Hendersons, The Simpsons (12 episodes) and F Is for Family (3 episodes). He worked as an executive producer on The Simpsons and F Is for Family.
He was a regular cast member of the sketch comedy series In Living Color for the show's final season. He also worked on the series as a writer for 54 episodes from 1992 to 1994.
He was an Emmy winner in 2008 for his work on The Simpsons and a 10-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee. He was the brother of comedian Larry Wilmore.
Actor Mark York had a recurring role as Billy Merchant on The Office. He died on May 19, 2021, at Miami Valley Hospital, Ohio, due to natural causes. From 1988 until his death, he had been a paraplegic and used a wheelchair due to an automobile accident. Mr. York was 55.
York appeared as Billy Merchant in four episodes of the NBC sitcom The Office from 2006 to 2009. Billy Merchant was the no-nonsense building/property manager for the Scranton Business Park.
His other television credits included a 2004 episode of 8 Simple Rules and a 2006 episode of CSI: NY. His film appearances included Going All the Way (1997), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) and Fighting Words (2007).
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, December 26
Ghosts - "The Christmas: Spirit One" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
In part one of a special one-hour #Ghostsmas episode, Jay’s sister, Bela (Punam Patel), visits Woodstone Mansion and brings along an adoring male friend, inspiring Sam to spark a romance between them in the spirit of the holiday rom-coms she loves. Meanwhile, the ghosts have conjured up a very different holiday plan for Trevor and Bela. Also, Isaac has an awkward encounter with Nigel that forces him to look back on events in his life.
Ghosts - "The Christmas: Spirit Two" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
In part two of a special one-hour #Ghostsmas episode, Sam and Thorfinn get caught in the crossfire as the scheme Jay’s sister, Bela (Punam Patel), and the ghosts have conjured up goes awry. Also, Isaac’s marriage to Beatrice sheds light on how apprehensive he has been in communicating his feelings to Nigel.
Ghosts - "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1" / "A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 2" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
A leaky water heater mishap threatens to ruin holiday plans as Sam and Jay prepare to host Jay’s hard-to-please dad, Mahesh (Bernard White), difficult-to-impress mom, Champa (Sakina Jaffrey), and sister Bela (Punam Patel), on a one-hour GHOSTSMAS special.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 23)
Thursday, December 26
- Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Catch Jenny on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Paul Feig (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/The Louie Show/The Jackie Thomas Show/Dirty Dancing) - Paul is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Luke Wilson (No Good Deed/Englightened) - Luke is joining Drew for a round of "Behind-the-Scenes" with tidbits from his roles in movies like Legally Blonde on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings. He's also telling her about his role in the thrilling new show, No Good Deed.
- Whitney Cummings (Whitney) - Whitney is chatting with Drew about joining her on Hollywood Squares, going back to work in comedy after becoming a mother, and hosting her new trivia show about Friends on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle appears on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Sanaa Lathan (Family Guy/The Cleveland Show/LateLine) - Sanaa and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor talk about the enduring power of friendship in their new Hulu film The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat on a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Carol Kane (Taxi/All Is Forgiven/Amerian Dreamer/Pearl/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) - Carol chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Lamorne Morris (Woke/New Girl) - Lamorne sits down for an interview on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
- Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay talks about his new virtual reality series Soapstone Comedy Presents on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - The Ropers - The Complete Series (VEI)
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Video Scrapbook
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K UHD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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