Phil Leeds
Phil Leeds | |
|---|---|
 Leeds inGhost | |
| Born | April 6, 1916 New York City,United States |
| Died | August 16, 1998(aged 82) Los Angeles, California,United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1949–1998 |
| Spouse | Toby Brandt (1934–1987; her death) |
Phil Leeds(April 6, 1916 – August 16, 1998) was an Americancharacter actor.[1]He is best known for appearing in many movies and television series, including guest appearances inThe Dick Van Dyke Show,Maude,Friends,Barney Miller,The Golden Girls,Everybody Loves Raymond,Boy Meets Worldand more.
Early life
[edit]Leeds was born into a New York City Jewish family on April 6, 1916. His father was a post office clerk. Raised in the Bronx, he was a peanut vendor for some time nearYankee Stadiumand Manhattan'sPolo Grounds.[2]After serving in the US Army inWorld War II,he started his entertainment career.
Career
[edit]He began his career as a standup comedian and then went on to appear in several films and sitcoms, includingRosemary's Baby,Beaches,All in the Family,Three's Company,Night Court,Wings,Ally McBeal,Everybody Loves Raymond,The Larry Sanders Showin three episodes as Hank Kingsley's agent,Barney Millerin seven episodes including in one as a man who propositions Detective Fish,Car 54, Where Are You?,The Patty Duke Show,The Monkees,The Odd Couple,Happy Days,Friends,Roseanneas Leon's co-worker and lover,Mad About You,The Dick Van Dyke Show,as Buddy Sorrell's pool shark brother,The Golden Girls,andDouble Rush.Other roles include appearing as a friendly spirit in the 1990 filmGhost,the episode "When I'm 64" of the TV seriesALFas Jack, one of the residents of a retirement home.
At age 80, he appeared on the 1996Halloween episodeofRoseanne,"Satan, Darling", in which Roseanne finds herself drawn into a parody version ofRosemary's Baby(Leeds had played Dr. Shand in the original 1968 film). His final role was a brief scene inLost & Found(1999).
Blacklist
[edit]Leeds wasblacklistedduring theMcCarthy eraafterpleading the fifthwhen examined by theHouse Un-American Activities Committee.[3][4]
Personal life
[edit]Leeds was married to fellow character actress Toby Brandt for 53 years (1934–1987) until her death. Leeds wasJewish.[5]
Death
[edit]Leeds died of pneumonia on August 16, 1998, atCedars-Sinai Medical Centerin Los Angeles[1]at age 82. "Happy Trails," an episode ofAlly McBeal,featured footage of his prior appearances on the show, eulogizing his character.[citation needed]
Filmography
[edit]- Rosie(1960, TV pilot) as Rosie
- The Dick Van Dyke Show(1962, TV Series) as Blackie Sorrell
- The Monkees(1966, TV Series) as Bernie Class ( "I've Got a Little Song Here" )
- Rosemary's Baby(1968) as Dr. Shand
- Don't Drink the Water(1969) as Sam Blackwell
- The Odd Couple(1972) as Salty Pepper
- Maude(1973, TV Series) as Principal Fishman
- Mastermind(1976) as Israeli Agent #2
- Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood(1976) as Dog Catcher
- Silent Movie(1976) as Waiter (uncredited)
- Three's Company(1979) as Lyle Wormwold
- History of the World, Part I(1981) as Chief Monk for the Spanish Inquisition
- CBS Children's Mystery Theatre(1981, episodeThe Haunting of Harrington House) as Uncle Max
- Frankenstein's Great Aunt Tillie(1984) as Banker Schlockmocker
- Night Court(1984, TV Series) as Norm, God 2 and Arnold Koppelson
- Saturday the 14th Strikes Back(1988) as Leonard
- Beaches(1988) as Sammy Pinkers
- Cat Chaser(1989) as Jerry Shea
- Enemies, A Love Story(1989) as Pesheles
- Ghost(1990) as Emergency Room Ghost
- Coach(1990, TV Series) as Man
- He Said, She Said(1991) as Mr. Spepk
- Soapdish(1991) as Old Man
- Frankie and Johnny(1991) as Mr. DeLeon
- All I Want for Christmas(1991) as Mr. Feld
- Matlock(1993, TV Series) as Marty Willis
- Clean Slate(1994) as Landlord
- The Larry Sanders Show(1994) as Sid Bessel, Hank's agent
- Double Rush(1995, TV series) as "The Kid"
- Two Much(1996) as The Lincoln Brigade
- Friends(1996) as Mr. Adelman
- Everybody Loves Raymond(1996-1998) as Uncle Mel
- Wings(1996, TV Series) as Lou
- Murphy Brown(1997, TV Series) as Old Man
- Krippendorf's Tribe(1998) as Dr. Harvey
- Lost & Found(1999) as Mr. Elderly Couple (final film role)
- Boy Meets Worldas Phil/Milton
- Barney Milleras Arthur Bloom
- Ally McBeal(1997 to 2002 TV Series) as Judge Happy Boyle
References
[edit]- ^ab"Phil Leeds, 82, Comic on Stage and Screen".The New York Times.August 21, 1998.Retrieved2007-09-25.
- ^"Phil Leeds Biography".FilmReference.com.RetrievedSeptember 24,2013.
- ^Leszczak, Bob (6 August 2014).The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide.McFarland.ISBN9780786477906.Retrieved31 December2017– via Google Books.
- ^Zhulin, Denis Larionov & Alexander."Read the eBook Investigation of Communist activities in the New York City area. Hearings (Volume Pts. 6-8) by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-Am online for free (page 7 of 30)".Ebooksread.com.Retrieved31 December2017.
- ^"Why ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Was Really A Jewish Horror Movie."Abrams, Nathan.The Jewish Daily Forwardwww.forward.comPublished April 12, 2018. Accessed August 20, 2021.
