RIP Tom Poston

Website · Post by **brian** » Wed May 02, 2007 6:27 am

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tom Poston, the baggy-eyed comic actor who made a career of playing befuddled, glum characters on such TV shows as "Newhart" and "Mork & Mindy," has died at age 85, a spokeswoman for his family said on Tuesday.

Poston, also remembered as a longtime celebrity panelist on the popular U.S. game show of the 1950s and 1960s, "To Tell the Truth," died on Monday at his Los Angeles home after a brief illness, according to the spokeswoman, Tanner Gibson.

Details of his illness were not revealed.

A Cleveland native who was as a military pilot during World War Two, Poston made his Broadway debut in 1947 in the Jose Ferrer production of "Cyrano de Bergerac" and soon found work in film and television.

He gained fame on national television as a sketch comedy regular on the original "The Tonight Show" with Steve Allen during the 1950s.

But Poston made his biggest mark playing sidekick roles on various situation comedies, including a memorable recurring role as Bob Newhart's old college pal Cliff "The Peeper" Murdoch on "The Bob Newhart Show" in the 1970s.

Their chemistry was so good that Poston was later cast as the somewhat absent-minded caretaker George Utley on Newhart's new series in the 1980s, "Newhart," a part that earned him three Emmy nominations.

Poston also joined Robin Williams' hit ABC sitcom "Mork & Mindy" in 1979 as the grouchy downstairs neighbor Mr. Bickley, and in 1995 was cast in another ABC hit comedy, "Grace Under Fire," playing Floyd, the father of series star Brett Butler's pharmacist friend, Russell ( Dave Thomas).

Film roles included his 1953 debut as a detective in "The City That Never Sleeps."

He is survived by his third wife, actress Suzanne Pleshette, with whom he appeared on "The Bob Newhart Show" and married in May 2001.

I had no idea he married Suzanne Pleshette!

LHawke · Post by **LHawke** » Wed May 02, 2007 7:32 am

I had no idea he married Suzanne Pleshette!

Neither did I!!!!!!!

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:42 am

Lovely man.....a great talent.

As for Pleshette.....I didn't know they were married, either!

Xjmt · Post by **Xjmt** » Wed May 02, 2007 3:47 pm

Another talent lost. One of those thespians who went for the acting instead of stardom. I kind of feel he could get away with playing any role.

Yeah, Ms Pleshette. A bit of a sex symbol when she started out in movies then became quite a commedienne for TV. Kinda like Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks. "She married WHO!?" Just goes to show you that the way to a woman's heart is through her funny bone.

But Holy Cow, the Jose Ferrer production of "Cyrano de Bergerac"! I wonder if he made it to the movie version. It's an excellent production and staged more like a play than a film. I think Jose Ferrer either won or was at least nominated for best actor for the play (Tony) film (Academy Award) and a TV production (Emmy).

And, yes, that's one of his sons on "Crossing Jordan".

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Wed May 02, 2007 4:38 pm

And, yes, that's one of his sons on "Crossing Jordan".

.....his and Rosy Clooney's.

Xjmt · Post by **Xjmt** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:11 am

And yet all I can remember is that the couple fought a lot.

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:02 am

......and made up, a lot.

Xjmt · Post by **Xjmt** » Thu May 03, 2007 2:37 pm

What better reason for fighting??

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:50 pm

LHawke · Post by **LHawke** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:35 am

reminds me of Tom and Belanna...

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:31 am

...except I don't believe Mel was as nice as Tom.

Xjmt · Post by **Xjmt** » Sun May 06, 2007 11:00 am

Or as talented.

lswot · Post by **lswot** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:51 pm

Ya thinK?

Xjmt · Post by **Xjmt** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:46 am

LHawke · Post by **LHawke** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:20 pm

hmmm, not having known the man (Mel), I couldn't say.

What is it about men named Mel, anyway???

The Show Place

RIP Tom Poston

Re: RIP Tom Poston