Marvin Kaplan

Marvin Wilbur Kaplan (January 24, 1927 – August 25, 2016) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter who was best known as Henry Beesmeyer in ''Alice'' (1978–1985).

Early years

Kaplan was born on January 24, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Dr. I. E. Kaplan and his wife. He attended Public School 16, and Junior High School 50 and graduated from Eastern District High School in 1943. He graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor's degree in English in 1947 and later took classes in theater at the University of Southern California.

Television

Kaplan is probably best known for his recurring role on the sitcom ''Alice'' where he portrayed a telephone lineman named Henry Beesmeyer who frequented Mel's diner. He was with the cast from 1977 until the series ended in 1985.

In addition, the actor was the voice of Choo-Choo on the cartoon series ''Top Cat'' (1961–62).
Besides his role on ''Alice'', he was Marvin on '' The Chicago Teddy Bears'' and Dwight McGonigle in '' On the Air''. He also provided the voice of Skids on the Saturday morning cartoon '' CB Bears''.

In other roles, he portrayed Mr. Milfloss in '' The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'', an electronics expert, Ensign Kwasniak, on McHale's Navy episode 104 (season 3 episode 32) "All Ahead, Empty", and in 1969, appeared as Stanley on ''Petticoat Junction'' in the episode: "The Other Woman". He later played Mr. Gordon on '' Becker'' alongside Ted Danson.

In 1987, he reprised his role of Choo-Choo for '' Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats''. At the same time, he actively returned to voice-over acting, playing roles in shows such as '' Garfield and Friends'', ''Aaahh!!! Real Monsters'', ''Johnny Bravo'', and later, '' The Garfield Show'' in 2011. Kaplan was the commercial spokesperson for the American cologne Eau de Love.

Radio

Kaplan had a regular role in the radio sitcom and later television version of '' Meet Millie'' as Alfred Prinzmetal, an aspiring poet-composer. The program ran from 1951–54 on radio and continued on television from 1952–56.

He joined the California Artists Radio Theatre In January 1984 and performed leading roles in over twenty 90 minute productions. He created two musicals for the group and one."A Good House For A Killing" is a successful Musical Comedy. He appeared in CART's Alice in Wonderland as the White Rabbit,:And In Norman Corwin's Plot to Overthrow Christmas with CART, as Nero's messenger opposite David Warner. He Was in CART's Bradbury 75th Birthday Tribute. He played opposite Jo Ann Worley in three CART productions :Corwin's 100th Birthday, Chekhov's Humoresque and in The Man With Bogart's Face" he was the Cowardly Lion in Cart's Wizard of Oz opposite Norman Lloyd and Linda Henning. And was the Lead in"Clarence" opposite Samantha Eggar and Janet Waldo; and Dr. Einstein opposite David Warner in Cart's Arsenic and Old Lace..He served on the Board for California Artists Radio Theatre for 32 years.
Marvin Kaplan appeared as Geppetto on Adventures in Odyssey's Club episode entitled ''The Tale of a Foolish Puppet Parts 1 & 2'' recorded in 2014 and released in 2015.

Film

Kaplan's first film role was as a court reporter in '' Adam's Rib'' (1949). He had a small role in the 1963 film ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' (1963) playing a gas station attendant alongside Arnold Stang

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