Ralph Tabakin (September 22, 1921 – May 13, 2001) was an American actor.
Career
In his acting career, Tabakin is most associated with the work of
Barry Levinson
Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American filmmaker, comedian and actor. Levinson's best-known works are mid-budget comedy drama and drama films such as '' Diner'' (1982); '' The Natural'' (1984); '' Good Morning, Vietnam'' (1987) ...
, as he appeared in fifteen of Levinson's films from ''
Diner
A diner is a small, inexpensive restaurant found across the United States, as well as in Canada and parts of Western Europe. Diners offer a wide range of foods, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a co ...
'' onward. His appearance in ''Diner'' began after a visit to the set where he impressed Levinson. Considered a lucky charm of Levinson, Tabakin is perhaps best known for playing
medical examiner
The medical examiner is an appointed official in some American jurisdictions who is trained in pathology that investigates deaths that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdict ...
San Antonio, Texas
("Cradle of Freedom")
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, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
, he was the middle child in a family of five. They would also live in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
veteran, being decorated with five
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
engineer for several years. He died in 2001 due to heart disease. He is buried in Judean Memorial Gardens in
Olney, Maryland
Olney is a U.S. census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located in the north central part of the county, north of Washington, D.C.
Olney was largely agricultural until the 1960s, when growth of ...
.
Filmography
See also
*
Late bloomer
A late bloomer is a person whose talents or capabilities are not visible to others until later than usual.
Late bloomer or Late bloomers may also refer to:
* ''Late Bloomers'' (2006 film) (German: ''Die Herbstzeitlosen''), 2006 Swiss film direct ...