Harry Anderson: Difference between revisions

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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
A longtime fan of singer [[Mel Tormé]], Anderson's character Judge Stone on ''Night Court'' was also a Tormé fan; the singer appeared on the sitcom six times (as himself). ''Night Court''{{'}}s creator [[Reinhold Weege]] stated that Anderson being a Tormé fan like his character was completely coincidental.<ref>{{cite interview |first= Reinhold |last= Weege| title= DVD Extras| work= Night Court: The Complete First Season| publisher=Warner Bros. Home Video}}</ref> Anderson was among those who delivered [[eulogy|eulogies]] at the singer's funeral in 1999.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/08/news/mn-45301| work= Los Angeles Times| title= Services Today for Mel Torme| date= June 8, 1999| access-date= August 23, 2016}}</ref>
A longtime fan of singer [[Mel Tormé]], Anderson's character Judge Stone on ''Night Court'' was also a Tormé fan; the singer appeared on the sitcom six times (as himself).<ref name="Variety">{{cite web|url=http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/harry-anderson-night-court-dead-at-65-1202754949/|title=Harry Anderson, ‘Night Court’ Star, Dies at 65|publisher=Variety|date=April 16, 2018|accessdate=April 16, 2018}}</ref> ''Night Court''{{'}}s creator [[Reinhold Weege]] stated that Anderson being a Tormé fan like his character was completely coincidental.<ref>{{cite interview |first= Reinhold |last= Weege| title= DVD Extras| work= Night Court: The Complete First Season| publisher=Warner Bros. Home Video}}</ref> Anderson was among those who delivered [[eulogy|eulogies]] at the singer's funeral in 1999.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/08/news/mn-45301| work= Los Angeles Times| title= Services Today for Mel Torme| date= June 8, 1999| access-date= August 23, 2016}}</ref>


In 2006, Anderson and his wife Elizabeth moved from New Orleans to [[Asheville, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/30/arts/television/30harr.html |title= For Harry Anderson, the New Orleans Magic Is Gone|first= John| last= Schwartz |work= [[The New York Times]]| date= August 30, 2006| access-date= August 23, 2016}}</ref>
In 2006, Anderson and his wife Elizabeth moved from New Orleans to [[Asheville, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/30/arts/television/30harr.html |title= For Harry Anderson, the New Orleans Magic Is Gone|first= John| last= Schwartz |work= [[The New York Times]]| date= August 30, 2006| access-date= August 23, 2016}}</ref>


Anderson was found dead in his Asheville home on April 16, 2018.<ref name=HollywoodReporter/><ref name="WPO">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/night-court-star-harry-anderson-65-found-dead-in-home/2018/04/16/b035f816-41da-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html|title='Night Court' Star, Harry Anderson, Dead at 65|publisher=Washington Post|date=April 16, 2018|accessdate=April 16, 2018}}</ref> He was 65 years old.<ref name="Variety"/.
Anderson died in his Asheville home on April 16, 2018.<ref name=HollywoodReporter/>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==

Revision as of 03:30, 17 April 2018

Harry Anderson
Anderson in 1988
Born
Harry Laverne Anderson

(1952-10-14)October 14, 1952
DiedApril 16, 2018(2018-04-16) (aged 65)
Occupation(s)Actor, magician
Years active1978–2018
Spouses
  • Leslie Pollack
    (m. 1977; div. 1999)
    [1]
  • Elizabeth Morgan
    (m. 2000)
Children2

Harry Laverne Anderson (October 14, 1952 – April 16, 2018) was an American actor and magician. He is best known for the role of Judge Harry Stone on the 1984–92 television series Night Court. In addition to eight appearances on Saturday Night Live between 1981 and 1985, Anderson had a recurring guest role as con man Harry "The Hat" Gittes on Cheers, toured extensively as a magician, and did several magic/comedy shows for broadcast, including Harry Anderson's Sideshow (1987).

Early life

Harry Anderson was born October 14, 1952, in Newport, Rhode Island.[2] Anderson was drawn to the art of magic in his youth.[3] After moving to Los Angeles, he practiced his skills often.[3] He joined the Dante Magic Club in his teens and reportedly made money as a street magician in San Francisco when he was 17.[4] He graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1970 as class valedictorian.[1]

Career

His many appearances on Saturday Night Live led to his role as Harry "The Hat" Gittes on several seasons of the TV sitcom Cheers and eventually as Judge Harry Stone on another hit television sitcom, Night Court. Anderson went on to appear in numerous other TV specials and shows, including 12 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. As a magician, Anderson toured extensively and performed many comedy/magic shows for clubs and broadcast, including Harry Anderson's Sideshow in 1987.[citation needed] In 1990, he starred in the television adaptation of Stephen King's It as the adult Richie Tozier.[5] From 1993 to 1997, Anderson starred in the TV sitcom Dave's World, based loosely on the life and columns of humor columnist Dave Barry.[6]

Together with longtime friend Turk Pipkin, Anderson wrote a book called Games You Can't Lose: A Guide for Suckers, a collection of gags, cons, tricks and scams. First published in 1989 (ISBN 978-1-58080-086-0, 2001 reprint), this title also contains a survey of "Games You Can't Win" told from an insider's perspective. He appeared with Criss Angel in a TV special called The Science of Magic, later released on DVD.[7] In November 2008, Anderson played himself on an episode of 30 Rock along with fellow Night Court cast members Markie Post and Charles Robinson.[8]

Anderson kept a nominally low profile after Dave's World was canceled. Tired of L.A.'s glaring spotlight, Anderson moved from Pasadena, California, to New Orleans in 2002. In the 1990s, he and his second wife Elizabeth (whom he met in New Orleans while she was bartending)[9] opened a small shop in the French Quarter named Sideshow,[10] selling various "magic, curiosities, and apocrypha".

In 2000, Anderson hosted the pilot for a potential revival of the classic panel game show What's My Line? for CBS primetime. It was rejected later in favor of the long-running reality show Survivor.[citation needed]

In 2005, Anderson opened a nightclub in the French Quarter called Oswald's Speakeasy, located at 1331 Decatur Street at the corner of Esplanade Avenue.[11] He performed a one-man show there called Wise Guy.[12]

Anderson appeared in Hexing a Hurricane, a documentary about the first six months in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.[13] He and his wife Elizabeth sold Oswald's Speakeasy in October 2006. Anderson continued to present his evening show Wise Guy, which was originally developed for his theater in New Orleans.[citation needed] Popular webcomic Homestuck makes several references to Anderson, including a fictional book by Anderson called Wise Guy.

Personal life

A longtime fan of singer Mel Tormé, Anderson's character Judge Stone on Night Court was also a Tormé fan; the singer appeared on the sitcom six times (as himself).[14] Night Court's creator Reinhold Weege stated that Anderson being a Tormé fan like his character was completely coincidental.[15] Anderson was among those who delivered eulogies at the singer's funeral in 1999.[16]

In 2006, Anderson and his wife Elizabeth moved from New Orleans to Asheville, North Carolina.[17]

Anderson was found dead in his Asheville home on April 16, 2018.[4][18] He was 65 years old.<ref name="Variety"/.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1981–85 Saturday Night Live Himself 8 episodes
1982–93 Cheers Harry 'The Hat' Gittes 6 episodes
1984–92 Night Court Judge Harold "Harry" T. Stone 193 episodes; also occasional director and writer
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1984–86)
1985 Tales from the Darkside Leon Episode: "All a Clone by the Telephone"
1988 Tanner '88 Billy Ridenhour 2 episodes
1988 Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs Freddie Movie
1988 The Absent-Minded Professor Professor Henry Crawford Movie (remake)
1990 Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme Peter Piper Movie
1990 It Richie Tozier Miniseries
1990 Tales from the Crypt Jim Korman Episode: "Korman's Kalamity"
1992 Parker Lewis Can't Lose Ronny Ray Rasmussen Episode: "Glory Daze"
1993–97 Dave's World Dave Barry 98 episodes
1994 Hearts Afire Dave Barry Episode: "Sleepless in a Small Town"
1996 Night Stand with Dick Dietrick Harry Episode: "UFO Mother Show"
1996 The John Larroquette Show Dr. Gates Episode: "Cosmetic Perjury"
1996 Harvey Elwood P. Dowd Movie (remake)
1997 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Dr. Klaus 'Fat Head' Mensa Episode: "The Family Hour"
1998 Noddy Jack Fable Episode: "The Magic Show"
2002 Son of the Beach Bull Cracker Episode: "The Long Hot Johnson"
2008 30 Rock Himself Episode: "The One with the Cast of Night Court"
2013 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself Episode: "Rainn Wilson Wears a Short Sleeved Plaid Shirt & Colorful Sneakers"
2014 Gotham Comedy Live Himself Episode: "Harry Anderson"

Film

Year Title Role
1982 The Escape Artist Harry Masters
2006 Hexing a Hurricane Himself
2014 A Matter of Faith Professor Kaman

References

  1. ^ a b "Harry Anderson: Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "Harry Anderson, magician and star of 'Night Court,' dies at 65". NBC News. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "'Night Court' star John Larroquette is 'heartsick' over Harry Anderson; stars pay tribute". USA Today. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Shanely, Patric (April 16, 2018). "'Night Court' Actor Harry Anderson Dies at 65". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ Alter, Ethan (November 17, 2015). "Back to Derry: An Oral History of 'Stephen King's It'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  6. ^ Meltzer, Matt (July 29, 2007). "Dave's World: Miami Herald Columnist Dave Barry Goes TV". MiamiBeach411.com.
  7. ^ The Science of Magic. Amazon.com
  8. ^ Canning, Robert (November 14, 2008). "30 Rock: "The One With the Cast of Night Court" Review". IGN TV. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  9. ^ "Hocus Focus: Sayonara, Sitcoms. Harry Anderson, a Magician at Heart, Happily Hawks Mumbo Jumbo in the Land of Gumbo". People. 58 (17). October 21, 2002. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  10. ^ "New Orleans, Louisiana: Feejee Mermaid, Animal Freaks (Closed)". RoadsideAmerica.com. January 24, 2007. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  11. ^ "Harry Anderson's Oswald's Speakeasy and Sideshow". FrenchQuarter.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  12. ^ "Harry Anderson in Wise Guy, Oswald's Speakeasy, August 3, 2005". offBeat.com. September 1, 2005. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  13. ^ "Harry Anderson profile". ten18films.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Harry Anderson, 'Night Court' Star, Dies at 65". Variety. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  15. ^ Weege, Reinhold. "DVD Extras". Night Court: The Complete First Season (Interview). Warner Bros. Home Video.
  16. ^ "Services Today for Mel Torme". Los Angeles Times. June 8, 1999. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  17. ^ Schwartz, John (August 30, 2006). "For Harry Anderson, the New Orleans Magic Is Gone". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  18. ^ "'Night Court' Star, Harry Anderson, Dead at 65". Washington Post. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.

External links