Marvin Kaplan
| Marvin Kaplan | |
|---|---|
 Kaplan from the trailer for the film A New Kind of Love, 1963 | |
| Born |
January 24, 1927 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor/Voice artist |
| Years active | 1949–present |
| Spouse(s) | Rosa Felsenburg (m. 1973–76) |
| Website | |
| http://www.marvinkaplan.com/ | |
Marvin Kaplan (born January 24, 1927) is an American character actor and voice artist.
Life and career
Marvin Kaplan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1927.
He is probably best known for his recurring role on the sitcom Alice where he portrayed a phone lineman named Henry Beesmeyer who frequented Mel's diner. He was a part of the cast from 1977 to the series end in 1985. His oft-referred to wife on the show, Chloe, was only seen once, played by Ruth Buzzi.
His first film role came in 1949, as the court reporter in Adam's Rib with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, where in his trademark deadpan style he asks Tracy how to spell "Pinky", a private pet name for Hepburn's character that Tracy had accidentally used while in court.
Kaplan had a regular role in the radio sitcom and later TV 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. In addition, the actor was the voice of Choo-Choo on the 1960s cartoon series Top Cat and had a small role in the 1963 film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World playing a gas station attendant; in both roles he was featured alongside actor Arnold Stang (the voice of Top Cat). Among other roles, Kaplan co-starred in the 1965 Blake Edwards comedy The Great Race alongside Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood and Peter Falk. He also made a brief appearance as a carpet cleaner in the 1976 film Freaky Friday.
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 most recently, The Garfield Show in 2011.
Kaplan was the commercial spokesperson for the American cologne Eau de Love, and he also had a recurring role as Mr. Gordon on the television sitcom Becker.
Selected Filmography
- Adam's Rib - Court Stenographer (1949)
- Francis - First Medical Corps lieutenant (1950)
- Key to the City - Newspaper Photographer (1950)
- The Reformer and the Redhead - Leon (1950)
- I Can Get It for You Wholesale - Arnold Fisher (1951)
- Behave Yourself! - Max the Umbrella (1951)
- The Nutty Professor - English Student (1963)
- A New Kind of Love - Harry (1963)
- It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - Gas Station Attendant (1963)
- The Great Race - Frisbee (1965)
- Snakes - Brother Joy (1973)
- Freaky Friday - Carpet Cleaner (1976)
- Midnight Madness - Bonaventure Desk Clerk (1980)
- Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats - Choo-Choo (1987)
- Wild at Heart - Uncle Pooch (1990)
- Autism and Cake - Mark (2012)
External links
- Official website
- Marvin Kaplan at the Internet Movie Database
- An interview with Marvin Kaplan, April 2012 - Part One
- An interview with Marvin Kaplan, April 2012 - Part Two
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