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Veteran television and film actor Tom Poston (October 17, 1921 – April 30, 2007) played the role of Mr. Frank Bickley, Mindy's grouchy downstairs neighbor on Mork & Mindy, where he appeared in 54 episodes.

About Tom[]

Tom Poston is widely regarded as one of the best comedic character actor in American Television History. A venerable TV/film actor, voice artist, and comedian who starred mainly on television in a career that began in 1950 and that spanned six decades. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist, comedy/variety show host, film actor, television actor, and Broadway performer. According to USA Today Life editor Dennis Moore, Poston appeared in more TV sitcoms than any other actor. [1]

Although he also appeared seriously in TV drama in the early stages, comedy would become his forte. Hosting the amusing daily TV show "Entertainment" led to his biggest break on Steve Allen's TV variety series The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1951). He, Louis Nye, Don Knotts and other members of Allen's stock company became famous for their hilarious characters in Allen's famed sketch sequences. Tom himself would be best remembered as the "Man on the Street" interviewee who could never remember his own name. Winning an Emmy during those four seasons with the Allen show (1956-1960), Tom went on to host another program -- this time a game show -- entitled Split Personality (1959).

When Mel Brooks submitted his idea for Get Smart to the ABC Poston was first choice for the lead role of Maxwell Smart. But ABC passed on the show, and when NBC picked it up the lead went to Don Adams. Poston, however, made a guest appearance on the show as a KAOS villain.

He was then a recurring guest star on The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s, playing "The Peeper," a buddy of Bob's since college. Whenever the Peeper came from Vermont to visit Newhart's Chicago-based character, Dr. Bob Hartley, the two middle-aged men would still try to one-up each other with practical jokes.

Poston then went on to play the role of Franklin Delano Bickley on Mork & Mindy, before playing George Utley, opposite Bob Newhart's character on the long-running CBS-TV sitcom series Newhart from 1982 to 1990 for which he received several Emmy nominations, as well as roles in ABC-TV's Grace Under Fire and an Emmy nominated appearance in ABC-TV's Coach.

Personal life[]

Tom was married four times, first to actress Jean Sullivan, from 1956 to 1958, with whom he has a daughter, actress Francesca Poston. In 1959 he dated Suzanne Pleshette while they were both in New York before she moved out to LA to pursue her career, and they remained friends after he too moved to L.A, and they were cast together on The Bob Newhart Show, where she played the wife of Newhart's character Bob Hartley. He was also married twice to Wilma Kay Hudson, from 1968-1975 and from 1980 until her death in 1998.[2] In 2001 he and Suzanne Pleshette married, his fourth marriage and her third, lasting until his death.

Death[]

After a brief illness, Poston died of respiratory failure on April 30, 2007, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 85.[3] Although Poston was not Jewish, he was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery (a Jewish cemetery), as Pleshette, his widow, was Jewish.


Primetime Emmy Awards[]

1991 Nominee

Primetime Emmy

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Coach (1989)

For playing "Art Hibke". For episode "Diamond's Are A Dentist's Best Friend".

1987 Nominee

Primetime Emmy

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Newhart (1982)

For playing "George Utley".

1986 Nominee

Primetime Emmy

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Newhart (1982)

For playing "George Utley".

1984 Nominee

Primetime Emmy

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Newhart (1982)

For playing "George Utley".

1959 Winner

Primetime Emmy

Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series

The Steve Allen Show (1951)


Television Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
1950 Tom Corbett, Space Cadet The Alkarian Episode: "The Mystery of Alkar"
1950 - 1951 Lights Out Sir John 02 Episodes
1951 Studio One in Hollywood Sentry / Alec Gordon 02 Episodes
1953 Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel Toby Winfield Unknown Episodes
1955 Goodyear Playhouse Currently Unknown Episode: "Tangled Web"
1956 Playwrights '56 Fletcher Episode: "You Sometimes Get Rich"
Robert Montgomery Presents Currently Unknown Episode: "Who?"
1956 - 1957 The Phil Silvers Show Guard House Lieutenant / The Lieutenant 02 Episodes
1956 - 1960 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show Comedian / Guest / Himself 44 Episodes
1957 The United States Steel Hour Chester Episode: "The Change in Chester"
The Steve Allen Show Comedian Episode: "#3.11"
1958 The Christmas Tree Tom Television Film
1958 - 1966 What's My Line? Himself / Mystery Guest / Panelist 10 Episodes
1959 The Ed Sullivan Show Lieutenant Ferguson Howard Episode: "#13.9"
1959 - 1960 Split Personality (Game Show) Himself / Host Studio: NBC Studio 8H, New York City, NY
1959 - 1967 To Tell the Truth Himself / Panelist 317 Episodes
1960 The Tempest Trinculo Television Film
Play of the Week Supervisor Episode: "The Enchanted"
1961 Thriller Charlie Denham Episode: "Masquerade"
1963 - 1964 Match Game Himself / Team Captain 35 Episodes
Missing Links Himself / Panelist 27 Episodes
1964 The Defenders Sheldon Lowell 02 Episodes
1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Janitor / Lieutenant Courtney Episode: "Double Jeopardy"
1968 Gentle Ben Joe Cardigan Episode: "Trophy Bear"
1969 The Good Guys Julian Brent Episode: "The World's Second Greatest Lover"
Get Smart Doctor Zharko Episode: "Shock It to Me"
1974 Bobby Parker and Company His Psychiatrist Television Film
1975 Harry and Maggie Arlo Wilson Television Short
1975 - 1976 On the Rocks Mister Sullivan 13 Episodes
1975 - 1977 The Bob Newhart Show Cliff Murdock 05 Episodes
1976 Alice Jerry Dittmeyer Episode: "Vera's Mortician"
1976 - 1977 Match Game Himself / Panelist 10 Episodes
1977 All's Fair Harold Banks Episode: "Save the Yak"
The Magnificent Magical Magnet of Santa Mesa William Bensinger Television Film
1977 - 1978 We've Got Each Other Damon Jerome 13 Episodes
1977 - 1987 The Love Boat Tom Poston / Daniel Baker / Mickey O'Day 03 Episodes
1978 A Guide to the Married Woman Marty Gibson Television Film
Flying High Zarky Episode: "The Vanishing Point"
Fame Car Salesman Television Film
1979 $weepstake$ Leeds Episode: "#1.2"
CHiPs Bill Conner Episode: "Quarantine"
Beane's of Boston Mister Frank Beane Pilot Episode
1979 - 1980 The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) Center Square / Himself / Panelist 21 Episodes
1979 - 1981 Mork & Mindy Mister Bickley 54 Episodes
1980 Good Time Harry Ben Younger Episode: "Ben Younger"
1981 The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite Omar Krepps Television Film
1981 - 1982 Password Plus Celebrity Contestant / Himself 11 Episodes
1982 King's Crossing Brian Gunshore Episode: "The Home Front"
I've Had It Up to Here Currently Unknown Television Film
1982 - 1990 Newhart George Utley 184 Episodes
1983 - 1984 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour Himself / Panelist 24 Episodes
1984 - 1985 Body Language Himself 15 Episodes
1984 - 1989 Super Password Celebrity Contestant / Himself 70 Episodes
1985 Hotel Tommy Rooney Episode: "Pathways"
1986 Crazy Like a Fox Currently Unknown Episode: "A Fox at the Races"
Fresno Doctor Parseghian Miniseries 04 Episodes
1987 D.C. Follies Tom Poston Episode: "Pilot"
1988 Save the Dog! Currently Unknown Television Film
St. Elsewhere Jim Morrison Episode: "The Abby Singer Show"
1990 A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder Don Corman Television Film
The Simpsons Capital City Goofball (voice) Episode: "Dancin' Homer"
1990 - 1991 Good Grief Ringo Prowley 13 Episodes
1990 - 1995 Coach Dr. Art Hibke / Art Hibke 04 Episodes
1991 Harry and the Hendersons Currently Unknown Episode: "Harry and the Homless Man"
1992 - 1993 Bob Jerry Fleisher 04 Episodes
1993 Dream On Sidney 'Uncle Bouncy' Barish Episode: "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape"
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Mysterious 'Dead Man' Episode: "Halloween"
1994 Big Daddy's Barbecue Virgil Television Film
1994 - 1995 Family Matters Mr. Looney 03 Episodes
1994 - 1996 Murphy Brown Old Man Swenson 02 Episodes
1995 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Ralph / Burly Man (voices) Episode: "Eau de Krumm/O'Lucky Monster"
1995 - 1997 Home Improvement Ted / Ned / The Clerk 03 Episodes
1995 - 1998 Grace Under Fire Floyd Norton 32 Episodes
1996 The Larry Sanders Show Tom Poston Episode: "My Name Is Asher Kingsley"
1997 George and Leo Traffic Cop Episode: "The Pilot Episode"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Mortgage Banker Episode: "Witch Trash"
1998 Just Shoot Me! Herb Episode: "Jack's Old Partner"
Touched by an Angel Ed Yablonsky Episode: "Cry and You Cry Alone"
Suddenly Susan Mr. Vance Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy"
Maggie Winters Lester Mulford Episode: "Mama's Got a Brand New Bag"
Rugrats Roy (voice) Episode: "Baking Dil/Hair!"
Contempt of Court Coroner Television Film
1999 Cosby Tim 02 Episodes
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Uncle Cosmo Episode: "Honey, It's the Ghostest with the Mostest"
Diagnosis: Murder Tom Porter Episode: "The Roast"
1999 - 2000 Malcolm & Eddie Garth Dubin 02 Episodes
2000 Dharma & Greg Dr. Gillespie Episode: "The Spy Who Said He Loved Me"
Normal, Ohio Stanley Episode: "Just Another Normal Christmas"
2001 The Drew Carey Show Roscoe Harvey Episode: "Oswald's Dad Returns"
King of the Hill Mr. Popper (voice) Episode: "Now Who’s the Dummy?"
ER Earl 02 Episodes
The Lone Gunmen Captain Toby / Fred Tabalowski Episode: "The 'Cap'n Toby' Show"
The Ellen Show Joe Episode: "Joe"
2002 Apple Valley Knights Justice Knight Sr. Unknown Episodes
Becker Joe Willakie Episode: "Talking Points"
Will & Grace Norman Episode: "Went to a Garden Potty"
Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776 Currently Unknown (voice) 05 Episodes
2002 - 2003 That '70s Show Burt Sigurdson 03 Episodes
2003 Good Morning, Miami Lenny 02 Episodes
8 Simple Rules Jake Episode: "Good Moms Gone Wild"
2005 Committed Clown 13 Episodes
2006 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Merle Episode: "Ah! Wilderness!"

Time on Mork & Mindy[]

Tom Poston was actually the show runner's first choice to play Mindy's Father, Fred McConnell, director Howard Storm recalled, but the Network for whatever reason (possibly the cost of having such an established and well regarded character actor as a regular) wouldn't agree. [4]

Tom was cast primarily through his acquaintance with Garry Marshall and Robin Williams. Bickley's character however was initially drafted to be an inebriate along the lines of Foster Brooks' later Miles Sternhagen. Of greatest note however, was that Franklin Delano Bickley had been pitched as 'The Threat'. Like the one that Kalnik eventually became. And when the 'alcohol' wore off, he would be revealed to be an alien. When that was changed before filming, with orders that there were was to be no hint of alcoholism, and with it the 'other alien' was dropped, Poston felt as if much of what he could bring to the role was stripped away (though as he became a fan favorite, he did brilliantly with what he had), and felt especially betrayed by the writers when in the third season Brooks was brought in to play the role of the inebriate.

In addition, he did work and film scenes with Jonathan 'Johnny' Winter, who he had known for decades, in the 4th season, but as his only appearance occurred in Three The Hard Way, prior to 'Mearth's birth' those later scenes seem to have been cut (screen shots of Pajama Game II indicate this is the case). It was during his time working with Winters on Mork & Mindy that he realized that Winters actually was fully aware of what he was saying, up until then thinking it just came from some instinctive place. It was during this time going back and forth with him to lunch and film scenes during the 4th season, that he realized what a brilliant man Winters was.

Working with the cast was a highlight in his view. Both Winters and Conrad Janis were old friends, and William's was (alongside Jonathan Winters), the most naturally, effortlessly gifted comedian he had ever seen and spent much of his time either on set or watching in paroxysms of side splitting laughter. In addition it was an experience to see how the writers worked with Williams to hone the script. But he also recalls that Robin Williams could be equal parts exhausting, especially for the crew, and especially by the time he joined towards the latter third of the firs season, that there would be times when they'd be on set to shoot a scene at 10pm, but if Robin got going, it could be 1am before they actually completed the relatively short scene. The crew he could see were always be appreciative of how funny Williams was, but would equally just like to get home to bed.

As much as he appreciated Robin William's innate genius, he also proclaimed Pam Dawber a genius. There was, he felt, no other human being who could not only have survived the onslaught of William's brilliance at the time, but actually managed to hold their own against Williams, to be able to make that show about her character as much as his. That if you had cast anyone else, Williams would've just mown them down and they would've been lost in the shuffle. Dawber, he felt, truly made it Mork & Mindy. .

Interview[]

Tom_Poston_Interview_Part_3_of_4_-_EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

Tom Poston Interview Part 3 of 4 - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

Tom Poston talking about his time on Mork & Mindy


References[]

  1. Moore, Dennis. "Which American Actor Appeared in the most TV Sitcoms?", USA Today, 5 August 2013. Retrieved on 2014-04-21. 
  2. Fade to Black: A Book of Over 1500 Movie Obituaries, by Paul Donnelley, September 1, 2010, Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1849382465.
  3. Fox, Margalit. "Tom Poston, Virtuosic Comic Actor, Is Dead at 85", The New York Times, NYTimes.com, 2 May 2007. Retrieved on 2014-04-21. 
  4. Imperfect Storm: From Henry Street to Hollywood - Chapter 22.

External links[]

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