Herb Edelman

Herb Edelman

Born: November 5, 1933
Died: July 21, 1996 (at age 62)
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Popularity:
Biography

Herbert "Herb" Edelman (November 5, 1933 - July 21, 1996) was an American actor of stage, film and television. He was twice nominated for an Emmy Award for his television work. One of his best remembered roles was as Stanley Zbornak, the ex-husband of Dorothy Zbornak (played by Beatrice Arthur) on the long-running situation comedy The Golden Girls. He also had a recurring role on the 1980s medical drama St. Elsewhere.

Early life and career

Edelman was born in Brooklyn, New York. Before becoming an actor, Edelman studied to become a veterinarian at Cornell University, but left during his first year. After serving in the US Army as an announcer for Armed Forces Radio, he enrolled in Brooklyn College as a Theater student, but eventually dropped out. He later worked as a hotel manager and as a taxicab driver. One of his fares was director Mike Nichols, who in 1963 cast Edelman in his breakthrough Broadway role, as the bewildered telephone repairman in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park.

Edelman reprised his role in the 1967 film version (starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda), and appeared in the movie versions of Simon's The Odd Couple (1968) and California Suite (1978). He also appeared in an installment of the Japanese movie series Otoko wa Tsurai yo in 1979.

He remains best known for his three decades in television, usually as a co-star, recurring character, or guest star on The Golden Girls, That Girl, Love, American Style, The Streets of San Francisco, Maude, Cannon, Welcome Back, Kotter, Kojak, Fantasy Island, Cagney & Lacey, and MacGyver, but occasionally in a lead role. He starred in the 1976 children's series Big John, Little John, as well as The Good Guys with Bob Denver (Denver's first series after Gilligan's Island), from 1968 to 1970. He also appeared with Bill Bixby and Valerie Perrine in Bruce Jay Friedman's Steambath, a controversial PBS dramedy, during 1973. From 1984 to 1988, he had a recurring role on St. Elsewhere. Edelman also appeared in ten episodes of Murder, She Wrote between 1984 and 1995, most frequently appearing as New York Police Department Lieutenant Artie Gelber. His last role was on an episode of Burke's Law.

Personal life and death

Edelman was married to soap opera actress Louise Sorel from 1964 to 1970, and was domestically partnered to Merrilyn Crosgrove from 1973 to 1984, with whom he had two children. He was romantically linked with actress Christina Pickles (his co-star on St. Elsewhere), from the mid-1980s until his death. Edelman is survived by his two children, Briana and Jacy Edelman.

Edelman died at age 62 of emphysema. His interment was at Montefiore Cemetery.

Selected filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1967 In Like Flint Russian Premier
1967 Barefoot in the Park Harry Pepper
1968 P.J. Charlie Alternative title: New Face in Hell
1968 I Love You, Alice B. Toklas Murray Alternative title: Kiss My Butterfly
1968 Odd Couple, TheThe Odd Couple Murray
1972 War Between Men and Women, TheThe War Between Men and Women Howard Mann
1973 Way We Were, TheThe Way We Were Bill Verso
1974 Front Page, TheThe Front Page Schwartz Credited as Herbert Edelman
1974 Yakuza, TheThe Yakuza Wheat Alternative title: Brotherhood of the Yakuza
1975 Hearts of the West Polo Alternative title: Hollywood Cowboy
1976 Smash-Up on Interstate 5 Danny TV movie
1977 Charge of the Model T's Villa Nueva
1978 California Suite Harry Michaels
1979 Goin' Coconuts Sid
1979 Tora-san's Dream of Spring Michael Jordan 24th entry in the Japanese Otoko wa Tsurai yo series
1981 On the Right Track Sam
1983 Cracking Up Dr. Pletchick
1984 Wheels on Meals Matt Henry
1992 Naked Truth, TheThe Naked Truth Rupert Hess Credited as Herbert Edelman
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1964 Reporter, TheThe Reporter Benny 1 episode
1965 Nurses, TheThe Nurses Marco 1 episode
1965 Honey West Moody 1 episode
1966 Hey, Landlord Garvin 1 episode
1966 Occasional Wife Uncle Harry 1 episode
1967 Girl from U.N.C.L.E., TheThe Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Mr. Asterick 1 episode
1967 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Seth Swine 1 episode
1967 Accidental Family Howard 1 episode
1967 Flying Nun, TheThe Flying Nun Albion "Al" Caine 1 episode
1968-70 Good Guys, TheThe Good Guys Bert Gramus 43 episodes
1971 Bill Cosby Show, TheThe Bill Cosby Show Mr. Maher 1 episode
1971 Bewitched Col. Bringham 1 episode
1971 McMillan & Wife Gregory Constantine 1 episode
1971 Mission: Impossible Frank Mason 1 episode
1972 Banacek Joe Taddenhurst 1 episode
1972 Bold Ones: The New Doctors, TheThe Bold Ones: The New Doctors Howard Feinstein 1 episode
1972 Temperatures Rising Dr. Patterson 1 episode
1973 Ironside David Wollens 1 episode
1973 New Dick Van Dyke Show, TheThe New Dick Van Dyke Show George Benson 1 episode
1973 Partridge Family, TheThe Partridge Family Darby Willis 1 episode
1974 Hawkins Lt. Horowitz 1 episode
1975 Happy Days Burglar 1 episode
1975 Barney Miller Alan Schuster 1 episode
1975 Medical Center Brannigan 1 episode
1976 Jigsaw John Lieutenant Hill 1 episode
1976 Big John Little John Big John Martin 13 episodes
1977 Blansky's Beauties Sindu 1 episode
1977 Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected Don Lucas 1 episode ("You're Not Alone")
1977 The San Pedro Beach Bums Schwann 1 episode ("The Angels and the Bums")
1978 CHiPs Sanders 1 episode
1978 Chico and the Man Doctor 1 episode
1978 Charlie's Angels Joey January 1 episode
1980-81 Ladies Man (1980 TV series) (as Herbert Edelman) Reggie
1981-82 Strike Force Commissioner Herb Klein 19 episodes
1982-83 Nine to Five Harry Nussbaum 7 episodes
1984 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. Haller 1 episode ("A Little Knife Music")
1984-88 St. Elsewhere Richard Clarendon 17 episodes
1984-95 Murder, She Wrote Lieutenant Artie Gelber, and others 10 episodes
1985 Fall Guy, TheThe Fall Guy Vargas 1 episode
1985 Paper Chase, TheThe Paper Chase Dr. Arnie Samuels 1 episode
1985 Highway to Heaven Dr. Cohn 1 episode
1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Harry Baxter 1 episode
1985-92 Golden Girls, TheThe Golden Girls Stan Zbornak 26 episodes
1987 Matlock Arthur Rydell 1 episode
1988 Beauty and the Beast Harold Levinson 1 episode
1989 Famous Teddy Z, TheThe Famous Teddy Z Lassister Fogel 1 episode
1989 Out of This World Stanley Mansfield 1 episode
1989-90 thirtysomething Murray Steadman 2 episodes
1990 Bradys, TheThe Bradys Gene Dickinson 2 episodes
1990 Knots Landing Sergeant Levine 5 episodes
1992 Batman: The Animated Series Stern 2 episodes
1992-93 L.A. Law Judge Al Jones 2 episodes
1993 Golden Palace, TheThe Golden Palace Stanley Zbornak 1 episode
1994 Mommies, TheThe Mommies Therapist 1 episode

Award nominations

Year Award Result Category Film or series
1987 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series The Golden Girls
1988 The Golden Girls

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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