Died: July 21, 1996 (at age 62)
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |