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 was as the court reporter in Adam's Rib (1949) 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.

In 1969, he appeared on the TV show Petticoat Junction. His character was "Stanley" in the episode: "The Other Woman".

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)
• Angels in the Outfield - Timothy Durney (1951)
• I Can Get It for You Wholesale - Arnold Fisher (1951)
• Behave Yourself! - Max the Umbrella (1951)
• The Fabulous Senorita - Clifford Van Kunkle (1952)
• Wake Me When It's Over - Hap Cosgrove (1960)
• The Nutty Professor - English Student (1963)
• A New Kind of Love - Harry (1963)
• It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - Irwin (1963)
• The Great Race - Frisbee (1965)
• The Severed Arm - Mad Man Herman (1973)
• Snakes - Brother Joy (1973)
• Freaky Friday - Carpet Cleaner (1976)
• Midnight Madness - Bonaventure Desk Clerk (1980)
• Saturday Supercade - Shellshock (Frogger-1983) & Sidney Squirrel (Kangaroo-1984)
• Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats - Choo-Choo (1987)
• Wild at Heart - Uncle Pooch (1990)
• Wake, Rattle and Roll Fender Bender 500 Segment - Choo-Choo (1991)
• Autism and Cake - Mark (2012)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]