The Late Great Robert Morse

I was a fan of Robert Morse long before he started playing Bert Cooper on Mad Men. I was a young adult when I first saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967). I would later see him in such films as The Loved One (1965) and A Guide for the Married Man (1967). By the time of the first season of Mad Men, then, I was already an admirer of Mr. Morse. Of course, Mad Men would become one of my favourite shows, in a large part because of Robert Morse's performance as Bert. Sadly, Robert Morse died yesterday, April 20 2022 , at the age of 90.

Robert Morse was born May 18 1931 in Newtown, Massachusetts. His mother, May, was a pianist. His father, Charles owned a chain of movie theatres. It was his music teacher Henry Lasker, at Newtown High School, who developed an interest in entertainment in young Robert Morse. During the Korean War he served in the United States Navy. Following the war, Mr, Morse moved to New York City where he trained at the American Theatre Wing. He got a job as a rehearsal singer for the game show Named That Tune. An agent heard him and signed him up.

Robert Morse made his debut on Broadway in The Matchmaker in 1955. Later in the Fifties he appeared on Broadway in Say, Darling and Take Me Along. He made his television debut in the soap opera The Secret Storm in 1954. In the Fifties he guest starred on the shows Goodyear Television Playhouse, The Alcoa Hour, The Phil Silvers Show, Matinee Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Play of the Week. He made his film debut in an uncredited role in the movie The Proud and the Profane (1956). He reprised the role of Barnaby Tucker in the film version of The Matchmaker (1958).

The Sixties were arguably the heyday of Robert Morse's career. From 1961 to 1965 he starred as J. Pierrepont Finch in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway. He reprised the role in the 1967 movie of the same name. He starred in the cult film The Loved One (1965) as well as the sex comedy A Guide for the Married Man (1967). He also appeared in the movies The Cardinal (1963), Honeymoon Hotel (1964), Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad (1967), Where Were You When the Lights Went Out (1969), and The Boatniks (1970). On television he starred in the short-lived, 1968 musical comedy series That's Life. He guest starred on the shows Shirley Temple's Storybook, Naked City, and The Red Skelton Show.

In the Seventies he appeared on Broadway in Sugar and So Long, 174th Street. He appeared on the television shows Alias Smith and Jones; Night Gallery; Love, American Style; and Fantasy Island. He provided voices for the animated specials The First Easter Rabbit and Jack Frost.   In the Eighties he appeared in the movies Hunk (1987) and The Emperor's New Clothes (1987).  He appeared on the TV shows All my Children; The Good Book; One Day at a Time; Masquerade; The Fall Guy; The Dukes of Hazzard; Tales of the Unexpected; Murder, She Wrote; Trapper John, M.D.; The Twilight Zone; and You Again?. He was the voice of Howler on Pound Puppies and was a guest voice on Monchchichis. He appeared on Broadway in Tru.

In the Nineties he starred on the television show City of Angels. He was a voice on the animated show ProStars. He appeared in the mini-series Wild Palms and The Wild West. He appeared on the TV shows American Playhouse, Union Square, and Suddenly Susan. He appeared in the TV movie Here Come the Munsters. He provided voices for the animated shows  Tiny Toon Adventures, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Superman, and The Wild Thornberrys.

It was in the Naughts that Robert Morse began a seven season run playing Bert Cooper on Mad Men. He appeared in the TV show Jeff Ltd. and provided a voice for an episode of The Legend of Korra. He appeared in the movie All About You (2002). In the Teens he starred in a season of American Crime Story and provided the voice of Santa Claus on Teen  Titans Go!. He appeared in the TV series Sofia the First and Corporate. He provided voices for an episode of Animals. He appeared in the parody TV movie Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie and in the film The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez (2012).  He appeared on Broadway in The Front Page.

Robert Morse was a wonderful actor. He was a gifted singer and a fine dancer. He was also a great actor with a perfect sense of timing. He was as at home in musicals as he was in comedies as he was in dramas. He could play a wide variety of roles, from a young man planning his uncle's funeral (The Loved One) to a window cleaner turned corporate executive (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) to Grandpa Munster. Indeed, it is a demonstration of just how versatile Robert Morse was that his two most famous roles are in a musical comedy (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and a television drama (Mad Men). What is more, Robert Morse was a success in multiple media, from Broadway to movies to television. If ever there was a triple threat, that was Robert Morse. There are very few talents as great as he was.

Liz Sheridan Passes On

Liz Sheridan, who played nosy neighbour Mrs. Ochmonek on ALF and Jerry's mother Helen on Seinfeld, died on April 15 at the age of 93.

Liz Sheridan was born on April 10 1929 in New York City. Her father was classical pianist Frank Sheridan. Her mother was concert singer Elizabeth Poole-Jones. She grew up in the suburb of Larchmont. As a young woman she made a living as a dancer. She later moved to the West Indies where she sang and played pianos at various bars. She spent 15 years in the West Indies before returning to New York City.

It was in 1971 that she made her debut on Broadway in Frank Merriwell. In the Seventies she appeared in the Broadway productions Hurry, Harry; Something's Afoot; Best Friend; Happy End; Ballroom; and Once a Catholic. She made her television debut in 1977 in an episode of Kojak.

In the Eighties she played the recurring role of Raquel Ochmonek on ALF. She guest starred on the shows The White Shadow, Archie Bunker's Place, Gimme a Break!, Tucker's Witch, St. Elsewhere, Oh Madeline, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, One Day at a Time, Three's a Crowd, Riptide, It's Your Move, Newhart, Moonlighting, Santa Barbara, Brothers, The A-Team, Who's the Boss, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele, Cagney & Lacey, Easy Street, The Disney Sunday Movie, Throb, Family Ties, It's a Living, and Good Grief. She made her movie debut in Jekyll and Hyde...Together Again in 1982. In the Eighties she appeared in the movies Star 80 (1983), Nickel Mountain (1984), Avenging Angel (1985), School Spirit (1985), Legal Eagles (1986), and Who's That Girl (1987).

In the Nineties Liz Sheridan played Helen Seinfeld on the classic sitcom Seinfeld. She was the voice of Mrs. Stillman on the animated series Life with Louie. She guest starred on the shows Equal Justice; Murder, She Wrote; Herman's Head; Melrose Place; Empty Nest; Tom; Blossom; Double Rush; Sliders; Cleghorne!; and Noah Knows Best. She was a guest voice on the animated show The Itsy Bitsy Spider. She appeared in the movies Only You (1992), Wishman (1992), Forget Paris (1995), Wedding Bell Blues (1996), Always Say Goodbye; and Closing the Deal (2000).

In the Naughts she guest starred on the shows Complete Savages and Numb3rs. She was a guest voice on the animated show American Dad. She appeared in the movies Now You Know (2002), Play the Game (2009), and Trim (2010).

Liz Sheridan was a remarkable actress. Chances are very good that she will always be remembered as Mrs. Ochomonek on ALF and Jerry's mother on Seinfeld, but she played a large variety of roles on other shows. She appeared as a doctor on an episode of St. Elsewhere and as a judge on Equal Justice. She could play a number of different roles from nosy neighbours to an overprotective mother to various professionals. What is more, she always gave a good performance.

Happy Easter 2022

Here at A Shroud of Thoughts, I realize that many people like some cheesecake to go with their eggs and chocolate bunnies. Because of that, every Easter I provide my readers with a bevy of vintage pinups. Without further ado, then, here are this year's pinups.

First up is Sharon Tate and a bunny!

Here's Mary Brodel with a little bunny and a giant egg.

Here's Pat Hall and another little bunny.

Elaine Riley is busy painting eggs!

And here is Mary Tyler Moore with a not so little bunny.

And last but not least, here is Ann Miler with another little bunny!

Happy Easter!

British Classics with Juliet Mills on TCM

John Mills and Margaret Lockwood
in The Lady Vanishes

On Tuesday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 26 Turner Classic Mvoies is airing six movies as part of British Classics with Juliet Mills. The title pretty much says it all, with six movie hosted by Juliet Mills. For those of very few of you who are unfamiliar with Juliet Mills, she is the daughter of legendary actor Sir John Mills and the older sister of Hayley Mills. She starred in the TV series Nanny and the Professor and appeared in such movies as The Wrong Box (1966) and Avanti! (1972). Over the course of the two nights TCM will show six classic British movies. Below is the schedule (all times are Central). I have bolded my choices of the movies you should not miss.

Tuesday, April 19:
7:00 PM In Which We Serve (1942)
9:15 PM Great Expectations (1946)
11:30 Ryan's Daughter (1970)

Tuesday, April 20:
7:00 PM The Lady Vanishes (1938)
8:45 PM That Hamilton Woman (1941)
11:00 PM Gandhi (1982)

Godspeed Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian with the distinctive voice well known for his at times crude humour, died on April 12 2022 at the age of 67. The cause was myotonic dystrophy type 2, a form of muscular dystrophy.

Gilbert Gottfried was born on February 18 1955 in Brooklyn, New York. His older sister was photographer Arlene Gottfried. He dropped out of high school and began performing at comedy clubs when he was only 15 years old.

In 1980 Gilbert Gottfried had a short stint as part of the cast of Saturday Night Live. That same year he appeared in the TV movie The Further Adventures of Wally Brown. He made his film debut in the movie House of God in 1984. In the Eighties he appeared on such talk shows and variety shows as Thicke of the Night, Stand Up America, The Original Max Talking Headroom Show, It's Showtime at the Apollo, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Dick Cavett Show. He was a host on USA Up All Night from 1989 to 1998. He guest starred on the shows The Cosby Show and Superboy. He appeared in the films Bad Medicine (1985), Beverly Hills Cops II (1987), Never on Tuesday (1988), Hot to Trot (1988), 3rd Bass: The Gas Face (1988), The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990), Problem Child (1990), and Look Who's Talking Too (1990).

In the Nineties Gilbert Gottfried continued to host USA Up All Night. He appeared on such talk shows and variety shows as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Muppets Tonight, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, and MadTV. He guest starred on the shows Night Court, A Different World, The Slate, Herman's Head, Adventures in Wonderland, Silk Stalkings, Living Single, The Parent 'Hood, Married with Children, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Mad About You,  Wings, In the House, Clueless, Hope & Gloria, The Weird Al Show, and Jenny He was a voice regular on the animated shows Problem Child and Aladdin. He was a guest voice on such animated shows as The Ren & Stimpy Show, Beavis and Butt-Head, Bobby's World, Timon & Pumbaa, Superman, Dilbert, and Clerks. He was the voice of Iago in the animated film Aladdin (1992) and provided the voices for the moviesThumbelina (1994) and  Doctor Dolittle (1998). He appeared in the films Problem Child 2 (1991), Highway to Hell (1991), House Party 3 (1994), Blankman (1994), Silk Degrees (1994), Meet Wally Sparks (1997), How to Be a Player (1997), and Goosed (1999). He appeared on Broadway in The Rocky Horror Show.

In the Naughts Mr. Gottfried guest starred on the shows Son of the Beach, CSI" Crime Scnee Investigation, Becker, Greg the Bunny, Hannah Montana, Star-ving, Sesame Street, 3rd Rock, and 'Til Death. He was the voice of Digit on the show Cyberchase. He provided voices for such shows as House of Mouse, Bear in the Big Blue House, Grim & Evil, and The Emperor's New School. He appeared in the movies Longshot (2001), The Amazing Floydini (2004), Back by Midnight (2004), Funky Monkey (2004), The Last Request (2006), Hysterical Psycho (2009), and Jack and the Beanstalk (2009). He provided voices for the movies A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) and Farce of the Penguins (2006).

In the Teens he continued to voice Digit on Cyberchase. He guest starred on the shows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CollegeHumor Originals, Anger Management, Deadbeat, Thingstarter, The Jim Gaffigan Show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Episodes, and Crashing. He provided voices for such animated shows as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Justice League Action, Family Guy, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Teen Titans Go. He appeared in the movies Calendar Girl (2011), A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014), Rock Story (2015), Director's Cut (2016), Gender Bender (2016), The Comedian (2016), Hospital Arrest (2016), Abnormal Attraction (2018), A Wrestling Christmas Miracle (2020), and The Truth About Santa Claus.

In the Twenty-Twenties he continued to voice Digit on Cyberchase. He provided a voice for the show The Komisky Method.

In addition to his work on television and film, he also did several commercials. For many years he was the voice of the Aflac duck. Over the years he also did commercials for MTV, Pop Tarts, Subway, Glad, and yet others.

Gilbert Gottfried was well known for his love of classic films. He was a guest programmer on Turner Classic Movies in 2013. He made several appearances on Svengoolie. In 2021 he appeared on Toon In with Me. His podcast Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast debuted in 2014 and centred on Old Hollywood and popular culture.

As a comedian Gilbert Gottfried was starkly original. He was known for his incredibly dirty sense of humour and at times he could go beyond the bounds of what was considered acceptable. Even so, he was consistently funny, more so than the majority of comics.

In real life Gilbert Gottfried was entirely different from his stage persona. Those who knew him reported that he was sweet and sensitive,  and known for his kindness. He was also reportedly extremely shy. He was also very enthusiastic about the things he loved. Classic film fans got to see his love of classic movies in various venues over the years, where he dropped his brash stage persona to become a sweet, enthusiastic fanboy for classic movies. Ultimately, Gilbert Gottfried was a true original. He was one of a kind.

Kathryn Hays Passes On

Kathryn Hays, who was a regular on the Sixties Western TV series The Road West and later the soap opera As the World Turns, died on March 25 2022 at the age of 88.

Kathryn Has was born Kay Piper in July 26 1933 in Princeton, Illinois. She grew up in Joliet, Illinois.

She made her television debut in an episode of Hawaiian Eye in 1962. In the Sixties she played the regular role of Elizabeth Reynolds Pride on the Western The Road West. She guest starred on the TV shows Surfside 6, Naked City, The United States Steel Hour,  Wide Country, Dr. Kildare, Route 66, The Lieutenant, The Eleventh Hour, The Nurses, Mr. Novak, Arrest and Trial, Bonanza, The Defenders, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Virginian, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Branded, Kraft Suspense Theatre, Run for Your Life, Vacation Playhouse, The High Chaparral, Mannix, Here Come the Brides, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, and The Bold Ones: The New Doctors. She made her movie debut in the film Ladybug Ladybug in 1963. She appeared in the movies Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966), and Counterpoint (1967).

In the Seventies she guest starred on the TV shows The Guiding Light; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law; Bearcats!; Cade's County; Night Gallery; and Ghost Story. It was in 1972 that she began a thirty eight year run on the soap opera As the World Turns. She later guest starred on the shows American Playhouse, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and One Life to Live.

Kathryn Hays was a gifted actress. She guest starred in the Star Trek episode "The Empath" as Gem, a mute woman capable of absorbing the wounds of others. It was a role that required that she communicate with her eyes and body language, and she gave a remarkable performance. In The Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode "The See-Paris-And-Die Affair" she played a singer that U.N.C.L.E. uses to retrieve stolen diamonds. In The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode "One of the Family," she played a young mother who suspects the nanny she and her husband have just hired might be guilty of child murder. Kathryn Hays was capable of subtle and powerful performances, something she demonstrated in several appearances on television.

The Late Great Nehemiah Persoff

Nehemiah Persoff, the versatile and prolific character actor who appeared in movies from On the Waterfront (1954) to Some Like It Hot (1960) and television shows from Playhouse 90 to Gilligan's Island, died on April 5 2022 at the age of 102.

Nehemiah Persoff was born on April 2 1919 in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine. His father was a silversmith and painter who moved the family to New York City in 1929. During World War II he served in the United States Army. It was in the Army that his talent for performing was recognized and he was assigned to a company that entertained the troops around the world.

Mr. Persoff worked an electrician in the New York City subway. Following the war he became part of the Actors Studio and acted in summer stock. He made his debut on Broadway in Galileo. In the late Forties he appeared on Broadway in Sundown Beach, King Richard II, and Monteserrat. He made his film debut in a bit part in The Naked City in 1948. He made his television debut in 1959 on Actors Studio.

In the Fifties Nehemiah Persoff started playing the recurring role of Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik on The Untouchables. He guest starred on the shows Suspense, You Are There, Goodyear Television Playhouse, The Stranger, The Man Behind the Badge, The Philco Television Playhouse, Appointment with Adventure, I Spy, Playwrights '56, Armstrong Circle Theatre, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, Producers' Showcase, The Alcoa Hour, Kraft Television Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, Climax!, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Shirley Temple's Storybook, The Third Man, Five Fingers, Mr. Lucky, The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Startime, Playhouse 90, and Naked City. He appeared in the movies On the Waterfront (1954), The Harder They Fall (1956), The Wrong Man (1956), The Wild Party (1956), Men in War (1957), Street of Sinners (1957), This Angry Age (1957), The Badlanders (1958), Never Steal Anything Small (1959), Some Like It Hot (1959), Green Mansions (1959), Al Capone (1959), and Day of the Outlaw (1959). He appeared on Broadway in Peter Pan, King Lear, Peer Gynt, Flahooley, Camino Real, Mademoiselle Colombe, Reclining Figure, Tiger at the Gates, and Only in America.

In the Sixties Nehemiah Persoff continued to appear on The Untouchables. He guest starred on the TV shows Thriller, Wagon Train, Route 66, Bus Stop, The Dick Powell Show, King of Diamonds, The New Breed, Frontier Circus, Sam Benedict, Naked City, Rawhide, Mr. Novak, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Seaway, Burke's Law, Gilligan's Island, Ben Casey, A Man Called Shenandoah, The Legend of Jesse James, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Honey West, Gunsmoke, The Trials of O'Brien, The Big Valley, Jericho, The Time Tunnel, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., I Spy, Off to See the Wizard, The Danny Thomas Hour, Maya, The Wild Wild West, Tarzan, CBS Playhouse, The Name of the Game, It Takes a Thief, Mission: Impossible, Corwin, The Flying Nun, The Bill Cosby Show, Land of Giants, Dan August, and The High Chaparral. He appeared in the movies The Big Show (1961), The Comancheros (1961), The Hook (1963), A Global Affair (1964), Fate is the Hunter (1964), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Too Many Thieves (1966), The Money Jungle (1967), Il giorno della civetta (1968), The Power (1968), Panic in the City (1968), The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969), Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Colour, and The People Next Door (1970).

In the Seventies Nehemiah Persoff guest starred on the TV shows The Chicago Teddy Bears, The Wonderful World of Disney, The Mod Squad, Cool Million, Adam-12, Mannix, The Streets of San Francisco, Search, Purple Playhouse, Dr,. Simon Locke, Love American Style, Insight, McMillan & Wife, Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby M.D., The Invisible Man, Ellery Queen, Columbo, Baretta, The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, McCloud, Rich Man Poor Man Book II, Hunter, Quincy, M.E., Charlie's Angels, Police Woman, Logan's Run, Little House on the Prairie, The Bionic Woman, Richie Brokelman Private Eye, High Hopes, Sword of Justice, Vega$, Greatest Heroes of the Bible, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Hawaii Five-O, Delta House, Supertrain, Battlestar Galactica, The Rebels, Police Story, B.A.D. Cats, Fantasy Island, The Littlest Hobo, Condominium, and Barney Miller. He appeared in the movies Mrs. Polifax Spy (1971), Red Sky at Morning (1971), Psychic Killer (1975), Voyage of the Damned (1976), and Deadly Harvest (1977).

In the Eighties Mr. Perssoff guest starred on the TV shows Barney Miller, The Fisher Family, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Magnum P.I.., Hotel, The Facts of Life, Highway to Heaven, Addely, J. J. Starbuck, American Playhouse, MacGyver, L.A. Law, Star Trek: The Next Genreation, Hunter, and Murder She Wrote. He appeared in the movies St. Helens (1981), O'Hara's Wife (1982), Yentl (1983), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Twins (1988). He was the voice of Papa in the animated film An American Tail (1986).

In the Nineties he guest starred on Doogie Howser M.D., Reasonable Doubts, Law & Order, Chicago Hope, and Tracey Takes On... He was the voice of Papa in the animated movie An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. His last appearance was a guest shot on the mini-series Angels in America in 2003.

If Nehemiah Persoff was prolific, it was because he was so versatile. On Mission: Impossible  alone he played a prince and ruler of a country, the corrupt finance minister of a country, and a counterfeiter who's also the minister of a country). He played a number of dictators over the yeas, most notably Pancho Hernando Gonzalez Enriques Rodriguez on Gilligan's Island. He also played a number of gangsters, including Little Bonaparte in Some Like It Hot. Not every character played by Nehemiah Persoff was a dictator or gangster, and he could play sympathetic roles. In the Route 66 episode "First Class Mouliak" he played a widower who just wants to see his son educated and his daughter in a good marriage. In the movie Yentl, he plays the father of the title character who secretly teaches her about the Talmud. In Voyage of the Damned he played one of the Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. Given the era in which he worked, many of the roles Nemehiah Persoff would be considered politically incorrect today, but he always gave a good performance regardless. He had an uncanny knack of transforming himself into any character he chose.