Howard Morton

Howard Morton
Howard Morton in I Dream of Jeannie 1967
Born
Howard Leroy Morton

(1925-05-15)May 15, 1925
New York City, New York
DiedMay 11, 1997(1997-05-11) (aged 71)
Burbank, California
Resting placeCalifornia
Years active1959–1991

Howard Leroy Morton (May 15, 1925 – May 11, 1997) was an American actor.

Career

Morton is possibly best known for playing dim-witted police officer Ralph Waldo Simpson on Gimme a Break! for five seasons (1981–86). He appears in many TV supporting roles on sitcoms, including The Bill Cosby Show, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, I Dream of Jeannie, Good Times, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and as Brian Henley in My Favorite Martian. He also plays Grandpa in The Munsters Today from 1988 to 1991.[1]

Morton made a number of appearances on game shows, including Super Password and Pyramid. He also appears in many feature films, making his debut in The Mechanic (1972), and he appeared in stage productions of Auntie Mame, Morning's at Seven and Fancy Meeting You Again.

Personal life

Morton never married nor had any children.

Born in New York City, Morton moved to Hollywood in 1960 to pursue an acting career.

He died of complications of a stroke on May 11, 1997, at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, four days shy of his 72nd birthday. A memorial service was held at the North Hollywood Church of Religious Science.

Partial filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1969 The Bill Cosby Show Lou Welk Episode: "Lullaby and Goodnight"
1972 The Mechanic Car Polish Man
1972 The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean Photographist
1973 Scorpio Heck Thomas
1974 Rhinoceros Doctor
1976 One Day at a Time (1975 TV series) Hal Butterfield Episodes: "The Runaways (Parts 2, 3 & 4)"
1978 Diff'rent Strokes Headmaster Episode: "The Prep School"
1981-1986 Gimme a Break! Officer Ralph Waldo Simpson
1988-1991 The Munsters Today "Grandpa" Vladimir Dracula

References

  1. ^ "Howard Morton". Variety. May 21, 1997. Retrieved August 21, 2018.