Elsa Raven Obit

Elsa Raven Obituary

 She was not on the list.

September 21, 1929 - November 2, 2020 Elsa Rabinowitz, better known by her stage name Elsa Raven, died peacefully at home on November 2, 2020, at the age of 91. She was born on September 21, 1929, in Charleston, SC, the fourth child of Louis and Rosalie Rabinowitz. Elsa started her acting career on stage in New York City, where she also assisted Joseph Papp in bringing the Free Shakespeare Festival to Central Park.Elsa was a character actress who had small but memorable parts in many movies - among them the Save the Clock Tower lady in the original Back to the Future, the realtor who sold the house in Amityville Horror, John Malkovich's landlady in In the Line of Fire, Gertrude Stein in The Moderns, the mother who lost her son in Fearless, Ida Strauss in Titanic (where most of her scenes were cut, but she was featured in the Celine Dion video as half of the older couple in the stateroom where water poured in). She had regular TV roles as Inga the Swedish maid on Amen, as Vinnie Terranova's mother Carlotta on Wiseguy, as Lucille on Days of Our Lives, and as Tugboat Tessie on General Hospital.She was a proud voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, diligently watching many movies every year.Elsa will be remembered for her great kindness and generosity, as well as the magic she brought into the lives of her 15 adoring nieces and nephews. Her siblings Ida Schwartz, Faye Olasov, Ben Rabinowitz and Mervin Rabinowitz predeceased her, as did her nephew Nathan Olasov. She is survived by her sister-in-law Lynne Rabinowitz and her large extended family. The family wishes to thank her friends/caregivers Katsy Chappell and Yenni Maruanaya.

 

Filmography

Film appearances

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1970    The Honeymoon Killers          Matron

1971    Such Good Friends     Transfusion donor nurse         Uncredited

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight          Mrs. Water Buffalo    

Lady Liberty   Policewoman   Uncredited

South of Hell Mountain                     

1972    A Fan's Notes  Deborah         

1979    The Cracker Factory   Tourist

The Amityville Horror            Mrs. Townsend          

1980    Fatso    Phil's Wife      

1981    American Pop Hannele           Voice

The Postman Always Rings Twice     Matron

Paternity          Pre-natal Nurse          

1983    Second Thoughts        Large Nurse   

Twilight Zone: The Movie      Nurse No. 2     Segment "Kick the Can"

1985    Back to the Future       Clocktower Lady       

Creator            Mrs. Mallory  

1988    The Moderns   Gertrude Stein

1991    Another You    Volunteer        

1993    Indecent Proposal        Citizenship Student    

In the Line of Fire       Booth's Landlady       

Fearless           Grey Haired Lady      

1995    One Night Stand         Mrs. Salvatore

1997    Titanic Ida Straus       

2001    Face to Face    Grandma        

2002    The 4th Tenor  Mama 

2005    The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green  Senior Lady   

The Cutter       Mrs. Rosen     

Laying Down Arms    Ester    Short movie

2006    Miriam             Aunt Levya    

2009    Dead Game     Boogie Short movie

2011    They're with Me          Great Great Grandma Fanny Feiner   Short movie

Answers to Nothing    Mrs. Harrison 

TV appearances

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1982    Million Dollar Infield  Dr. Isabel Armen        

1978-1982       Quincy, M.E.   Miss Beck, Miss Coroner Judge, Nurse Angela Davenport  

1983-1984       The A-Team    Clara Dickerson, Dr. Marian Ericson

1985    Highway to Heaven    Ms. Zabenko  

1986    Family Ties     Mildred Atkins           

1986    General Hospital         Tessie 

1988    Freddy's Nightmares   Mrs. Wildmon

1989-1990       Amen  Inga    

1987-1990       Wiseguy          Carlotta Terranova Aiuppo    

1991    Get a Life        Marta  

1992    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air   Ida Pollock     

1993    Murphy Brown           Mrs. Kobolakis          

1993    Sisters  Madam Sophie           

1994    Seinfeld           Mom   

1999    3rd Rock from the Sun           Aunt Florence

2004    Everybody Loves Raymond   Mrs. Lopman 

2008    ER       Rosemary Smalls

Don Knodel obit

Former Rice Basketball Coach Don Knodel Passes Away 

He was not on the list.

HOUSTON, Texas — Former Rice men's basketball coach Don Knodel has passed away in Houston, Texas at the age of 95.

Knodel came to Rice in March of 1966 when he replaced George Carlisle as head coach of the Rice men's team. Known as "The Silent K," Knodel took over a team that had won just three games in the previous two seasons. After several years of steady improvement, he led the Owls to their first Southwest Conference title since 1954 and a berth in the 1970 NCAA Tournament.

During Knodel's tenure, Rice had two players named All-Southwest Conference. Greg Williams was named the 1969 Southwest Conference Player of the Year while Gary Reist was named All-SWC in back-to-back seasons (1970 and 1971). Knodel's 77 victories rank sixth all-time at Rice.

Knodel left Rice in 1974, eventually moving into the professional ranks when he took over the Houston Angels of the Women's Professional Basketball League. He was named the Coach of the Year after leading them to the championship in 1978-79, the league's first season.

He returned to South Main in April of 1999 as the Executive Director of the "R" Association and oversaw that organization's growth and development over the next 12 years. He was inducted to the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

A member of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, Knodel was a key player at Hamilton High School in the late 1940s before accepting a scholarship to Miami (Ohio). From 1951-53, Knodel was named to the All-MAC team and was the squad's second-leading scorer each season while helping the team to a pair of league titles.

 

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

 

Playing career

1950–1953      Miami (OH)

Coaching career (HC unless noted)

1955–1956      Miami (OH) (assistant)

1961–1966      Vanderbilt (assistant)

1966–1974      Rice

1978–1980      Houston Angels

Head coaching record

Overall            77–126

Tournaments    0–1 (NCAA)

Al Barkow obit

Al Barkow, award-winning golf author and historian, dies at 93

He was not on the list.

Al Barkow, the acclaimed golf writer, historian and author of Golf's Golden Grind: The History of the PGA Tour and Gettin' to the Dance Floor: An Oral History of American Golf, died Sunday. He was 93.

Barkow began his career in golf journalism in 1963 when he joined the television series Shell's Wonderful World of Golf. His first assignment was the famed "Hogan vs. Snead" match at Houston Country Club. Over the next six years, Barkow served as the show's chief writer and associate producer before eventually becoming a co-producer.

"Al led a tremendously full golf life," said Jaime Diaz, longtime contributor to Golf Digest and Golf Channel. "Al knew the game as well as any golf writer who ever lived and loved its mysteries as deeply as anyone I've ever known. All of that, along with an invigorating stint at Second City, produced a singularly soulful body of work."

Al Barkow, the author of “Golf’s Golden Grind: The History of the PGA Tour” and “Getting’ to the Dance Floor: An Oral History of American Golf,” at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2019, where he covered U.S. Opens beginning in 1972.

Over a career that spanned seven decades, Barkow authored 12 books and collaborated with some of the game's most respected teachers and players. His later works included Sam: The One and Only Sam Snead and The Upset: Jack Fleck's Incredible Defeat of Ben Hogan for the U.S. Open.

He also co-authored instructional books with professionals Dave Stockton, Phil Rodgers, George Low and Carl Lohren, as well as World Golf Hall of Fame members Billy Casper and Ken Venturi.

Explore how to live where you love to play Access community guides, golf real estate insights, trusted agent connections, and content built for passionate golfers.

Barkow was perhaps best known for his historical works. Golf's Golden Grind became one of the definitive accounts of the PGA Tour's development, while Gettin' to the Dance Floor earned the USGA's inaugural Herbert Warren Wind Golf Book of the Year Award in 1986. "I discovered if you called him Ben instead of Mr. Hogan. he eased up a little," Barkow recalled. "Then he knew you weren't intimidated. He was a great intimidator."

In recognition of his contributions to golf journalism, Barkow received some of the profession's highest honors, including the Memorial Tournament's Journalism Honoree Award in 2003, the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism in 2005 and the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association's Linc Werden Journalism Award in 2007.

Born in Chicago, Barkow attended Western Illinois University, where he helped the school win the 1959 NAIA national championship in golf. He later graduated from Roosevelt University. Despite making a living writing instruction articles, Barkow proved to be a skilled player himself, qualifying for the 1971 U.S. Amateur at Merion. "One of my biggest thrills," he told NCGA Golf Magazine.

"From starting out in Chicago caddying at Tam O'Shanter, to being a member of a national championship small-college team, to traveling the globe with Shell's Wonderful World of Golf, to innovative editorships at Golf Magazine and Golf Illustrated, to then writing more than a dozen exceptional books on the game, Al touched nearly every corner of golf," Diaz said.

"His Gettin' to the Dance Floor stands as golf's greatest oral history, and Golf's Golden Grind is an essential chronicle of the PGA Tour's evolution. His intimate portrayals of Hogan, Snead and Nelson were informed by long, relaxed conversations with each man, and before Shell matches, he and Gene Sarazen formed a feisty and fast-moving twosome on some of the world's great courses."

Barkow moved to Oakland, California, in 2002 and spent much of the last decade contributing to NCGA Golf magazine. His stories ranged from profiles of Bay Area courses and professionals to deeply personal essays.

Among his most memorable work were stories on Black golf pioneer Lucius Bateman, efforts that helped lead to Bateman's posthumous induction into the NCGA Hall of Fame; major champion Olin Dutra; and a moving account of his son Adam's recovery from alcoholism and the role golf played in that journey.

"As a professional journalist, I am always looking for stories to tell of events that reveal something about how the world works, how people deal with the turns life takes, how they made it turn and the outcomes," Barkow wrote.

"But that is not the case here, for the story to be told involves my son, Adam Barkow, and how golf, which has been an integral part of our lives, has played so large a role in his tale of rebirth, recovery and emancipation. It's a good story that is getting better, and I think best told by his dad."

The story ran in July and served as a reminder that even in his 90s, Barkow had lost none of the curiosity, warmth or storytelling touch that made him one of golf's most respected writers. 

He was not on the list.

Tony Butala obit

Sharon native, Hollywood Walk of Fame star recipient, ‘The Lettermen’ founding member Tony Butala dies at 87

 

He was not on the list.

SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) — Tony Butala, a Sharon native and one of the founding members of chart-topping pop trio The Lettermen, has died, according to a post from the band’s Facebook.

There aren’t many Butalas left in Sharon; most have died or moved away, but Tony’s sister still lives there. On Monday, she talked about her brother — and his love of Sharon.

“He had too much energy,” Joan Butala said.

That’s how 97-year-old Joan Butala described her youngest brother Tony — during his early years growing up in Sharon. She had a family photo from 1946 when Tony was 8.

They knew from an early age that he could sing.

“All of a sudden he was singing around town here, different organizations: women’s groups, for the power company. People wanted entertainers,” Joan said.

Tony, 87, kickstarted his career when he started singing at 7 years old, and he was just 8 years old when he sang on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh.

Then, at around age 10, he moved with his mother to California — and eventually the rest of the family would follow

There he joined the Mitchell Boys Choir, appearing in numerous classic blockbusters, including “White Christmas,” “Peter Pan,” “War of the Worlds” and “On Moonlight Bay.”

“Apparently Tony opened his little mouth and they said we’ll take you. He didn’t even have to…I mean his voice was so good, and he knew what he was singing,” Joan said.

He went on to form The Lettermen alongside Jim Pike and Bob Engemann in the late 1950s. The trio captivated audiences worldwide with their unique harmonies, leading to four Grammy nominations, over 75 albums, 18 gold records and numerous hit singles.

The band was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.

Tony spent most of the rest of his life away from Sharon — occasionally coming back to briefly live or visit.

In April of 2009, he and The Lettermen recorded an album in Newton Falls.

“We try to appeal to various ages over the career. And we hope can just sing beautiful, romantic love ballads. No matter what happens in the world,” Tony said.

Tony, who stepped away from performing in 2019, was the only surviving original member.

There will be no public viewing, the Facebook post added. Celebrations of Life will be held in Wisconsin and California, with details to be announced later.

Condolences can be sent to the Butala Family, care of The Lettermen Community Project, P.O. Box 312, in Cortland.

To honor his memory, the post advises you to donate to the Lakeshore Humane Society in Manitowoc, WI.

“Tony never met a stranger,” the post says. “His life was a living example of talent, perseverance, and refinement. But above all, his true joy was entertaining and sharing his music with audiences worldwide. His spirit will live on with every Lettermen performance.”

The Lettermen are still performing today, and you can learn more about their tour and the band’s history by visiting their website.

 

Actor

Gary Clarke, Yvonne Lime, and Bob Turnbull in Dragstrip Riot (1958)

Dragstrip Riot

4.7

Joe (as Tony Butula)

1958

 

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen in White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas

7.6

Child Dancer (uncredited)

1954

 

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

6.7

Playback vocalist for Tommy Rettig (uncredited)

1953

 

The War of the Worlds (1953)

The War of the Worlds

7.0

Boy in Final Church (uncredited)

1953

 

June Foray, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Butala, Candy Candido, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Ellis, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Tommy Luske, John Wilder, Corinne Orr, Jeffrey Silver, and Stuffy Singer in Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan

7.2

Lost Boy (voice, uncredited)

1953

 

Doris Day and Gordon MacRae in On Moonlight Bay (1951)

On Moonlight Bay

6.9

Boy Caroler (uncredited)

1951

 

Music Department

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

6.7

singing voice: Bartholomew (uncredited)

1953

 

Soundtrack

John C. Reilly, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Solomon Hughes, Sean Patrick Small, Hadley Robinson, and Quincy Isaiah in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022)

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

8.3

TV Series

performer: "Walkin' You Home"

2022

1 episode

 

Disney Sing-Along Songs: Circle of Life (1994)

Disney Sing-Along Songs: Circle of Life

6.8

Video

performer: "Following the Leader"

1994

 

Paul Reubens, Frankie Avalon, Bob Denver, Annette Funicello, Don Adams, and Stevie Ray Vaughan in Back to the Beach (1987)

Back to the Beach

6.0

producer: "Theme"

1987

 

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

6.7

performer: "Dream Stuff", "Ten Happy Fingers", "Because We're Kids"

1953

 

June Foray, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Butala, Candy Candido, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Ellis, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Tommy Luske, John Wilder, Corinne Orr, Jeffrey Silver, and Stuffy Singer in Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan

7.2

performer: "Following the Leader" (uncredited)

1953

 

Self

Streetlight Harmonies (2020)

Streetlight Harmonies

7.5

Self

2020

 

Stu's Show (2006)

Stu's Show

6.4

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2016

1 episode

 

The Charles Grodin Show (1995)

The Charles Grodin Show

6.5

TV Series

Self

1995

1 episode

 

Bobby Goldsboro in The Bobby Goldsboro Show (1973)

The Bobby Goldsboro Show

5.9

TV Series

Self (as The Lettermen)

1974

1 episode

 

Gypsy (1965)

Gypsy

7.7

TV Series

Self - as The Lettermen

1967

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

WatchMojo (2006)

WatchMojo

5.5

TV Series

Self - Lost Boy (archive footage, voice)

2015

1 episode

John Leeson obit

John Leeson 1943-2026

 

He was not on the list.

The actor John Leeson, the voice of K-9, has died at the age of 83.

John Leeson played the voice of the Doctor's robot dog in 55 episodes of Doctor Who.  His characterisation of the little robot dog was so skilled and so full of fun that he helped make what was due to be a temporary character into a fully fledged member of the TARDIS crew, much loved and remembered by fans. It is a tribute to the actor that his cry of Affirmative is as much associated with Doctor Who as the Daleks' cry of Exterminate. He endowed the character with a life force that saw K-9 return to the series and its spinoffs many times over the years.

John Leeson was born John Ducker in 1943. In the 1950s, he joined the Leicester Dramatic Society before winning a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. At RADA, he adopted the stage name John Leeson, derived from the surname of a wealthy godmother whom he believed was funding his tuition.

After graduating, he worked in repertory and pantomimes, including a production of Toad of Toad Hall, in which he met his future wife.

His first work in television was as a walk-on in a BBC play The Wedding Feast in 1965, followed by The Spanish Farm and Dad's Army in 1968. He played the original Bungle the Bear in the children's series Rainbow.

In 1977, he was asked to play two voices in the fourth Doctor story, The Invisible Enemy. One was the voice of the Nucleus, the other a fun character, Professor Marius's robot dog K-9. Because the electronic prop was unavailable for the rehearsal period, Leeson got down on his hands and knees and physically ran around the rehearsal room acting as K9.

His voice for the character was so successful that the producer Graham Williams decided to make the character a regular and put Leeson on contract to provide the voice. 

Leeson would stay with the series for the next two years, appearing on screen as the character Dugeen in the story The Power of Kroll, a story where K-9 does not appear. He left at the end of The Armageddon Factor, fearing that he would lose work if he remained firmly off-screen.

The character of K-9 remained in the series, voiced by David Brierley for season 17, but for season 18, Leeson was back behind the microphone, guiding the character until it was written out at the end of the 1981 story Warriors' Gate.

K-9 and Leeson would be back at the end of the year in the spin-off starring Elisabeth Sladen, K-9 and Company and in the 20th Anniversary special The Five Doctors. In 2006, when Russell T. Davies was writing an episode, School Reunion, dealing with the return of Sarah Jane Smith, he also brought back John Leeson as K-9.  Over the next 15 years, Leeson would reprise his portrayal of K-9 on many occasions, including in The Sarah Jane Adventures, the K-9 series and many Big Finish audio adventures.

Away from Doctor Who, John Leeson made many memorable appearances on British television, including roles in Blake's 7, Jigsaw, Crown Court,  The Barretts of Wimpole Street,  Minder, Vanity Fair and Doctors.

John Leeson died peacefully earlier today after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Judy Griffiths and their son, filmaker Guy Ducker

 

Actor

Sir Sherlock

Doctor John Watson

ReleasedPodcast Series

2026

1 episode

 

K9: TimeQuake

K9

In Development

 

Doctor Who: Target Novelisation Audiobooks (2005)

Doctor Who: Target Novelisation Audiobooks

6.6

Podcast Series

K9Narrator (voice)

2011–2026

17 episodes

 

Tom Baker and John Leeson in Sir Sherlock (2026)

Sir Sherlock

Podcast Series

Doctor John Watson

2026

3 episodes

 

Doctor Who: Christmas (2025)

Doctor Who: Christmas

5.5

Podcast Series

K9 (voice)

2025

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures (2012)

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures

8.2

Podcast Series

K9MachinaTollivun (voice) ...

2013–2025

38 episodes

 

Smith & Sullivan (2025)

Smith & Sullivan

Podcast Series

K9 (voice)

2025

3 episodes

 

Doctor Who: Classic Doctors New Monsters (2016)

Doctor Who: Classic Doctors New Monsters

7.8

Podcast Series

K9 (voice)

2025

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures (2016)

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures

9.0

Podcast Series

K9Kent NovemAxos (voice)

2022

3 episodes

 

The Eighth of March (2019)

The Eighth of March

5.1

Podcast Series

K9 (voice)

2022

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: Audio Annuals (2017)

Doctor Who: Audio Annuals

Podcast Series

Narrator (voice)

2021

2 episodes

 

Doctor Who: The Lost Stories (2009)

Doctor Who: The Lost Stories

6.8

Podcast Series

K9 (voice)

2021

1 episode

 

The Diary of River Song (2015)

The Diary of River Song

7.6

Podcast Series

K9Simmons (voice)

2021

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: You Can't Run Forever (2014)

Doctor Who: You Can't Run Forever

TV Mini Series

K-9

2015–2016

2 episodes

 

Elizabeth Banks, Tom Kane, and Troy Baker in Lego Dimensions (2015)

Lego Dimensions

7.7

Video Game

K-9 (voice)

2015

 

Doctor Who: The Novel Adaptations (2012)

Doctor Who: The Novel Adaptations

6.5

Podcast Series

K9Zodaal (voice)

2015

3 episodes

 

Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles (2012)

Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles

Podcast Series

Pasco (voice)

2015

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures (1999)

Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures

8.0

Podcast Series

K-9VirusComputer (voice)

2003–2014

2 episodes

 

Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, and Paul Jones in Doctor Who and the Shada Man (2013)

Doctor Who and the Shada Man

6.5

Video

K9 (voice)

2013

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, and Sylvester McCoy in The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013)

The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

8.5

TV Movie

K9 (voice)

2013

 

Gallifrey (2004)

Gallifrey

8.7

Podcast Series

K9 Mk IIK9Cardinal Tallan (voice) ...

2004–2013

18 episodes

 

Pointless Celebrities (2010)

Pointless Celebrities

6.4

TV Series

K-9 (voice)

2013

1 episode

 

Elisabeth Sladen and David Tennant in The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007)

The Sarah Jane Adventures

7.5

TV Series

Voice of K9K-9

2007–2010

12 episodes

 

John Leeson in K9 (2009)

K9

5.3

TV Series

K9 (voice)

2009–2010

26 episodes

 

Rebels Without a Clue (2010)

Rebels Without a Clue

8.0

Shopkeeper

2010

 

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles (2007)

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles

7.6

Podcast Series

K9Holland (voice)

2010

1 episode

 

Christopher Eccleston, Peter Capaldi, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who

8.5

TV Series

K-9 (voice)

2006–2008

2 episodes

 

Barry Chuckle and Paul Chuckle in ChuckleVision (1987)

ChuckleVision

7.2

TV Series

Viscount

2007

1 episode

 

Mwaka Mudenda, Lindsey Russell, Adam Beales, and Richie Driss in Blue Peter (1958)

Blue Peter

6.5

TV Series

K-9 (voice)

1977–2006

3 episodes

 

Dead Ringers (2002)

Dead Ringers

7.6

TV Series

K9 (voice)

2003

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: Shada (2003)

Doctor Who: Shada

7.6

TV Mini Series

K9 (voice)

2003

6 episodes

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.5

TV Series

Alan Carmichael

2001

1 episode

 

Delusion (2000)

Delusion

7.3

Short

Businessman

2000

 

Longitude (2000)

Longitude

7.8

TV Mini Series

BBC Producer

2000

1 episode

 

Frances Grey and Natasha Little in Vanity Fair (1998)

Vanity Fair

7.7

TV Mini Series

Priest

1998

1 episode

 

Nicholas Courtney, Elisabeth Sladen, and Deborah Watling in Downtime (1995)

Downtime

5.4

Video

Anthony the D.J.

1995

 

Jesse Birdsall, Craig McLachlan, and Alistair Robins in Bugs (1995)

Bugs

7.0

TV Series

Harris

1995

1 episode

 

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

7.8

TV Series

Passport Officer

1994

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993)

Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time

4.8

TV Mini Series

K9 (voice)

1993

2 episodes

 

The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Mr. Witchell

1993

1 episode

 

Jeremy Beadle in Beadle's About (1986)

Beadle's About

6.2

TV Series

CouncillorSecurity Guard 1Security Guard #1 ...

1986–1992

8 episodes

 

Search Out Science (1989)

Search Out Science

TV Series

K9 (voice)

1990

1 episode

 

Jonathan Hyde in Shadow of the Noose (1989)

Shadow of the Noose

8.2

TV Mini Series

Dickinson

1989

1 episode

 

Arthur Bostrom, Kirsten Cooke, Sue Hodge, Gorden Kaye, Richard Marner, Vicki Michelle, Carmen Silvera, and Guy Siner in 'Allo 'Allo! (1982)

'Allo 'Allo!

8.4

TV Series

Train's Cook

1989

1 episode

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

Voice of K9K9Voice of K.9 ...

1977–1988

61 episodes

 

Whoops Apocalypse (1987)

Whoops Apocalypse

5.9

TV Interviewer

1987

 

Tucker's Luck (1983)

Tucker's Luck

6.7

TV Series

Photographer

1985

1 episode

 

Michael Gambon and Robin McCallum in Oscar (1985)

Oscar

6.8

TV Series

Clerk of Arraign

1985

1 episode

 

The Brief (1984)

The Brief

6.9

TV Series

Ian Mallet

1984

1 episode

 

The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1982)

The Barretts of Wimpole Street

7.8

TV Movie

Henry Barrett

1982

 

John Leeson and Elisabeth Sladen in K-9 and Company (1981)

K-9 and Company

6.1

TV Movie

K-9 (voice)

1981

 

Ronnie Corbett in Sorry! (1981)

Sorry!

6.7

TV Series

Victor

1981

3 episodes

 

Martin Jarvis and Diane Keen in Rings on Their Fingers (1978)

Rings on Their Fingers

6.1

TV Series

Mr. Simmonds

1979

2 episodes

 

Nigel Davenport, Peter Egan, and Bosco Hogan in Prince Regent (1979)

Prince Regent

7.7

TV Mini Series

Military tailor

1979

1 episode

 

The World About Us (1967)

The World About Us

8.0

TV Series

Schoolmaster

1979

1 episode

 

Janet Ellis, Adrian Hedley, Sylvester McCoy, and David Rappaport in Jigsaw (1979)

Jigsaw

7.2

TV Series

JiggPterryBiggum (voice)

1979

1 episode

 

Blake's 7 (1978)

Blake's 7

8.0

TV Series

ToisePasco

1978–1979

2 episodes

 

Tarka the Otter (1979)

Tarka the Otter

6.8

Secretary of Hunt

1979

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

Rev. Claude Pacey-Dunstan

1977

3 episodes

 

Lynette Davies in The Foundation (1977)

The Foundation

7.6

TV Series

Brian Harman

1977

1 episode

 

Frank Windsor in Headmaster (1977)

Headmaster

6.8

TV Series

Smart

1977

1 episode

 

Helen Mirren and Robert Hardy in Private Affairs (1975)

Private Affairs

TV Series

Clergyman

1975

1 episode

 

Comedy Playhouse (1961)

Comedy Playhouse

7.0

TV Series

HippyTuppy Glossop

1973–1974

2 episodes

 

Stanley Bates, Geoffrey Hayes, and Roy Skelton in Rainbow (1972)

Rainbow

6.9

TV Series

Bungle

1972

50 episodes

 

My Wife Next Door (1972)

My Wife Next Door

7.2

TV Series

Delivery Man

1972

1 episode

 

Angela Down, Liza Goddard, and Susan Jameson in Take Three Girls (1969)

Take Three Girls

7.8

TV Series

Assistant

1971

1 episode

 

On the House (1970)

On the House

5.4

TV Series

Young Man

1970

1 episode

 

The Doctors (1969)

The Doctors

6.4

TV Series

PC Grady

1970

1 episode

 

Clive Dunn, John Le Mesurier, and Arthur Lowe in Dad's Army (1968)

Dad's Army

8.1

TV Series

the 1st Soldier

1969

1 episode

 

Rodney Bewes in Albert! (1969)

Albert!

5.8

TV Series

Clapper boy

1969

1 episode

 

The Spanish Farm

TV Series

Lt. Mansfield

1968

2 episodes

 

Crossroads (1964)

Crossroads

4.5

TV Series

Henri de Burgoyne

1967–1968

6 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Hannah Hauxwell in Too Long a Winter (1973)

Too Long a Winter

8.3

TV Movie

helicopter pilot

1973

 

Mastermind (1972)

Mastermind

6.3

TV Series

question writer

1972–1997

 

Soundtrack

John Leeson and Elisabeth Sladen in K-9 and Company (1981)

K-9 and Company

6.1

TV Movie

performer: "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (uncredited)

1981

 

Thanks

Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Elliott, and Linus Roache in The Wings of the Dove (1997)

The Wings of the Dove

7.1

special thanks

1997

 

Self

TV/Film Podcast UK

Podcast Series

Self

2023

1 episode

 

Surge of Power: Doctor Who Tribute (2020)

Surge of Power: Doctor Who Tribute

5.4

Self

2020

 

Time Space Visualiser IV (2020)

Time Space Visualiser IV

Video

Self

2020

 

Gallifrey Stands (2014)

Gallifrey Stands

Podcast Series

Self - Special Guest

2019

1 episode

 

Please Be Seated

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2018

1 episode

 

Pointless Celebrities (2010)

Pointless Celebrities

6.4

TV Series

Self - Contestant

2017

1 episode

 

When Kids TV Goes Horribly Wrong (2017)

When Kids TV Goes Horribly Wrong

4.8

TV Movie

Self - Actor, Original Bungle

2017

 

70s: The Best of Bad TV

4.2

TV Movie

Self - Original BungleSelf - Voice of Doctor Who Dog K9Self - Voice of Jigg

2015

 

80's: The Best of Bad TV (2015)

80's: The Best of Bad TV

5.0

TV Movie

Self

2015

 

Ian Cullen and Toby Hadoke in Who's Round (2013)

Who's Round

8.1

Podcast Series

Self (voice)

2014

1 episode

 

Dara Ó Briain and Brian Cox in Stargazing Live: Back to Earth (2012)

Stargazing Live: Back to Earth

8.2

TV Series

Self - K-9 (voice, uncredited)

2013–2014

5 episodes

 

Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty (2013)

Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty

6.1

TV Special

Self - K9 (voice)

2013

 

Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS (2013)

Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS

8.4

TV Movie

Self - Voice of K-9

2013

 

Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant, and Matt Smith in Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited (2013)

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited

8.2

TV Mini Series

Self

2013

1 episode

 

My Life (2010)

My Life

7.4

TV Series

Self - K-9 (voice)

2013

1 episode

 

Celebrity Eggheads (2008)

Celebrity Eggheads

5.5

TV Series

Self - Contestant

2010

1 episode

 

Sidekick Stories

TV Movie

Self

2010

 

Comic Relief 2009

7.0

TV Special

Self - K-9 (voice)

2009

 

The Justin Lee Collins Show (2009)

The Justin Lee Collins Show

5.0

TV Series

Self - Guest

2009

1 episode

 

All Aboard the Starliner: The Making of 'Full Circle'

7.4

Video

SelfSelf - Voice of K.9

2009

 

The Dreaming

6.8

Video

SelfSelf - Voice of K9

2009

 

The Vampire Lovers: The Making of 'State of Decay'

6.3

Video

Self

2009

 

Out of Time

Video

SelfSelf - K9

2008

 

Top 50 Showbiz Comebacks

TV Special

Self

2008

 

Dreams and Fantasy

Video

Self

2008

 

Celebration (2008)

Celebration

6.8

Video

Self

2008

 

A Matter of Time

8.2

Video

Self

2007

 

Getting Blood from the Stones

Video

SelfSelf - K9 (voice)

2007

 

Parrot Fashion

Video

Self

2007

 

Anne Robinson in The Weakest Link (2000)

The Weakest Link

5.6

TV Series

Self - K-9 (voice, as K9)

2007

1 episode

 

David Tennant in Doctor Who Confidential (2005)

Doctor Who Confidential

8.0

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Top 50 Greatest Celebrity Animals

8.4

TV Movie

Self

2005

 

Ultimate Sci-Fi Top 10 (2004)

Ultimate Sci-Fi Top 10

8.1

TV Mini Series

Self

2004

 

A New Beginning

8.3

Video

SelfSelf - Voice of K9

2004

 

Bruce Forsyth in The Generation Game (1971)

The Generation Game

6.6

TV Series

Self - K9Self - Bungle (voice)

1978–2001

3 episodes

 

Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Longleat 83: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (2001)

Longleat 83: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

8.9

Video

Self - Presenter

2001

 

Bob Baker in K9 Unleashed (2000)

K9 Unleashed

7.1

Video

Self

2000

 

Eamonn Andrews in This Is Your Life (1955)

This Is Your Life

6.4

TV Series

Self

2000

1 episode

 

Katy Manning in Where on Earth Is... Katy Manning Because She'd Really Like to Know! (1998)

Where on Earth Is... Katy Manning Because She'd Really Like to Know!

5.8

Video

Self

1998

 

Myth Makers Vol. 7: Myth Runner (1987)

Myth Makers Vol. 7: Myth Runner

Video

Self

1987

 

The Great Egg Race (1979)

The Great Egg Race

7.7

TV Series

Self

1985

1 episode

 

Janet Ellis, Adrian Hedley, Sylvester McCoy, and David Rappaport in Jigsaw (1979)

Jigsaw

7.2

TV Series

Self - JiggSelf - PterrySelf - Biggum (voice)

1979–1983

31 episodes

 

The Computer Programme (1982)

The Computer Programme

7.3

TV Series

Self - K9 (voice)

1982

1 episode

 

General Studies (1976)

General Studies

TV Series

Self - Narrator (voice)

1982

1 episode

 

Meeting Point

TV Series

Self

1965

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Harriet Fettis and Henry Fettis in Sarah Jane Investigates (2016)

Sarah Jane Investigates

TV Mini Series

K9 (archive sound)

2016

1 episode

 

Being a Girl (2013)

Being a Girl

6.2

Video

Self - K-9 (archive footage, voice, uncredited)

2013

 

The Science of Doctor Who (2012)

The Science of Doctor Who

7.9

TV Movie

Self - K-9 (archive footage, voice, uncredited)

2012

 

Who Peter: Partners in Time - 1963-1989 (2010)

Who Peter: Partners in Time - 1963-1989

8.6

Video

Self - K9 (archive footage, voice)

2010

 

Lalla's Wardrobe: A Frockumentary

Video

Voice of K9 (archive footage, uncredited)

2009

 

Philip Madoc: A Villain for All Seasons

6.1

Video

Self - Dugeen (archive footage)

2007

 

There's Something About Mary

6.7

Video

Self - K9 (archive footage, voice)

2007

 

Ultimate Sci-Fi Quiz (2006)

Ultimate Sci-Fi Quiz

4.9

Video Game

K-9 (archive footage, uncredited)

2006

 

Tom Baker in Doctor Who: The Tom Baker Years (1992)

Doctor Who: The Tom Baker Years

8.1

Video

Self - K9 (archive footage, voice)

1992

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

K9 (archive footage, voice, uncredited)

1981

1 episode

 

Bruce Forsyth in The Generation Game (1971)

The Generation Game

6.6

TV Series

Self - K9 (archive footage, voice)

1978

1 episode

 

Jerry Koosman obit

Jerry Koosman, who got final out in Miracle Mets' World Series win, dies at 83

 

He was not on the list.

NEW YORK -- Jerry Koosman, an All-Star left-hander who got the final out of the Miracle Mets' shocking 1969 World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles, died Sunday. He was 83.

Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Koosman had been sick for about a year and died of multiple illnesses in Osceola, Wisconsin, surrounded by his children.

Koosman jumping onto catcher Jerry Grote as they hugged on the Shea Stadium mound after the final out of the World Series remains an iconic image in baseball history. The Mets had never finished with a winning record before 1969.

"We were so choked up with emotion we couldn't talk," Koosman was quoted as saying in Peter Golenbock's 2002 book, "Amazin': The Miraculous History of New York's Most Beloved Baseball Team."

Koosman went 222-209 with a 3.36 ERA over 19 major league seasons, throwing 140 complete games that included 33 shutouts and becoming a two-time 20-game winner.

Relying primarily on fastballs and curves, he was 140-137 with a 3.09 ERA for the Mets from 1967-78, then pitched for Minnesota (1979-81), the Chicago White Sox (1981-83) and Philadelphia (1984-85).

"I feared losing. I didn't want to be looked upon as a loser by anyone," Koosman said in a 2019 interview with Mets broadcaster Howie Rose.

An expansion franchise that launched in 1962, the Mets lost 100 games in five of their first seven seasons and had not come close to a winning record.

Then in 1969, they surged into first place on Sept. 10 during a 10-game winning streak, winning 38 of their last 49 games and finishing atop the new National League East with a 100-62 record. New York's No. 2 starter behind future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Koosman went 17-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 32 starts in 1969.

Koosman was knocked out in the fifth inning in Game 2 against Atlanta of the first NL Championship Series before the Mets rallied and went on to sweep the Braves in the best-of-five matchup.

After Baltimore beat Seaver and the Mets 4-1 in the World Series opener, Koosman allowed one run over 8⅔ innings and got the victory as New York won Game 2 by 2-1. Koosman pitched a five-hitter in Game 5, retiring future Mets manager Davey Johnson on a game-ending flyout to left fielder Cleon Jones as thousands of fans rushed onto the field at Shea Stadium.

"I turn around and look at Cleon and I see Cleon going back and, uh, the first thing is the heart stops," Koosman told Rose. "Well, then you see him slow down -- oh, God, now you know it's OK. Now the only other thing is: Don't drop the ball."

Koosman was honored with a parade when he returned home to Morris, Minnesota.

Born in Appleton, Minnesota, on Dec. 23, 1942, Koosman played baseball while in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. According to his biography by Irv Goldfarb of the Society for American Baseball Research, his catcher was John Luchese, son of a Shea Stadium usher. Luchese told his father about Koosman, who passed the information to Joe McDonald in the Mets' front office. Koosman signed on Aug. 27, 1964, for $1,600.

Koosman worked his way up the minor league system and made his big league debut on April 14, 1967, at Philadelphia's Connie Mack Stadium with 2⅔ hitless innings of relief. He was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville when rosters were trimmed and led the International League with 183 strikeouts.

He made it to the major leagues for good in 1968, pitching a four-hit shutout at Dodger Stadium in his first start. He was picked for the All-Star team and faced one batter, striking out Carl Yastrzemski for the final out in the NL's 1-0 win at Houston's Astrodome.

Koosman finished 19-12 with a 2.08 ERA on a staff led by Seaver that included a young Nolan Ryan. He finished second to Cincinnati catcher Johnny Bench in NL Rookie of the Year voting

He was part of the 1969 rotation with Seaver, Gary Gentry, Don Cardwell and Jim McAndruw, again making the All-Star team.

"There's the old saying: good pitching gets out good hitting," Koosman said when the Mets retired his No. 36 in 2021. "So that's what happened and our pitching kind of took over."

With the Mets trailing 3-0 in the sixth inning of Game 5 against the Orioles, Cleon Jones claimed a Dave McNally pitch hit him. The ball bounced to Koosman, seated in the Mets dugout by manager Gil Hodges.

"As I bent down, Gil says: `Swipe it against your shoe,'" Koosman told Rose.

Hodges then showed the ball to plate umpire Lou DiMuro, who awarded Jones first base. Donn Clendenon followed with a two-run homer, starting the Mets' comeback in a 5-3.

"Maybe it wasn't mine. Maybe it was Cleon's shoe polish," Koosman said.

He made two starts in the 1973 World Series against Oakland, getting no decision in Game 2 and winning Game 5.

With the Mets in decline, Koosman told the team after the 1978 season he would retire unless traded. The Mets dealt him to the Twins in December 1978, and he later was traded to the White Sox in August 1981 and to the Phillies in February 1984.

He is survived by sons Michael and Shawn, and daughter Danielle. His marriage to the former LaVonne Sorum ended in a divorce.

Koosman was discovered by the son of a Shea Stadium usher, John Lucchese, who caught Koosman when he pitched in the United States Army at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Mets offered Koosman a contract after his discharge from the military.

In 1970, Koosman posted a 12–7 record with a 3.14 ERA. Over the next two seasons, however, he posted losing records: 6–11 in 1971 (a season in which he was beset by arm woes) and 11–12 in 1972 with a 4.14 ERA—more than a run and a half above his career ERA to that point. In 1973 he went 5–0 in his first six starts, but ended the season 14–15. In late August/early September of that year, he set a Mets' record by pitching 312⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings (R. A. Dickey broke his mark by pitching 322⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings in 2012). As in 1969, the Mets unexpectedly won the NL East title—once again overtaking the Cubs, whom they had trailed this time by as many as nine games—on the strength of the pitching of Koosman, Seaver and the previous year's NL Rookie of the Year, Jon Matlack. This comeback gave rise to two slogans: Tug McGraw's "Ya Gotta Believe!" and manager Yogi Berra's "It ain’t over 'til it's over."

In Game Three of the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds, Koosman pitched a complete game for a 9–2 victory in a game that was headlined by Pete Rose's altercation with Mets' shortstop Bud Harrelson. The victory gave the Mets a 2–1 lead in the NLCS; they won the pennant two days later in five games.

Koosman was the winning pitcher in Game Five of the World Series against the defending champion Oakland Athletics, holding Oakland scoreless for 61⁄3 innings. This victory gave the Mets a 3–2 lead in the Series; however, Oakland won the next two games to repeat as World Champions.

In the Minors he played for the Williamsport Mets, Greenville Mets, Auburn Mets and Jacksonville Suns.

 

MLB statistics

Win–loss record          222–209

Earned run average     3.36

Strikeouts        2,556

Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Teams

New York Mets (1967–1978)

Minnesota Twins (1979–1981)

Chicago White Sox (1981–1983)

Philadelphia Phillies (1984–1985)

Career highlights and awards

2× All-Star (1968, 1969)

World Series champion (1969)

New York Mets No. 36 retired

New York Mets Hall of Fame