Alvin Greenman obit

Alvin Greenman: The Miracle on 34th Street Actor Who Passed Away at 86

 

He was not on the list.

Alvin Greenman was an American actor, dialogue coach, and script supervisor who had a long and varied career in show business. He is best known for his role as Alfred, the janitor who befriended Santa Claus in the 1947 classic film Miracle on 34th Street. He died on July 14, 2016, at the age of 86, in Simi Valley, California.

Greenman was born on January 18, 1930, in Manhattan, New York, to George and Blanche Greenman. He started acting in community theater, where he was spotted by a talent scout for Fox. He landed his first film role in Miracle on 34th Street, where he shared scenes with Edmund Gwenn, who won an Oscar for playing Santa. Greenman later recalled that Gwenn taught him how to act and listen to other actors, while the director George Seaton was very kind and helpful.

Greenman also became friends with the other stars of the film, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, and Natalie Wood, who invited him to their homes when the production moved to California. He kept in touch with Wood until her death in 1981.

Other Roles and Behind-the-Scenes Work

After Miracle on 34th Street, Greenman continued to act in movies, mostly in war films, where he was often typecast as “the sad sack of the outfit”. Some of his credits include Twelve O’Clock High, The Frogmen, and The Desert Rats. He also appeared in TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, and The Andy Griffith Show.

When his acting roles dried up, Greenman moved behind the camera, working as a script supervisor and a dialogue coach. He specialized in teaching New York accents to actors, and worked with directors such as Robert Aldrich, John Frankenheimer, and Sidney Lumet. He retired from the industry about a decade ago.

Legacy and Death

Greenman was proud of his role in Miracle on 34th Street, which became a holiday staple and a beloved classic. He attended many screenings and reunions of the film, and shared his memories and anecdotes with fans. He also wrote a book about his experience, called 34th & First: The Miracle on 34th Street Story.

Greenman died on July 14, 2016, in Simi Valley, California, where he lived with his wife, Patricia. He was buried at Mount Sinai Memorial Park. He is survived by his wife, his son, his daughter, and his grandchildren.

According to Find a Grave, Greenman was a “nice Jewish boy from New York” who landed a role, met Santa, and made good. He will be remembered as a part of one of the most beloved films of all time, and as a versatile and talented professional in the entertainment industry.

 

Actor

John Ritter and Markie Post in Hearts Afire (1992)

Hearts Afire

7.0

TV Series

Santa

Mr. Ambrose

1994

2 episodes

 

Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson in Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Miracle on 34th Street

6.6

The Doorman

1994

 

Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder in The Frisco Kid (1979)

The Frisco Kid

6.3

Wedding Guest

1979

 

Howard Duff and Barbara English in Dante (1960)

Dante

7.6

TV Series

Ned

1960

1 episode

 

Howard Duff and Ida Lupino in Mr. Adams and Eve (1957)

Mr. Adams and Eve

7.7

TV Series

JoJo

1957

1 episode

 

Robert Shayne in Navy Log (1955)

Navy Log

7.8

TV Series

Satcheloft

1957

1 episode

 

Chevron Hall of Stars (1956)

Chevron Hall of Stars

7.1

TV Series

1956

1 episode

 

William Holden and Deborah Kerr in The Proud and Profane (1956)

The Proud and Profane

6.1

Santa Claus (uncredited)

1956

 

Four Star Playhouse (1952)

Four Star Playhouse

7.5

TV Series

Stanley

Merv

1955

2 episodes

 

Lauren Bacall, Charles Boyer, Lillian Gish, Richard Widmark, and Gloria Grahame in The Cobweb (1955)

The Cobweb

6.3

Patient (uncredited)

1955

 

Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell, Vic Damone, Tony Martin, Ann Miller, and Russ Tamblyn in Hit the Deck (1955)

Hit the Deck

6.5

George - Machinist Mate 3rd Class (uncredited)

1955

 

Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Gabor, Donna Reed, Van Johnson, and Walter Pidgeon in The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)

The Last Time I Saw Paris

6.1

Pants Presser (uncredited)

1954

 

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

6.6

First Radar Man

1953

 

Robert Mitchum and Ann Blyth in One Minute to Zero (1952)

One Minute to Zero

5.8

Pvt. 'Chef' Lane (uncredited)

1952

 

Marilyn Monroe, Eve Arden, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ginger Rogers, Paul Douglas, Fred Allen, Eddie Bracken, Louis Calhern, Mitzi Gaynor, Victor Moore, and David Wayne in We're Not Married! (1952)

We're Not Married!

6.4

Radio Station Sound Effects Man (uncredited)

1952

 

Gloria DeHaven, Mitzi Gaynor, Jane Greer, William Lundigan, and David Wayne in Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1952)

Down Among the Sheltering Palms

5.5

Cpl. Kolta

1952

 

Just This Once (1952)

Just This Once

6.3

Archie (uncredited)

1952

 

Shirley Temple and Clifton Webb in Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (1949)

Mr. Belvedere Goes to College

6.8

Cornelius 'Corny' Whittaker

1949

 

Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, and John Payne in Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street

7.9

Alfred (uncredited)

1947

 

Script and Continuity Department

John Ritter and Markie Post in Hearts Afire (1992)

Hearts Afire

7.0

TV Series

script supervisor

1992–1995

14 episodes

 

Women of the House (1995)

Women of the House

6.3

TV Series

script supervisor

1995

1 episode

 

House of Cards (1993)

House of Cards

6.1

script supervisor

1993

 

Neil Patrick Harris in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989)

Doogie Howser, M.D.

6.5

TV Series

script supervisor

1989–1990

26 episodes

 

Hooperman (1987)

Hooperman

7.0

TV Series

script supervisor

1989

1 episode

 

Angel in Green (1987)

Angel in Green

6.8

TV Movie

script supervisor

1987

 

Charlton Heston, Stephanie Beacham, Maxwell Caulfield, Katharine Ross, Tracy Scoggins, Barbara Stanwyck, John James, Emma Samms, and Claire Yarlett in The Colbys (1985)

The Colbys

6.0

TV Series

script supervisor

1987

2 episodes

 

Brian Dennehy and Christine Ebersole in Acceptable Risks (1986)

Acceptable Risks

5.9

TV Movie

script supervisor

1986

 

Richard Thomas and Mary Crosby in Final Jeopardy (1985)

Final Jeopardy

6.4

TV Movie

script supervisor

1985

 

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

Hill Street Blues

8.2

TV Series

script supervisor

1985

1 episode

 

Movers & Shakers (1985)

Movers & Shakers

4.2

script supervisor

1985

 

Tony Lo Bianco and Lindsay Wagner in Jessie (1984)

Jessie

7.5

TV Series

script supervisor

1984

3 episodes

 

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid

7.3

script supervisor

1984

 

Randall 'Tex' Cobb in Uncommon Valor (1983)

Uncommon Valor

6.3

script supervisor: second unit

1983

 

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

Airplane II: The Sequel

6.2

script supervisor

1982

 

Modesty Blaise (1982)

Modesty Blaise

5.5

TV Movie

script supervisor

1982

 

Dead & Buried (1981)

Dead & Buried

6.5

script supervisor

1981

 

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen

4.1

script supervisor

1981

 

The Gong Show Movie (1980)

The Gong Show Movie

4.4

script supervisor

1980

 

James Earl Jones, Debbie Allen, Irene Cara, Dorian Harewood, Debbi Morgan, Georg Stanford Brown, Avon Long, and Beah Richards in Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

Roots: The Next Generations

7.8

TV Mini Series

script supervisor

1979

1 episode

 

Lynn-Holly Johnson and Robby Benson in Ice Castles (1978)

Ice Castles

6.6

script supervisor

1978

 

Born Again (1978)

Born Again

5.0

script supervisor

1978

 

Prime Time (1977)

Prime Time

4.9

script supervisor

1977

 

Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977)

Twilight's Last Gleaming

6.7

script supervisor

1977

 

Against a Crooked Sky (1975)

Against a Crooked Sky

5.4

script supervisor

1975

 

Mandingo (1975)

Mandingo

6.5

script supervisor

1975

 

Burt Reynolds in The Longest Yard (1974)

The Longest Yard

7.1

script supervisor

1974

 

Additional Crew

Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips in Renegades (1989)

Renegades

5.4

dialect coach

1989

 

Stone Fox (1987)

Stone Fox

6.2

TV Movie

dialogue coach

1987

 

Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder in The Frisco Kid (1979)

The Frisco Kid

6.3

dialogue supervisor

1979

 

The Choirboys (1977)

The Choirboys

5.6

dialogue supervisor

1977

 

Hustle (1975)

Hustle

6.2

dialogue supervisor

1975

 

Self

Backstory (2000)

Backstory

8.3

TV Series

Self

2001

1 episode