Frank Buxton obit

Frank Buxton Dies: Actor, Director & ‘Odd Couple’ Writer Was 87

 He was not on the list.

Frank Buxton, an actor, director, and writer best known for penning episodes of such TV classics as The Odd Couple and Happy Days, died January 2 on Bainbridge Island in Washington. He was 87.

Buxton died after battling health issues for two years, according to the Kitsap Sun. Earlier in his career, he was the host and producer of the documentary series Discovery on ABC and hosted the game show Get the Message.

In addition to working with Garry Marshall on The Odd Couple and Happy Days, Buxton also wrote and directed episodes of Mork & Mindy and wrote for other era-defining TV sitcoms such as The Bob Newhart Show and One Day at a Time.

He was also responsible for creating the 1970 NBC Saturday morning TV show Hot Dog, which featured Woody Allen, Jonathan Winters and Jo Anne Worley. The children’s program won a Peabody Award.

He continued to work with Marshall as an actor on the big screen, appearing in the films Beaches, Overboard and Frankie and Johnny. He also lent his voice to various animated series including Batfink, Garfield and Friends and Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers and worked as a writer, producer and director for Paramount Television, serving as story editor for the anthology series Love, American Style.

Buxton joined the improvisational comedy and music troupe the Edge in 1995. Founded by Ellis and Ken Ballenger, the group has performed monthly at the Bainbridge Performing Arts since he joined and has occasionally gone on tour to surrounding cities.

 From November 1962 to 1969, Frank Buxton and actress/singer Virginia Gibson hosted the children's TV news magazine and travelogue, Discovery '70 (1962), which was seen weekday afternoons and Sunday mornings on the ABC-TV network. Mr. Buxton served as the director during the show's last season, while the show's announcer, Bill Owen, served as the program's last co-host.

Was the bartender in a play called "Three Men on a Horse" with the legendary Buster Keaton at the Berkshire Playhouse, Summerstock in 1949.

His remains were cremated at Cook Family Funeral Home in Bainbridge Island, Washington. His ashes were given to his widow, Cynthia.

His regular appearances would have been on the cooking/comedy webcast "Cookus Interruptus" and performs improved comedy.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia.

Director

Live from Planet Earth

TV Special

Director

1987

 

Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in Mork & Mindy (1978)

Mork & Mindy

7.2

TV Series

Director

1981

4 episodes

 

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams in Happy Days (1974)

Happy Days

7.4

TV Series

Director

1974–1976

3 episodes

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

Director

1973–1975

9 episodes

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

Director (segment "Love and the Impressionist")

1972

1 episode

 

Hot Dog (1970)

Hot Dog

6.1

TV Series

Director

1970

1 episode

 

Children's Letters to God

TV Movie

Director

1969

 

Writer

No Man's Valley (1981)

No Man's Valley

8.1

TV Movie

written by

1981

 

This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special

6.7

TV Movie

Writer

1981

 

The Cross-Wits

6.6

TV Series

writer

1978

1 episode

 

Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin, Pat Harrington Jr., and Mackenzie Phillips in One Day at a Time (1975)

One Day at a Time

6.6

TV Series

written by

1976

1 episode

 

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams in Happy Days (1974)

Happy Days

7.4

TV Series

written by

1974–1975

3 episodes

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

written by

1972–1974

4 episodes

 

The Making of 'Silent Running'

7.7

Writer

1974

 

The Bob Newhart Show (1972)

The Bob Newhart Show

8.1

TV Series

written by

1973

1 episode

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

Writer (segment "Love and Dear Old Mom and Dad")

1972

1 episode

 

Ted Bessell in Me and the Chimp (1972)

Me and the Chimp

3.6

TV Series

teleplay

1972

2 episodes

 

Woody Allen and China Lee in What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

5.8

with writings by

1966

 

Actor

Capture the Flag (2015)

Capture the Flag

5.8

Peter Pompeux (English version, voice)

2015

 

Frank Buxton, Marcel Davis, and Kristine Rooke in Two Friends (2013)

Two Friends

Short

Bobby

2013

 

The Garfield Show (2008)

The Garfield Show

5.7

TV Series

Additional Voices (voice)

2008–2013

3 episodes

 

Grassroots (2012)

Grassroots

5.3

Old Man (uncredited)

2012

 

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2003)

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer

5.4

TV Movie

Doctor

2003

 

The Fugitive (2000)

The Fugitive

6.9

TV Series

Priest

2000

1 episode

 

Roommates (1994)

Roommates

6.8

TV Movie

Mr. Thomas

1994

 

All-New Dennis the Menace (1993)

All-New Dennis the Menace

6.5

TV Series

(voice)

1993

13 episodes

 

Melissa Gilbert and Michael Gross in With a Vengeance (1992)

With a Vengeance

6.1

TV Movie

Dr. Rob Appling

1992

 

Face of a Stranger (1991)

Face of a Stranger

6.4

TV Movie

Al Leeds

1991

 

Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer in Frankie and Johnny (1991)

Frankie and Johnny

6.7

Minister

1991

 

Dark Avenger (1990)

Dark Avenger

4.2

TV Movie

The Judge

1990

 

The Bakery

8.7

TV Movie

Frank

1990

 

Gregg Berger and Lorenzo Music in Garfield and Friends (1988)

Garfield and Friends

7.2

TV Series

Repairman (voice)

1989

2 episodes

 

Corey Burton and Tress MacNeille in Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers (1989)

Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers

7.6

TV Series

Mr. Starfish

Fisherman

Prawn (voice) ...

1989

1 episode

 

Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in Beaches (1988)

Beaches

7.0

Doctor

1988

 

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in Overboard (1987)

Overboard

6.9

Elk Cove: Wilbur Budd

1987

 

Desirée Goyette in The Romance of Betty Boop (1985)

The Romance of Betty Boop

6.3

TV Short

Parrot (voice, as Frank W. Buxton)

1985

 

No Man's Valley (1981)

No Man's Valley

8.1

TV Movie

Elliot the condor (voice)

1981

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

TV Announcer

1974

1 episode

 

Batfink: This Is Your Life (1967)

Batfink: This Is Your Life

6.7

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

Various Characters

1967

 

Ego A-Go-Go (1967)

Ego A-Go-Go

7.3

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1967

 

The Baffling Bluffs of Hugo a Go-Go (1967)

The Baffling Bluffs of Hugo a Go-Go

8.1

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1967

 

The Atom Boom (1967)

The Atom Boom

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1967

 

Bouncey Bouncey Batfink (1967)

Bouncey Bouncey Batfink

6.8

TV Short

Batfink

Various Characters

1967

 

Presto-Chango-Hugo (1967)

Presto-Chango-Hugo

7.1

TV Short

1967

 

Backwards Box (1967)

Backwards Box

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1967

 

The Time Stopper

6.4

TV Short

Batfink (voice)

1967

 

The Kooky Chameleon (1967)

The Kooky Chameleon

TV Short

1967

 

The Human Pretzel (1967)

The Human Pretzel

TV Short

1967

 

Swami Salami (1967)

Swami Salami

7.7

TV Short

1967

 

Hugo for Mayor (1967)

Hugo for Mayor

7.4

TV Short

1967

 

Crimes in Rhymes (1967)

Crimes in Rhymes

TV Short

1967

 

Stupidman (1967)

Stupidman

TV Short

1967

 

Goldstinger (1967)

Goldstinger

TV Short

1967

 

The Indian Taker (1967)

The Indian Taker

TV Short

1967

 

Dig That Crazy Mountain (1967)

Dig That Crazy Mountain

TV Short

1967

 

The Mark of Zero (1967)

The Mark of Zero

TV Short

1967

 

Bat Patrol

7.1

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1967

 

Ringading Brothers

TV Short

Batfink

The Ring-A-Ding Acrobat

1967

 

Goo-Goo a Go-Go

7.4

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1967

 

Crime College (1967)

Crime College

TV Short

1967

 

Spin the Batfink (1967)

Spin the Batfink

6.5

TV Short

Batfink

1967

 

M.P.F.T.B.R.M. (1967)

M.P.F.T.B.R.M.

TV Short

1967

 

The Sonic Boomer (1967)

The Sonic Boomer

6.8

TV Short

Batfink

Mr. Boomer

1967

 

Manhole Manny

6.0

TV Short

Batfink Karate

The Chief Of Police

Manhole Manny

1967

 

The Mad Movie Maker (1967)

The Mad Movie Maker

7.0

TV Short

Batfink

1967

 

Ebenezer the Freezer (1967)

Ebenezer the Freezer

7.2

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-GO

1967

 

The Chocolate Covered Diamond (1967)

The Chocolate Covered Diamond

TV Short

1967

 

Big Ears Ernie

7.3

TV Short

Batfink

1967

 

Batfink on the Rocks (1967)

Batfink on the Rocks

7.0

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

Various Characters

1967

 

Woody Allen and China Lee in What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

5.8

Vocal Assist (voice)

1966

 

Batfink (1966)

Batfink

6.7

TV Series

Batfink

1966–1967

 

The Short Circuit Case (1966)

The Short Circuit Case

6.5

TV Short

Batfink

Hugo-A-Go-Go

1966

 

Pink Pearl of Persia (1966)

Pink Pearl of Persia

7.9

TV Short

Batfink

1966

 

Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)

Armstrong Circle Theatre

7.6

TV Series

Gene Kirby

1959

1 episode

 

Producer

Emo Philips Live (1987)

Emo Philips Live

8.1

producer

1987

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

producer

1973

7 episodes

 

From Yellowstone to Tomorrow

TV Movie

producer

1972

 

Hot Dog (1970)

Hot Dog

6.1

TV Series

producer

1970

13 episodes

 

Children's Letters to God

TV Movie

producer

1969

 

Script and Continuity Department

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

executive script consultant

1972

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

We Were Here (2011)

We Were Here

7.9

major donor

2011

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

story editor

1973

1 episode

 

Ted Bessell in Me and the Chimp (1972)

Me and the Chimp

3.6

TV Series

story consultant

1972

1 episode

 

Thanks

The Bhama Show

TV Series

special thanks

2016

4 episodes

 

Self

The Edge at the Movies (2014)

The Edge at the Movies

Self

Various

2014

 

Stu's Show (2006)

Stu's Show

6.5

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2007–2009

2 episodes

 

The Best Little Towns in America

TV Series

Narrator

2001

 

Emo Philips Live (1987)

Emo Philips Live

8.1

(voice)

1987

 

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.1

TV Series

Self - Director

1975

1 episode

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

8.5

TV Series

Self

Self - Guest

1969–1972

4 episodes

 

The Dick Cavett Show (1968)

The Dick Cavett Show

8.3

TV Series

Self

1968

2 episodes

 

Discovery '70

8.9

TV Series

Self - Host

Self

1962–1966

25 episodes

 

Get the Message (1964)

Get the Message

5.9

TV Series

Self - Host

Self

1964

86 episodes

 

Archive Footage

American Masters (1985)

American Masters

8.2

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2022

1 episode