Harry Anderson obit

Harry Anderson, Judge On 'Night Court,' Dies At His N.C. Home. He Was 65

He was not on the list.

Harry Anderson, an actor and magician featured on the TV shows Night Court, Dave's World and Cheers died Monday morning at age 65.

Police in Asheville, N.C., say officers responded to a call at Anderson's home and found him deceased. No foul play is suspected in his death.

NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans reports for our Newscast unit:

    "Before his signature role on NBC's Night Court, Anderson played con man Harry "The Hat" Gittes on Cheers — constantly trying to scam money and drinks out of the show's star, bar owner Sam Malone played by Ted Danson.

    "A Rhode Island native, Anderson gained fame as a stand-up comic who used sleight of hand in his act, appearing on Saturday Night Live before he was cast on Cheers. His best-known role was playing magic-loving, eccentric Judge Harry T. Stone on the sitcom Night Court, which aired nine seasons on NBC from 1984 to 1992." He joined the cast that included Markie Post, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Selma Diamond, Florence Halop, Charles Robinson and Marsha Warfield.

 

After the show ended, Anderson was cast in the lead role in the CBS sitcom Dave's World, which was based on the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry. That series ran from 1993 until 1997.

 

The Associated Press, quoting a 2002 People magazine story, said Anderson disappeared from Hollywood and resurfaced as the owner of a New Orleans magic shop.

 

    "I am richer than Davy Crockett," Anderson said in the story. "I can settle back and do what I want to do. And what I want to do is card tricks and magic.' That includes magic shows for corporate clients ("Fifty-five minutes with applause," says Anderson.) at $20,000 a pop."

 

For Disney, he worked on the version of The Absent-Minded Professor made for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color as a magic consultant, animating Albert Einstein's head, and playing Professor Henry Crawford. He also appeared as himself in The Magical World of Disney, Magic in the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration, and the opening of the Disney-MGM Studios park (now Disney's Hollywood Studios). 

 

Anderson sold his home in Pasadena, Calif., and moved back to New Orleans, where he had lived in the 1970s. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he moved to Asheville.

 

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Source

1982      The Escape Artist              Harry Masters   

1988      She's Having a Baby         Harry Anderson                Uncredited

2006      Hexing a Hurricane          Himself                

2014      A Matter of Faith              Professor Kaman             

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1981–1985          Saturday Night Live         Himself                 8 episodes

1982–1993          Cheers Harry "The Hat" Gittes   6 episodes

1984–1992          Night Court         Judge Harold "Harry" T. Stone    193 episodes; also occasional director and writer

Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1984–86)

1985      Tales from the Darkside                 Leon      Episode: "All a Clone by the Telephone"

1986      Vanishing America           Dog Owner         Short Television Film

1988      Tanner '88           Billy Ridenhour 2 episodes

1988      Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs           Freddie                 TV Movie

1988      D.C. Follies          Harry Anderson                01 Episode

1988      The Absent-Minded Professor    Professor Henry Crawford            Movie (remake)

1990      Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme    Peter Piper          TV Movie

1990      It             Richie Tozier       Miniseries

1990      Tales from the Crypt       Jim Korman         Episode: "Korman's Kalamity"

1992      Parker Lewis Can't Lose Ronny Ray Rasmussen   Episode: "Glory Daze"

1993–1997          Dave's World     Dave Barry          98 episodes

1994      Hearts Afire        Dave Barry          Episode: "Sleepless in a Small Town"

1996      Night Stand with Dick Dietrick     Harry     Episode: "UFO Mother Show"

1996      The John Larroquette Show         Dr. Gates             Episode: "Cosmetic Perjury"

1996      Harvey Elwood P. Dowd                TV Movie (remake)

1997      Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Dr. Klaus "Fat Head" Mensa         Episode: "The Family Hour"

1998      Noddy   Jack Fable            Episode: "The Magic Show"

2002      Son of the Beach              Bull Cracker        Episode: "The Long Hot Johnson"

2008      30 Rock                Himself                 Episode: "The One with the Cast of Night Court"

2013      Comedy Bang! Bang!      Himself                 Episode: "Rainn Wilson Wears a Short Sleeved Plaid Shirt & Colorful Sneakers"

2014      Gotham Comedy Live     Himself                 Episode: "Harry Anderson"