David Lander obit

David Lander, who played Squiggy on 'Laverne & Shirley,' dies at 73; Michael McKean, more pay tribute

 

 He was not on the list.

David Lander, who rose to fame by playing Squiggy on the sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," died Friday at 73 from complications related to multiple sclerosis, which he battled for over 30 years, his wife said.

He was surrounded in Los Angeles by his wife, daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Fields Lander said in an email Saturday to the Associated Press.

“It was very peaceful,” Lander said. “He had a tough battle with MS for 37 years and he persevered like no one I have ever seen, and it taught me a great deal about the important things of life.”

The actor detailed his journey with the disease in a memoir titled "Fall Down Laughing: How Squiggy Caught Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody." He was diagnosed with MS in 1984, but kept it a secret until 1999.

Lander, born June 22, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, played Squiggy alongside his longtime friend Michael McKean (Lenny Kosnowski) in "Laverne & Shirley." The two had met at Carnegie Mellon University and later ended up moving to Los Angeles and joining a comedy group called the Credibility Gap.

They built their acting careers together, having both starred in Steven Spielberg's "1941” and Robert Zemeckis' "Used Cars." They also both voiced characters in "Oswald" and released an album as Lenny and the Squigtones, playing off their roles in "Laverne & Shirley."

Just moments before TMZ broke news of Lander's death, McKean simply tweeted out an old photo of Lander and him together.

Though Lander is best known for his role in "Laverne & Shirley," he had many notable credits under his belt. He voiced characters on "Tom & Jerry," "101 Dalmatians: The Series," "Dr. Dolittle 2" and "Garfield." He also had roles on "Twin Peaks," "Married with Children" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" among others.

Fans and celebrities took to social media Saturday to share their condolences and pay tribute to Lander.

"This funny man made my childhood happier with his work on 'Laverne & Shirley' and his guest appearance on @TheSimpsons as himself still makes me laugh today (“Hello, Laverne...”). Rest In Peace David, and thank you: There’s a little Lenny & Squiggy in the DNA of Jay & Silent Bob," tweeted @ThatKevinSmith.



Saverio Guerra wrote: "So sad to hear of David's passing. When I was on the show Becker, I had little tributes to the actors I spent my youth watching on sitcoms. The leather jacket I wore was my nod to @hwinkler4real and some of my characters entrances were my little Tribute to Lenny and squiggy."

Larry Karaszewski gave a nod to Lander and McKean's album, writing "RIP David Lander – his work with the Credibility Gap totally shaped the boundaries of 1970s comedy. This album is a masterpiece – hysterical from start to finish."

Film credits

Year Title Role Notes

1977 Cracking Up Carl Adler / Alistair Kakowski / Mr. Hickenlooper Credited as The Credibility Gap

1979 1941 Joe

1980 Wholly Moses! The Beggar

Used Cars Freddie Paris

1982 Pandemonium Pepe

1983 Imps* Fritz #1 (segment "Interrogation")

1985 The Man with One Red Shoe Stemple

1987 The Big Bang Fred Voice, English version

Steele Justice Army Guard

Funland Bruce Burger

1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Smart Ass Voice

1990 Masters of Menace Squirt

1991 Steel and Lace Schumann

1992 A League of Their Own Radio Sportscaster Uncredited

Tom and Jerry: The Movie Frankie da Flea Voice

1993 Betrayal of the Dove Norman

1994 Ava's Magical Adventure The Mayor

1998 A Bug's Life Thumper Voice, Outtakes

The Modern Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mayor Burgabom

1999 The Iron Giant Hunter Voice

Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure Bernie Direct-to-video

2000 Titan A.E. The Mayor Voice

Scary Movie Principal "Squiggy" Squiggman

The Tangerine Bear Theodore, Store Clerk Voice, Direct-to-video

2001 Say It Isn't So Reverend Stillwater

Dr. Dolittle 2 Bird Voice

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Yokian Guard, Gus Voice

2002 Jane White Is Sick & Twisted Gerry King

2004 Christmas with the Kranks Tanning Intruder

2006 Zoom Wendy's Employee

Tomoko's Kitchen Gene Short

2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Ch'p Voice, Direct-to-video

Television credits

Year Title Role Notes

1970–1972 Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down Jerry Lewis Voice, 18 episodes

1972 Love, American Style Voice, Episode: "Love and the Old-Fashioned Father"

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie Jud Episode: "Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection"

1973 Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter Magnus Voice, 40 episodes, English version

1974 The Bob Newhart Show Milt the Delivery Boy Episode: "Ship of Shrinks"

1975 Rhoda Mel Towers Episode: "Call Me Grandma"

Barney Miller David Gordon Episode: "Hot Dogs"

1976 Viva Valdez Harry Episode: "Weekend"

1976–1983 Laverne & Shirley Andrew 'Squiggy' Squiggman 156 episodes

1979 Happy Days Andrew 'Squiggy' Squiggman Episode: "Fonzie's Funeral: Part 2"

1984 The Love Boat Arnold Herlick 2 episodes

1985 Highway to Heaven Ed Episode: "The Smile in the Third Row"

George Burns Comedy Week Episode: "The Honeybunnies"

1986 Tall Tales & Legends Mr. Sylvester Episode: "My Darlin' Clementine"

Galaxy High Milo de Venus Voice, 13 episodes

1987 Matlock Eli Walsh Episode: "The Convict"

A Garfield Christmas Doc Boy Voice

1988 Simon & Simon Alvie 'The Weasel' Hortsnagel Episode: "Bad Betty"

1989 Father Dowling Mysteries Eric Becker Episode: "What Do You Call a Call Girl Mystery"

Monsters James Self Episode: "Their Divided Self"

Married... with Children Eli Episode: "Married... with Prom Queen: The Sequel"

Star Trek: The Next Generation Tactician Episode: "Peak Performance"

Knight & Daye Episode: "Stalk Radio"

Freddy's Nightmares Lenny Nordhoff Episode: "Lucky Stiff"

1990 Head of the Class Mr. Freelik Episode: "Alan Goes Crimson"

TaleSpin Weazel Voice, Episode: "Vowel Play"

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Voice, 3 episodes

Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone Voice, 13 episodes

1990–1991 Twin Peaks Tim Pinkle 3 episodes

1991 ProStars Voice

1991–1993 Tom & Jerry Kids Bernie the Swallow Voice, 3 episodes

1992 On the Air Valdja Gochktch 7 episodes

Camp Candy Additional voices Episode: "When It Rains... It Snows"

Batman: The Animated Series Nitro Voice, Episode: "Appointment in Crime Alley"

The Little Mermaid Da Shrimp Voice, 3 episodes

1993 Matrix Freddy Flanagan Episode: "False Witness"

Family Album Mr. DeVito Episode: "Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall All You Gotta Do Is Call..."

1994 Getting By Sid Smollen Episode: "Sell It Like It Is"

1994–1995 Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills Lechner Voice, 26 episodes

1994–1996 Saturday Night Live Squiggy 2 episodes

1995 Family Matters Oliver

Dream On The Other Norman Mailer Episode: "Significant Author"

The Nanny The Landlord Episode: "Val's Apartment"

1996 Homeboys in Outer Space Inspector 17 Episode: "House Party or, Play That Funky White Music Droid"

The Tick Filth #4 Voice, Episode: "The Tick vs. Filth"

Superman: The Animated Series Sqweek Voice, 2 episodes

Hey Arnold! Sewer King Voice, Episode: "The Sewer King"

1996–1997 Pacific Blue Elvis Kryzcewski 14 episodes

1996–1998 Jungle Cubs Arthur Voice, 20 episodes

1997 L.A. Heat Cecil Rusk Episode: "In Transit"

Nash Bridges Norman Guilfoyle Episode: "Gun Play"

Johnny Bravo Christopher / Beaver Voice, 2 episodes

Space Ghost Coast to Coast Himself Episode: "Boobookitty"

The Weird Al Show Miner Episode: "Mining Accident"

1997–98 The Bold and the Beautiful Dr. Martin 'Marty' Guthrie 12 episodes

101 Dalmatians: The Series Horace Badun Voice, 28 episodes

1998 Diagnosis: Murder Willie Andrews Episode: "Food Fight"

1999 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Postmaster Episode: "Sabrina, the Teenage Writer"

Mad About You Announcer #1 Episode: "Separate Beds"

Arliss Wrestling Promoter Episode: "To Thine Own Self Be True"

Recess Leonard Weems Voice, 2 episodes

2000 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd Caesar Voice, 2 episodes

2001 Black Scorpion Eugene Gardner/Greenthumb Episode: "Roses Are Red, You're Dead"

2001–2003 Oswald Henry Voice, 22 episodes

2002 The Simpsons Squiggy Voice, Episode: "Helter Shelter"

2004 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Brain Voice, Episode: "The Nerve"

2005 Hopeless Pictures Les Voice

2007 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Curtis Voice, Episode: "Wrath of the Spider Queen"

2009 Raising the Bar Jury Foreman Episode: "I'll Be Down to Get You in a Taxi, Honey"

2009–2011 The Garfield Show Doc Boy Voice, 4 episodes

2015 Break a Hip Charlie 6 episodes

2016 SpongeBob SquarePants Donnie the Shark Voice, Episode: "Sharks vs. Pods"

2017 Goldie & Bear Rumpelstiltskin Voice, Episode: "Gnome Family Reunion/Adorable Norm" (final role)

Video games credits

Year Title Role

1997 Lego Island The Brickster, Shark, Gideon Worse

Zork: Grand Inquisitor Voice of the Inquisition, Bickering Torch