Larry Gelman obit

 

Larry Gelman, R.I.P.

 He was not on the list.

My friend Larry Gelman was in a lot of TV shows and movies. I think he guested something like eight times on Barney Miller as different people and he even got an Emmy nomination for one of those appearances.

He was Dr. Bernie Tupperman the urologist on The Bob Newhart Show. He was a member of the weekly poker game on The Odd Couple with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. He was on three or four episodes of The Monkees. He was Hubie Binder on Maude. He was Officer Bernstein on Eight is Enough. He was on Night Court a half-dozen times.

His IMDB page lists 118 credits for him. I don't think that's even half-complete but if you look over it, you may notice that most of the shows that hired him had him back over and over, often playing different roles. That says something about how reliable an actor he was, about how people liked having him around and how they knew that no matter what the part was, big or small, Larry would do something memorable with whatever they gave him.

Larry was this cute little guy — I'm not sure he was even five feet tall — who always seemed to be happy and pleasant…and working. One reason IMDB doesn't have all his credits is that he did some real small parts in some movies without billing. Another is that he appeared in a couple of cheapo R-rated comedies under other names.

One cheapo R-rated film he did use his real name in was a thing called Slumber Party '57 which I like to say was "Not the worst movie ever made but certainly in the bottom two." I would not have made it past the first three minutes of the videocassette version except that a lady friend of mine was in it…and she was nice enough to tell me when I could fast-forward through scenes she wasn't in.

Also in the film were Larry as a cat burglar and Joe E. Ross as a policeman. Among the many reasons Bridget hated making this movie was that Joe E. Ross, she said, was unable to be on the set with a woman without touching her and suggesting they go someplace where he could touch her more and vice-versa. When she first told me these stories, it was before I'd met Larry and I asked her how he was. She said, "Thank heaven for him. He was a perfect gentleman. He even tried to stop the man playing the cop from misbehaving towards us."

Larry died early yesterday morning at the age of 90. He'd been hospitalized for a bad fall and there were complications and…well, a friend of his sent out an e-mail that said that his final audience was his beloved wife Barbara and nine I.C.U. nurses. I'm sure, no matter how much pain he was in, he made them all laugh. Just a delightful man.

He was known for playing Dr. Bernie Tupperman on the TV series The Bob Newhart Show and Vinnie, the poker playing friend of Oscar and Felix, in the original TV series version of The Odd Couple.

Gelman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 3, 1930.

On television, Gelman portrayed Leo Gold in Free Country,  Irv Schlosser in Grand Slam, Dr. Hubie Binder in Maude  officer Bernstein on Eight Is Enough, Al Clemens on Mork & Mindy and Max on Needles and Pins.

Gelman appeared in other American television series, including The Monkees (3 episodes), Batman, Get Smart, I Dream of Jeannie, My Three Sons, The Doris Day Show (3 episodes), The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Rhoda, Kojak (2 episodes), Quincy M.E., CHiPS, The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, One Day at a Time (2 episodes), Barney Miller (4 episodes), The Facts of Life, Simon & Simon, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele, Cagney & Lacey (3 episodes), Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Mr. Belvedere (2 episodes), In the Heat of the Night (2 episodes), Night Court (3 episodes), Doogie Howser, M.D., The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Touched by an Angel and ER. He appeared in Tales from the Darkside Love Hungry (series 4, episode 11, 1988) as Elmo. He also was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series, for his guest-starring appearance on the episode "Goodbye, Mr. Fish: Part 2" of the American sitcom television series Barney Miller.

In film, Gelman appeared (credited as Larry Spelman) in the X-rated 1976 film Alice in Wonderland with Kristine DeBell, and the adult comedy Chatterbox (1977) starring Candice Rialson. He also had roles in Disney's Superdad (1973), The Strongest Man in the World (1975), Tunnel Vision (1976), Raid on Entebbe (1977), The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979), The Frisco Kid (1979), O'Hara's Wife (1982), Dreamscape (1984), Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985), The Naked Cage (1986) and Mr. Saturday Night (1992).

On Broadway, Gelman portrayed Tambi Rothman in The Roast (1980). His other stage activities included touring in a production of The Odd Couple and playing Albert Einstein in Einstein: A Stage Portrait.

Gelman also played Einstein in the real-time strategy games Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge.

Actor

North Blvd (2018)

North Blvd

7.9

George

2018

 

Dr. Gutman's Eulogy (2012)

Dr. Gutman's Eulogy

8.2

Short

Rabbi Levy

2012

 

Demi Lovato in Sonny with a Chance (2009)

Sonny with a Chance

6.0

TV Series

Buddy

2010

1 episode

 

Mercy Malick, Brad Pihlak, and Kellan Baker in Tales from the Catholic Church of Elvis! (2009)

Tales from the Catholic Church of Elvis!

7.8

Sydney

2009

 

Old Dogs (2009)

Old Dogs

6.4

Mel

2009

 

George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Dubin

2008

1 episode

 

McBride: Fallen Idol (2006)

McBride: Fallen Idol

6.6

TV Movie

Pawnbroker

2006

 

Andrew Lawrence, Wendy Makkena, Grant Rosenmeyer, and Grant Shaud in Oliver Beene (2003)

Oliver Beene

7.4

TV Series

2004

1 episode

 

Wasabi Tuna (2003)

Wasabi Tuna

3.2

Sam

2003

 

Today I Vote for My Joey (2002)

Today I Vote for My Joey

5.2

Max

2002

 

Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge (2001)

Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge

8.3

Video Game

Prof. Albert Einstein

2001

 

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (2000)

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

8.6

Video Game

Prof. Albert Einstein

2000

 

Cedric The Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Wendy Raquel Robinson in The Steve Harvey Show (1996)

The Steve Harvey Show

6.6

TV Series

Elderly Man

1999

1 episode

 

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997)

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

7.9

TV Series

Gabe (segment "Graffiti")

1998

1 episode

 

Roma Downey, John Dye, and Della Reese in Touched by an Angel (1994)

Touched by an Angel

6.0

TV Series

Larry

1997

1 episode

 

Andrew Bowen in Fox Hunt (1996)

Fox Hunt

5.1

Mr. Scabarini

1996

 

Vanessa Angel in Weird Science (1994)

Weird Science

6.8

TV Series

Spokesmodel

1996

1 episode

 

Kirk (1995)

Kirk

2.8

TV Series

Gabriel

1995

1 episode

 

Freakazoid! (1995)

Freakazoid!

7.5

TV Series

Young Quist (voice)

1995

1 episode

 

Laura Gardner and Terry Ray in Angel's Tide (1995)

Angel's Tide

7.4

1995

 

On Our Own (1994)

On Our Own

6.3

TV Series

Mr. Berger

1995

1 episode

 

Corey Feldman and Corey Haim in Last Resort (1994)

Last Resort

2.8

Video

Gus

1994

 

Robby Benson and Laura Johnson in Deadly Exposure (1993)

Deadly Exposure

3.9

Hank

1993

 

Mr. Saturday Night (1992)

Mr. Saturday Night

5.9

Mr. Gimbel

1992

 

Dangerous Women (1991)

Dangerous Women

8.0

TV Series

Will Brown

1991

 

Don Michael Paul in Rich Girl (1991)

Rich Girl

5.6

Pawnbroker

1991

 

William Conrad and Joe Penny in Jake and the Fatman (1987)

Jake and the Fatman

6.4

TV Series

Watson

1991

1 episode

 

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

Doogie Howser, M.D.

6.5

TV Series

Dr. Ramsey

1991

1 episode

 

Harry Anderson, Selma Diamond, Ellen Foley, John Larroquette, Charles Robinson, and Richard Moll in Night Court (1984)

Night Court

7.7

TV Series

Mr. Ketover

Man No. 1

Singing Heart

1985–1990

3 episodes

 

In the Heat of the Night (1988)

In the Heat of the Night

7.6

TV Series

Desk Sergeant

1990

2 episodes

 

Grand Slam (1990)

Grand Slam

8.0

TV Series

Irv Schlosser

1990

4 episodes

 

Mr. Belvedere (1985)

Mr. Belvedere

6.5

TV Series

Man #1

Bookstore Clerk

1989

2 episodes

 

Lou Albano and Danny Wells in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989)

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

6.3

TV Series

Vincent Van Gook

Sigmund Fruitcake

1989

2 episodes

 

Tales from the Darkside (1983)

Tales from the Darkside

7.4

TV Series

Elmo Shroud

1988

1 episode

 

What a Country (1986)

What a Country

6.5

TV Series

Lenny Feldman

1987

1 episode

 

John Ritter and Connie Sellecca in The Last Fling (1987)

The Last Fling

6.1

TV Movie

Walt

1987

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

7.0

TV Series

Bernie Jakes

1986

1 episode

 

Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless in Cagney & Lacey (1981)

Cagney & Lacey

6.8

TV Series

Mr. Jacobs

Bill

Cleo's John

1982–1986

3 episodes

 

Our House (1986)

Our House

7.2

TV Series

1986

3 episodes

 

Jack Klugman and John Stamos in You Again? (1986)

You Again?

6.4

TV Series

1986

1 episode

 

The Check Is in the Mail... (1986)

The Check Is in the Mail...

4.5

Bryon Turtletaub

1986

 

Shari Shattuck in The Naked Cage (1986)

The Naked Cage

5.3

Doc

1986

 

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

Remington Steele

7.3

TV Series

Dr. S. Wilson Scabbard

1985

1 episode

 

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

Hill Street Blues

8.2

TV Series

Myron

1985

1 episode

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

Harry Striker

1985

1 episode

 

Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)

Simon & Simon

7.0

TV Series

Nightclub Owner

1985

1 episode

 

Helen Hunt, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Lee Montgomery in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

6.0

Tailor

1985

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.2

TV Series

Abraham Zuckerman

1985

1 episode

 

Tony Lo Bianco and Lindsay Wagner in Jessie (1984)

Jessie

7.4

TV Series

Abe Feldman

1984

1 episode

 

ABC Weekend Specials (1977)

ABC Weekend Specials

7.7

TV Series

Curly

1984

1 episode

 

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Christopher Plummer, Cory 'Bumper' Yothers, Larry Cedar, Redmond Gleeson, Peter Jason, David Patrick Kelly, and Chris Mulkey in Dreamscape (1984)

Dreamscape

6.3

Mr. Webber

1984

 

The Duck Factory (1984)

The Duck Factory

6.3

TV Series

Poncho

1984

1 episode

 

Andrea Elson and Matthew Labyorteaux in Whiz Kids (1983)

Whiz Kids

6.8

TV Series

1984

1 episode

 

Lottery! (1983)

Lottery!

6.9

TV Series

Donald Young

1984

1 episode

 

Stacy Keach in The New Mike Hammer (1984)

The New Mike Hammer

6.8

TV Series

Kreiger

1984

1 episode

 

Helen Hunt, Anthony Edwards, Richard Crenna, Patty Duke, Billie Bird, and Richard McKenzie in It Takes Two (1982)

It Takes Two

7.0

TV Series

Wallace

1983

1 episode

 

Bea Arthur in Amanda's (1983)

Amanda's

5.4

TV Series

Hank

1983

1 episode

 

Martin Balsam, Carroll O'Connor, Danielle Brisebois, and Jean Stapleton in Archie Bunker's Place (1979)

Archie Bunker's Place

6.4

TV Series

Uncle Nate

Bandini

1981–1983

2 episodes

 

O'Hara's Wife (1982)

O'Hara's Wife

5.0

Travel agent

1982

 

Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Charlotte Rae, and Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)

The Facts of Life

6.8

TV Series

The Man

1982

1 episode

 

Ron Carey, Max Gail, Ron Glass, James Gregory, Steve Landesberg, Hal Linden, and Jack Soo in Barney Miller (1975)

Barney Miller

8.3

TV Series

Philip Bishop

Joseph Hilyer

Sidney Bouton ...

1977–1982

4 episodes

 

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

Roscoe

1981–1982

2 episodes

 

Willie Aames, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Dianne Kay, Connie Needham, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Susan Richardson, Dick Van Patten, and Laurie Walters in Eight Is Enough (1977)

Eight Is Enough

6.6

TV Series

Officer Bernstein

1977–1981

6 episodes

 

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

Mork & Mindy

7.2

TV Series

Mr. Al Klevins

1981

1 episode

 

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams in Laverne & Shirley (1976)

Laverne & Shirley

7.0

TV Series

Chuck Malone

1981

1 episode

 

The Righteous Apples (1980)

The Righteous Apples

8.3

TV Series

Mr. Rosencrantz

1980

1 episode

 

Wholly Moses! (1980)

Wholly Moses!

4.8

Shepherd

1980

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.5

TV Series

Benny Winkles

1979

1 episode

 

Kate Jackson, Andrew Stevens, and Jack Warden in Topper (1979)

Topper

5.5

TV Movie

Mechanic

1979

 

Delta Fox (1979)

Delta Fox

6.4

Rudy

1979

 

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

The Frisco Kid

6.3

Rabbi

1979

 

The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979)

The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal

6.8

TV Movie

Mo Pincus

1979

 

A Different Approach (1978)

A Different Approach

7.4

Short

1978

 

Almost Heaven

5.5

TV Movie

George

1978

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Harvey Greenswann

1978

1 episode

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.5

TV Series

Gus Becker

First Robbery victim

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

Rob Reiner and Judith Kahan in Free Country (1978)

Free Country

6.6

TV Series

Leo Gold

1978

4 episodes

 

Billy Crystal and Joan Rivers in Rabbit Test (1978)

Rabbit Test

3.1

Stand-Up Comic (uncredited)

1978

 

Jack Klugman in Quincy, M.E. (1976)

Quincy, M.E.

7.3

TV Series

Rossiani

1978

1 episode

 

Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Ramos

Dr. Marcus

1975–1978

2 episodes

 

Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)

Maude

7.3

TV Series

Hubie Binder

1976–1978

6 episodes

 

Prime Time (1977)

Prime Time

4.9

Man with Groceries

1977

 

Valerie Harper in Rhoda (1974)

Rhoda

6.8

TV Series

Wendell

1977

1 episode

 

Larry Gelman, Candice Rialson, and Rip Taylor in Chatterbox! (1977)

Chatterbox!

5.0

Dr. Pearl

1977

 

Charles Bronson, Yaphet Kotto, and Peter Finch in Raid on Entebbe (1976)

Raid on Entebbe

6.7

Mr. Berg

1976

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.1

TV Series

Luncheonette Owner

1976

1 episode

 

In MacArthur Park (1976)

In MacArthur Park

6.5

Witness

1976

 

The Bob Newhart Show (1972)

The Bob Newhart Show

8.1

TV Series

Dr. Bernie Tupperman

1972–1976

13 episodes

 

Slumber Party '57 (1976)

Slumber Party '57

4.1

Cat Burglar

1976

 

Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy

6.2

The White Rabbit (as Larry Spelman)

1976

 

Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, Art Carney, and Augustus von Schumacher in Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

4.8

Bit Part (uncredited)

1976

 

Tunnel Vision (1976)

Tunnel Vision

5.0

Bill Guy

1976

 

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (1976)

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case

6.7

TV Movie

Man with Cigar

1976

 

David Janssen in Harry O (1973)

Harry O

7.5

TV Series

Counterman

1976

1 episode

 

George Peppard in One of Our Own (1975)

One of Our Own

7.2

TV Movie

Glick

1975

 

Kurt Russell, Eve Arden, Cesar Romero, Joe Flynn, and Phil Silvers in The Strongest Man in the World (1975)

The Strongest Man in the World

5.9

Larry

1975

 

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

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

Vinnie

1970–1974

12 episodes

 

Superdad (1973)

Superdad

5.1

Mr. Schlimmer

1973

 

Norman Fell, Sandra Deel, Bernie Kopell, Deirdre Lenihan, and Louis Nye in Needles and Pins (1973)

Needles and Pins

6.5

TV Series

Max

1973

2 episodes

 

Your Three Minutes Are Up (1973)

Your Three Minutes Are Up

6.3

Mr. Roberts

1973

 

Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972)

Now You See Him, Now You Don't

6.2

Professor (uncredited)

1972

 

Nichols (1971)

Nichols

7.7

TV Series

Cronie

1972

1 episode

 

Carol Burnett in The Carol Burnett Show (1967)

The Carol Burnett Show

8.7

TV Series

Miklos (uncredited)

1972

1 episode

 

Michael Burns and Monie Ellis in Gidget Gets Married (1972)

Gidget Gets Married

4.6

TV Movie

Anatole

1972

 

Ruben's Revenge

4.5

Short

1971

 

Maud Adams and Beau Bridges in The Christian Licorice Store (1971)

The Christian Licorice Store

5.2

Assistant Director

1971

 

Edward Asner, Valerie Harper, and Mary Tyler Moore in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

8.3

TV Series

Herb Bernstein

1971

1 episode

 

The Doris Day Show (1968)

The Doris Day Show

7.2

TV Series

Terry Madden

Nat

Man #2

1969–1971

3 episodes

 

Sally Field in The Flying Nun (1967)

The Flying Nun

6.5

TV Series

Mendoza

Man #1

1968–1970

2 episodes

 

Nanny and the Professor (1970)

Nanny and the Professor

7.1

TV Series

Reporter

1970

1 episode

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Man at Sidewalk Accident Scene (uncredited)

1970

1 episode

 

My Three Sons (1960)

My Three Sons

7.1

TV Series

Man

1968

1 episode

 

Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif in Funny Girl (1968)

Funny Girl

7.4

Newsman (uncredited)

1968

 

Don Adams and Barbara Feldon in Get Smart (1965)

Get Smart

8.2

TV Series

Hanrahan

1968

1 episode

 

Adam West and Burt Ward in Batman (1966)

Batman

7.5

TV Series

Bank Manager

1968

1 episode

 

Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and The Monkees in The Monkees (1965)

The Monkees

7.5

TV Series

Salesman

Stage Manager

Director

1966–1967

3 episodes

 

Occasional Wife (1966)

Occasional Wife

7.6

TV Series

Waiter

1967

1 episode

 

The Busy Body (1967)

The Busy Body

5.4

Board Member

1967

 

Ben Gazzara in Run for Your Life (1965)

Run for Your Life

7.6

TV Series

Deputy

3rd Reporter

1966–1967

2 episodes

 

Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeannie (1965)

I Dream of Jeannie

7.4

TV Series

Sigmund Freud

1966

1 episode

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

Voter (uncredited)

1966

1 episode