Beans Morocco obit

Beans Morocco, ‘Used Cars’ and ‘Eating Raoul’ Actor, Dies at 90

He started out in improv in San Francisco with The Committee, then appeared in ‘Blazing Saddles,’ ‘The Bob Newhart Show,’ two ‘Police Academy’ movies and lots more.

 He was not on the list.

Beans Morocco, the comic character actor who showed up in everything from Blazing Saddles, Used Cars and Eating Raoul to episodes of Mork & Mindy, The Bob Newhart Show and Growing Pains, has died. He was 90.

Morocco died May 29 in Bakersfield, California, his friend Ryan Wise told The Hollywood Reporter. For his final film, he starred as an ex-con on his own after decades in the Federal Witness Protection Program in Killing Cookie (2024), a comedy that Wise wrote and directed.

“He was always performing — always entertaining — and he made everyone feel good,” Wise said. Going by birth name Dan Barrows until he adopted his quirky stage name in the late 1980s, the pint-sized actor also appeared in such other noteworthy films as Clint Eastwood’s Any Which Way You Can (1980), Howard Storm’s Once Bitten (1985), Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) and Rob Reiner’s The American President (1995).

After he played one of the Rock Ridge townsfolk in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974), he was a guy named Stanley Dewoski, who’s lured by Kurt Russell’s Rudy Russo to a lot across a dangerously busy street by a 10-dollar bill on a fishing line in Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars (1980).

He then donned a kids’ jumpsuit to portray a guy looking for kinky sex from Mary Woronov’s character — “I’ve been very bad, haven’t I, Mommy? Are you going to teach me a good lesson?” — in Paul Bartel’s classic Eating Raoul (1982).

Daniel Ernest Barrows was born in Cincinnati on June 8, 1934. After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, he attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, then served in the U.S. Navy, where he became a pilot. (He would fly private planes for many years.)

In San Francisco, he studied comedy acting under Del Close, who brought him into The Committee, where he performed alongside the likes of Howard Hesseman, Carl Gottlieb, Peter Bonerz and Alan Myerson.

Barrows made his onscreen debut in Tom Laughlin’s Billy Jack (1971) in a cast that included Myerson and Hesseman, then appeared in Michael Ritchie’s The Candidate (1972) and on a 1973 first-season episode of The Bob Newhart Show, where his character needs therapy to deal with people treating him like a “pipsqueak.” (Bonerz, of course, played an orthodontist on the sitcom.)

Also in 1973, Barrows had a role in Myerson’s feature directorial debut, the comedy crime film Steelyard Blues, working alongside Donald Sutherland, Jane Fonda and Peter Boyle.

He participated in the Ritchie-helmed mockumentary Smile (1975) and in parody skits for Tunnel Vision (1976) and Loose Shoes (1978), then reunited with Myerson for Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988) and with Bonerz, now directing, for Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989).

When he learned that his friend, cartoonist M.K. Brown, had created a character named Beans Morocco for National Lampoon magazine, he asked her if he could use it.

By either name, he appeared on two episodes of Mork & Mindy and six of Growing Pains, and his vast TV résumé included guest spots on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Harry O; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; Hesseman’s WKRP in Cincinnati; Eight Is Enough; Soap; Laverne & Shirley; The Fall Guy; Matlock; Star Trek: Voyager; Murphy Brown; Clueless; and, as the world’s slowest grocery bagger, Scrubs.

He lived in Pine Mountain Club, California, where he performed in plays, rode his horses in parades, dressed as Santa for the kids and was elected honorary mayor. “Unfortunately, he was quickly impeached … and convinced everyone to storm the gazebo. That was the joke he used to tell,” Wise recalled.

Survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Diane; his sister, Nancy; and his cousins, Gail and William. His son, Justin, died in March 2024 at age 37.

 

Actor

Beans Morocco in Killing Cookie (2024)

Killing Cookie

Cookie

2024

 

The Adventures of Captain Fantastic & Mega Mom (2014)

The Adventures of Captain Fantastic & Mega Mom

Short

Grandpa Thunder

2014

 

Never Go Back

Short

Ted

2008

 

The Outlaw Emmett Deemus and the Porno Queen (2008)

The Outlaw Emmett Deemus and the Porno Queen

6.1

Short

Dave

2008

 

Long Time Coming

Short

Old Hank

2008

 

Lou Diamond Phillips in Lone Rider (2008)

Lone Rider

5.2

TV Movie

Ray

2008

 

Willie Nelson, Jonathan Bennett, Randy Wayne, and April Scott in The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007)

The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning

4.4

TV Movie

Old Shiner

2007

 

Domestic Import (2006)

Domestic Import

4.2

Russian Man

2006

 

Mr. Vinegar and the Crossword

Short

Man

2006

 

Howard Stern on Demand (2005)

Howard Stern on Demand

7.2

TV Series

Old Howard Stern

2006

1 episode

 

John C. McGinley, Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins, and Judy Reyes in Scrubs (2001)

Scrubs

8.4

TV Series

Artie

2006

1 episode

 

Desmond Harrington, Trevor Einhorn, Max Gail, Greg Pitts, Alison Quinn, Gillian Vigman, Dee Wallace, Jerry Lambert, Amanda Walsh, Eden Sher, Randy Wayne, Fred Goss, and Noah Matthews in Sons & Daughters (2006)

Sons & Daughters

8.4

TV Series

Matriarch

2006

1 episode

 

Marta DuBois and John Larroquette in McBride: The Chameleon Murder (2005)

McBride: The Chameleon Murder

7.0

TV Movie

Woodrow Bannister (as Beans Morrocco)

2005

 

Daryl Anderson in McBride: Murder Past Midnight (2005)

McBride: Murder Past Midnight

6.8

TV Movie

Erik the Workman

2005

 

A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004)

A Boyfriend for Christmas

6.5

TV Movie

Mr. Finch

2004

 

Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, and Shannen Doherty in Charmed (1998)

Charmed

7.2

TV Series

Elderly Man

2004

1 episode

 

Terence Stamp and Francoise Surel in The Kiss (2003)

The Kiss

5.2

Video

Walt

2003

 

Katherine LaNasa, A.J. Langer, and Vicki Lewis in Three Sisters (2001)

Three Sisters

6.1

TV Series

Old Male Customer

2001

1 episode

 

Forever Lulu (2000)

Forever Lulu

5.6

Old Man - Boardner's

2000

 

Edward Asner, Patrick Duffy, and Cameron Finley in Perfect Game (2000)

Perfect Game

4.8

Video

Clerk at Batting Cages

2000

 

Challen Cates and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in A Fare to Remember (1999)

A Fare to Remember

6.1

Lester

1999

 

Stacey Dash, Rachel Blanchard, Elisa Donovan, Donald Faison, and Sean Holland in Clueless (1996)

Clueless

5.8

TV Series

St. Peter

1999

1 episode

 

Common Ground (1999)

Common Ground

TV Series

Bernard

1999–2001

 

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997)

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

7.9

TV Series

Customer (segment "The Man in the Model T")

1998

1 episode

 

Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown (1988)

Murphy Brown

6.9

TV Series

Willie

1997

1 episode

 

Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser in Mad About You (1992)

Mad About You

6.8

TV Series

Court Bailiff

1997

1 episode

 

Robert Beltran, Jennifer Lien, Robert Duncan McNeill, Kate Mulgrew, Robert Picardo, Jeri Ryan, Roxann Dawson, Ethan Phillips, Tim Russ, and Garrett Wang in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

Star Trek: Voyager

7.9

TV Series

Rib

1996

1 episode

 

Caroline in the City (1995)

Caroline in the City

6.2

TV Series

Minister

1996

1 episode

 

Michael Douglas and Annette Bening in The American President (1995)

The American President

6.8

Doorkeeper

1995

 

New Nightmare (1994)

New Nightmare

6.4

Graveyard Worker

1994

 

Annie Potts, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Dixie Carter in Designing Women (1986)

Designing Women

7.3

TV Series

Jim RockfordDirector

1991–1993

2 episodes

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.3

TV Series

Marty Silver

1991

1 episode

 

Vidiots

TV Movie

Mailman

1991

 

Hi Honey - I'm Dead (1991)

Hi Honey - I'm Dead

4.7

TV Movie

Man Mourner

1991

 

Andy Griffith in Matlock (1986)

Matlock

7.1

TV Series

Jim Sullivan

1991

2 episodes

 

Vanessa Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1991)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

5.7

TV Movie

Drag Queen

1991

 

Doctor Doctor (1989)

Doctor Doctor

8.6

TV Series

Casey

1990

1 episode

 

1st & Ten (1984)

1st & Ten

6.5

TV Series

Justice of the Peace

1990

1 episode

 

Dream On (1990)

Dream On

7.6

TV Series

Exterminator

1990

1 episode

 

Just the Ten of Us (1987)

Just the Ten of Us

7.0

TV Series

MournerMason

1989–1990

3 episodes

 

Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in Growing Pains (1985)

Growing Pains

6.6

TV Series

Big AlDave SacksClown

1986–1990

6 episodes

 

Thirtysomething (1987)

Thirtysomething

7.5

TV Series

Librarian

1990

1 episode

 

Do You Know the Muffin Man? (1989)

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

5.6

TV Movie

Marty

1989

 

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege

4.4

Bank President

1989

 

Portrait of a White Marriage (1988)

Portrait of a White Marriage

5.0

TV Movie

Wilbur Neubauer

1988

 

Chuck Norris in Hero and the Terror (1988)

Hero and the Terror

5.2

Priest (as Dan Barrows)

1988

 

Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)

Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach

4.6

Bob the Janitor (as Dan Barrows)

1988

 

Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny Glover, Steve Guttenberg, Shelley Duvall, Elliott Gould, Martin Short, and Michael York in Tall Tales & Legends (1985)

Tall Tales & Legends

7.1

TV Series

Charlie (as Dan Barrows)

1986

1 episode

 

Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow, and Jerry Mathers in The New Leave It to Beaver (1983)

The New Leave It to Beaver

5.8

TV Series

Don (as Dan Barrows)

1985

1 episode

 

Jim Carrey, Lauren Hutton, and Karen Kopins in Once Bitten (1985)

Once Bitten

5.6

Harry (as Dan Barrows)

1985

 

George Burns Comedy Week (1985)

George Burns Comedy Week

8.0

TV Series

Store Manager (as Dan Barrows)

1985

1 episode

 

Brothers (1984)

Brothers

7.9

TV Series

Harold (as Dan Barrows)

1985

1 episode

 

The Steel Collar Man (1985)

The Steel Collar Man

5.9

TV Movie

Al (as Dan Barrows)

1985

 

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

7.5

TV Movie

Harried Angel (as Dan Barrows)

1984

 

Elliott Gould, Mary McDonnell, Corinne Bohrer, Conchata Ferrell, Shuko Akune, Lynne Moody, and Bruce A. Young in E/R (1984)

E/R

7.2

TV Series

Patient (as Dan Barrows)

1984

1 episode

 

Young Lust (1984)

Young Lust

5.3

Mr. Greshbit (as Dan Barrows)

1984

 

Going Berserk (1983)

Going Berserk

5.1

Minister (as Dan Barrows)

1983

 

Voyagers! (1982)

Voyagers!

8.0

TV Series

Wally (as Dan Barrows)

1983

1 episode

 

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas in The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Matt Prentice (as Dan Barrows)

1982

2 episodes

 

The Powers of Matthew Star (1982)

The Powers of Matthew Star

5.9

TV Series

Security Guard (as Dan Barrows)

1982

1 episode

 

Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again (1982)

Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again

6.0

Customer in Madame Woo Woo's (as Dan Barrows)

1982

 

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

Mork & Mindy

7.2

TV Series

MauryDittman (as Dan Barrows)

1978–1982

2 episodes

 

Eating Raoul (1982)

Eating Raoul

6.8

Bobby R. - "Very Bad Boy" (as Dan Barrows)

1982

 

Debra Blee, Tom Logan, and Jeana Keough in The Beach Girls (1982)

The Beach Girls

4.9

Mr. Brinker (as Dan Barrows)

1982

 

James Garner in Bret Maverick (1981)

Bret Maverick

7.5

TV Series

Jacob Voorsanger #2 (as Dan Barrows)

1982

1 episode

 

Laverne & Shirley (1976)

Laverne & Shirley

7.0

TV Series

CarlisleBill (as Dan Barrows)

1977–1981

2 episodes

 

Sylvia Kristel and Eric Brown in Private Lessons (1981)

Private Lessons

5.1

Green (as Dan Barrows)

1981

 

Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk (1977)

The Incredible Hulk

7.0

TV Series

Mr. Cox (as Dan Barrows)

1981

1 episode

 

Pernell Roberts in Trapper John, M.D. (1979)

Trapper John, M.D.

6.6

TV Series

Patient #2 (as Dan Barrows)

1981

1 episode

 

Soap (1977)

Soap

8.3

TV Series

Dr. Yalowich (as Dan Barrows)

1981

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can (1980)

Any Which Way You Can

6.1

Baggage Man (as Dan Barrows)

1980

 

Eight Is Enough (1977)

Eight Is Enough

6.6

TV Series

RegistrarPeter Bales (as Dan Barrows)

1978–1980

2 episodes

 

Carroll O'Connor in Archie Bunker's Place (1979)

Archie Bunker's Place

6.4

TV Series

Client (as Dan Barrows)

1980

1 episode

 

Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Frank Bonner, Howard Hesseman, Gordon Jump, Richard Sanders, and Gary Sandy in WKRP in Cincinnati (1978)

WKRP in Cincinnati

8.0

TV Series

Mr. Furgood (as Dan Barrows)

1980

1 episode

 

Used Cars (1980)

Used Cars

6.7

Stanley Dewoski (as Dan Barrows)

1980

 

Catherine Bach, Ben Jones, Denver Pyle, John Schneider, and Tom Wopat in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)

The Dukes of Hazzard

7.1

TV Series

Attendant (as Dan Barrows)

1979

1 episode

 

Zsa Zsa Gabor, John Lazar, Sandra Vacey, and Herb Vigran in Every Girl Should Have One (1978)

Every Girl Should Have One

4.0

Homer (as Dan Barrows)

1978

 

Pat Klous, Connie Sellecca, and Kathryn Witt in Flying High (1978)

Flying High

6.5

TV Series

Harvey (as Dan Barrows)

1978

1 episode

 

Notes on the Popular Arts (1978)

Notes on the Popular Arts

6.1

Short

Man

1978

 

Coming Attractions (1978)

Coming Attractions

4.6

Shaggy Dog (as Dan Barrows)

1978

 

Rob Reiner and Judith Kahan in Free Country (1978)

Free Country

6.9

TV Series

(as Dan Barrows)

1978

1 episode

 

Orson Welles, Cloris Leachman, Marlo Thomas, and Wayne Rogers in It Happened One Christmas (1977)

It Happened One Christmas

6.0

TV Movie

Toll Keeper (as Dan Barrows)

1977

 

Forever Fernwood (1977)

Forever Fernwood

7.4

TV Series

Fogerty (as Dan Barrows)

1977

2 episodes

 

The Absent-Minded Waiter (1977)

The Absent-Minded Waiter

7.3

Short

Cook (as Dan Barrows)

1977

 

Mixed Nuts

7.0

TV Movie

Bugs (as Dan Barrows)

1977

 

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

7.9

TV Series

Ralph Crimins

1976

3 episodes

 

The Big Bus (1976)

The Big Bus

5.7

Second Cemetery Man (as Dan Barrows)

1976

 

Tunnel Vision (1976)

Tunnel Vision

5.0

Senator Polanski (as Dan Barrows)

1976

 

Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence (1976)

Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence

7.4

TV Movie

Bartender (as Dan Barrows)

1976

 

Harry O (1973)

Harry O

7.5

TV Series

SimonsPhilip (as Dan Barrows)

1974–1975

2 episodes

 

McMillan & Wife (1971)

McMillan & Wife

7.2

TV Series

Clerk (as Dan Barrows)

1975

1 episode

 

Smile (1975)

Smile

7.1

At the Party (as Dan Barrows)

1975

 

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

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

8.3

TV Series

Bellhop (as Dan Barrows)

1974

1 episode

 

Where Have All the People Gone (1974)

Where Have All the People Gone

6.0

TV Movie

Man with Gun (as Dan Barrows)

1974

 

David Hartman in Lucas Tanner (1974)

Lucas Tanner

6.8

TV Series

Fred Shoop (as Dan Barrows)

1974

1 episode

 

Mel Brooks and Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles (1974)

Blazing Saddles

7.7

Townsman (uncredited)

1974

 

Steelyard Blues (1973)

Steelyard Blues

5.3

Rocky (as Dan Barrows)

1973

 

The Bob Newhart Show (1972)

The Bob Newhart Show

8.1

TV Series

Mr. Keeney (as Don Barrows)

1973

1 episode

 

The Candidate (1972)

The Candidate

7.0

(as Dan Barrows)

1972

 

Billy Jack (1971)

Billy Jack

6.2

Student (as Dan Barrows)

1971

 

Sound Department

Robert Beltran, Jacqueline Bisset, Paul Bartel, Ed Begley Jr., Wallace Shawn, Mary Woronov, Paul Mazursky, Edith Diaz, Barret Oliver, Rebecca Schaeffer, Ray Sharkey, and Arnetia Walker in Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989)

Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills

5.9

custom looping

1989

 

Soundtrack

Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in Growing Pains (1985)

Growing Pains

6.6

TV Series

performer: "Yankee Doodle" (uncredited)

1987

1 episode

 

Self

How to Become an Outlaw

Narrator (voice)

2014

 

Adventures with the Poorman (1986)

Adventures with the Poorman

TV Series

Bar Patron

1986

1 episode

 

Dean Martin in Dean's Place (1976)

Dean's Place

7.9

TV Special

Self - The Committee (uncredited)

1976