Marvin Kaplan

Marvin Kaplan (born January 24, 1927) is an American character actor and voice artist.

Life and career

Marvin Kaplan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1927. He is probably best known for his recurring role on the sitcom Alice where he portrayed a phone lineman named Henry Beesmeyer who frequented Mel's diner. He was a part of the cast from 1977 to the series end in 1985. His oft-referred to wife on the show, Chloe, was only seen once, played by Ruth Buzzi.

His first film role was as the court reporter in Adam's Rib (1949) with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, where in his trademark deadpan style he asks Tracy how to spell "Pinky", a private pet name for Hepburn's character that Tracy had accidentally used while in court.

Kaplan had a regular role in the radio sitcom and later TV version of Meet Millie as Alfred Prinzmetal, an aspiring poet-composer. The program ran from 1951-54 on radio and continued on television from 1952-56. In addition, the actor was the voice of Choo-Choo on the 1960s cartoon series Top Cat and had a small role in the 1963 film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World playing a gas station attendant; in both roles he was featured alongside actor Arnold Stang (the voice of Top Cat). Among other roles, Kaplan co-starred in the 1965 Blake Edwards comedy The Great Race alongside Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood and Peter Falk. He also made a brief appearance as a carpet cleaner in the 1976 film Freaky Friday.