Maurice Gosfield

Maurice Gosfield (January 28, 1913 – October 19, 1964) was an American comic actor, most famous for his portrayal of Private Duane Doberman on the 1950s sitcom The Phil Silvers Show.

Biography

Early life

Maurice Lionel Gosfield was born in New York in 1913, but was raised in Philadelphia and later in Evanston, Illinois. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army as a Tec 4 in the 8th Armored Division.

Acting career

He began acting with the Ralph Bellamy and Melvyn Douglas Players in Evanston, and joined the summer stock theatre circuit in 1930. In 1937, he made his Broadway debut as Manero in the play Siege. Other theatre credits from the 1930s include The Petrified Forest, Three Men on a Horse and Room Service. He also made several appearances on radio programs.

The Phil Silvers Show

From 1955 to 1959, Gosfield played Private Duane Doberman in The Phil Silvers Show (titled You'll Never Get Rich in its first season). Doberman was written as the most woebegone soldier. The actor originally hired for the part was Maurice Brenner, but Brenner was recast as Private Irving Fleischman. The show's creator Nat Hiken's biography details the casting for the role and the effect that Gosfield had on him, the producer and Phil Silvers when he appeared in front of them:

Gosfield

Gosfield is a village in the Braintree district of Essex, England. It is located around two miles west of the town of Halstead.

Places of note include the following:

See also

External links

Media related to Gosfield at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 51°56′N 0°35′E / 51.933°N 0.583°E / 51.933; 0.583