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Tony Randall, best known for playing the ultra-fastidious, extra-tidy, compulsively clean neatnik, Felix Unger on "The Odd Couple," died Monday May 17th 2004 at NYU Medical Center of complications from a long illness, according to his publicist. This witty and urbane comic actor was born Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 26, 1920. At the age of 19, he left Tulsa to pursue an acting career in New York. After studying with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Mr. Randall made his stage debut in 1941 in Circle of Chalk. He made later theatrical appearances in such acclaimed productions as Inherit the Wind and The Corn Is Green. After serving with the Army during World War II, Mr. Randall began using his talents on radio and television. He landed a recurring role on the early television series One Man's Family (1950-1952) and appeared with Jack Klugman on Captain Video in the early '50s. A big career break was the role of Harvey Weskit, the history teacher on Mr. Peepers (1952-1955). This show gave him the recognition which eventually led to feature-film work. Mr. Randall's first major cinematic achievement came in 1957 when he played the title role opposite Jayne Mansfield in the legendary Frank Tashlin masterpiece Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? A couple of years later, he would play opposite Marilyn Monroe in her penultimate film Let's Make Love. In 1959, Mr. Randall began filming a string of light romantic comedies with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. These included Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers. Although he continued to be seen in the occasional humorous motion picture throughout the '60s, it wasn't until his 1970 return to television in The Odd Couple that Mr. Randall achieved widespread fame. He won an Emmy for playing Felix Unger in 1975, the year the show was cancelled. In his acceptance speech he proclaimed, "I'm so happy I won. Now if I only had a job." With the popularity of The Odd Couple, Mr. Randall began to pop up quite frequently as an entertaining raconteur on late night talk shows. He appeared a record 70 times on the "Late Show" with David Letterman. And in 1993, when Conan O'Brien took over the time slot at NBC, he was a guest on the debut episode. After The Odd Couple, he returned to prime time as Judge Walter Franklin on the MTM-produced sitcom The Tony Randall Show (1976-78). Three years later, he played an openly homosexual man on the underappreciated Love, Sidney, a project which Mr. Randall has held in high regard as a personal favorite. In the '80s and '90s he was occasionally been seen in small roles in satirical off-beat films, such as The King of Comedy and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Mr. Randall spent much of his time consumed with a pet project which he had been contemplating for decades: the establishment of a national American repertory theater. In 1991, his dream became a reality and the National Actors Theater began presenting Broadway revivals of classic plays at affordable prices. Although his role was primarily executive producer of this company, on several occasions he performed in these productions. One of those productions, the comedy Three Men on a Horse once again teamed him up with Jack Klugman. He is survived by his wife, Heather Harlan Randall, who made him a father for the first time at age 77, and their two children, 7-year-old Julia Laurette and 5-year-old Jefferson Salvini. In April 2001, at TV Land's 5th Anniversary party, tvland.com had a chance to speak with Mr. Randall and his long time friend and co-star Jack Klugman. Click here to see the interview. TV Land will celebrate the life and work of Tony Randall, a true friend and television icon Thursday, May 20th beginning at 9pm (et/pt). Join us for an evening of The Odd Couple featuring Tony Randall’s most memorable episodes as Felix Unger. Click here for more schedule information. |