Sam the Butcher has died - Allan Melvin dead at 85...

[Cooley Hurd]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-melvin19jan19,1,1480090.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

By Dennis McLellan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 19, 2008
Allan Melvin, a popular character actor who played Cpl. Henshaw on the classic 1950s sitcom "The Phil Silvers Show" and later portrayed Archie Bunker's neighbor and friend Barney on "All in the Family," has died. He was 84.

Melvin, who was in the original Broadway cast of "Stalag 17" in the early 1950s, died of cancer Thursday at his home in Brentwood, said his wife of 64 years, Amalia.

During his five-decade career, Melvin made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including playing different roles on at least eight episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" and playing Dick Van Dyke's old Army buddy on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

He also played Sgt. Charlie Hacker on "Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C."; portrayed butcher Sam Franklin -- Alice the housekeeper's boyfriend -- on "The Brady Bunch"; and continued playing Barney when the hit "All in the Family" became "Archie Bunker's Place."

Melvin, who appeared in only one movie -- the 1968 Doris Day comedy "With Six You Get Eggroll" -- also did voice-over work in cartoons, including providing the voices of Magilla Gorilla and Bluto on "Popeye."

[tainted_chimp]

1. R.I.P. Allan...

such a memorable character actor.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Aww. I always liked him and he was in so many shows!

He's one of those actors who everyone recognizes even if they don't know his name. I mainly remember him as Rob's old army buddy when I watched "The Dick Van Dyke Show" on Nick at Nite. And he always played the not-too-swift but really nice guy. This is very sad. We'll miss him...;(

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. He played in an AMAZING episode of "The Andy Griffith Show"...

...every once in a while Andy and his writers got deep and / or dark. In one of the early episodes, Barney runs into a thug played by Melvin who senses his fear. The way that Melvin and Don Knotts played off of each other in that episode really rang true. It was the "High Noon" episode of a show that specialized in more light-hearted stuff.

RIP, Allan, and thanks for many memories.

:toast:

[Cooley Hurd]

5. Sometimes, TAGS went all "Hallmark Theatre.."

I remember the episode you're speaking of. Melvin played a VERY scary dude, and you thought Barney was actually going to be killed.:scared:

[GigiMommy]

4. Yet another part of my childhood has passed away...

R.I.P. Allan Melvin.

[Auggie]

6. He could do it all... humor, pathos, drama.

His filmography: http://imdb.com/name/nm0578510/