Brady bunch actor dead at 84!!

[WVPacman]

Allan Melvin, a character actor best known for playing Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch," has died. He was 84.


Allan Melvin played Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on "All in the Family."

Melvin died of cancer Thursday at his home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, said Amalia Melvin, his wife of 64 years.

The jowly, jovial Melvin spent decades playing a series of sidekicks, second bananas and lovable lugs, including Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on "All in the Family," and Sgt. Bilko's right-hand man Cpl. Henshaw on the "Phil Silvers Show."

But his place in pop culture will be fixed as butcher and bowler Sam Franklin, the love interest of Brady family maid Alice Nelson, who was played by Ann B. Davis. Melvin played the role from 1970 to 1973.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1923, Melvin grew up in New York and attended Columbia University.

He was appearing on Broadway in "Stalag 17" when he began his decades-long television career with "The Phil Silvers Show," playing a role his wife said was always his favorite.

"He was proudest of that show," Amalia Melvin said. "I think the camaraderie of all those guys made it such a pleasant way to work. They were so relaxed."

He saw steady employment as a voice actor from the early 1960s to the early 1990s, most famously providing the voice of "Magilla Gorilla" for the Hanna Barbera cartoon of the same name.

His other credits include several guest appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gomer Pyle: USMC," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

In addition to Amalia, Melvin is survived by daughter Jennifer Hanson and grandson Jon Hanson Jr. A daughter, Mya, died in 1970.

[Falls City Beer]

"Sam the Butcher bringin' Alice the meat."

RIP

[cumberlandreds]

It was versatile actors like Melvin that made sitcoms what they were back in the 60's and 70's. RIP

[Hollcat]

I remember him playing at least three different Andy Griffith shows all as different characters.

[redsmetz]

In checking his IMDB.com entry, I see he played Sgt. Snorkel in a short lived Beetle Bailey show. Not bad casting at all.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by redsmetz

In checking his IMDB.com entry, I see he played Sgt. Snorkel in a short lived Beetle Bailey show. Not bad casting at all.

He was also one of Bilkos bobos in The Phil Silvers show

[Chip R]

TV Land could almost do a whole weekend of shows with him as a guest star.

[GAC]

Originally Posted by Chip R

TV Land could almost do a whole weekend of shows with him as a guest star.

Just watched him this morning on All In The Family as Archie's buddy Barnie (married to Blanche).

He was also the voice of Magilla Gorilla.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by GAC

Just watched him this morning on All In The Family as Archie's buddy Barnie (married to Blanche).

He was also the voice of Magilla Gorilla.

I saw him the night before on Andy Griffith. The man was ubiquitous.

[GAC]

Originally Posted by Chip R

I saw him the night before on Andy Griffith. The man was ubiquitous.

Was it the episode where he was the grocery clerk who got a ticket from Barney and threaten to get him back? Barney, who claimed to know judo and that his whole body is a weapon, is then saved by Andy who gets Barney's judo teacher to sub for him and beats the guy up in a dark alley?

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by GAC

Was it the episode where he was the grocery clerk who got a ticket from Barney and threaten to get him back? Barney, who claimed to know judo and that his whole body is a weapon, is then saved by Andy who gets Barney's judo teacher to sub for him and beats the guy up in a dark alley?

No. It was the one where he was in jail and Barney pretended to be a crook too to get information about his gang and Barney ended up tied up and locked in one of the cells.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Jailbreak (Episode 50) - Feb. 5, 1962
When Andy and Barney learn from an officer from the State police that a bank robber arrived in town on the morning bus, they are willing to help out, but the officer refuses their help in catching the crook and his partner. However, when the officer nabs his man and locks him up at the jail, Barney accidentally lets him out, leaving the officer with a less than favorable impression on the local law enforcement agency. In attempt to help recapture Malloy (Allan Melvin) and ultimately find his partner, Andy and Barney launch their own search and are successful in finding the robbers – with Officer Horton as their hostage.

Andy and Barney in the Big City (Episode 57) – Mar. 26, 1962
While staying in Raleigh, Barney believes he is witnessing a man casing the hotel clientele. Barney, is right in believing that there is a crime about to be committed, but he is tailing the house detective (Allan Melvin) and has hooked up with the real crook.

Lawman Barney (Episode 70) – Nov. 12, 1962
Barney's ability to be a lawman is put to the test with some itinerant peddlers (one being Allan Melvin) and he fails. His confidence is shattered until Andy steps in behind the scenes and warns these peddlers of "Fife the Fierce Barney's next encounter with them leads him to believe he is truly respected. Unfortunately the peddlers learn the truth and confront him again. This time, with some help from Andy he rises to the challenge and truly demonstrates where his power comes from.

Barney's First Car (Episode 90) – Apr. 1, 1963
Barney uses his life savings of three hundred dollars to buy a new car. On his first drive, after he buys it, the car begins to fall apart. Eventually the car breaks down. A tow truck appears and Barney thinks its Gomer. It turns out that the tow truck is driven by the crook (Allan Melvin) who sold him the car in the first place.

Ernest T. Bass Joins the Army (Episode 98) – Oct. 14, 1963
Ernest T. wants to join the army to get a uniform that he can wear back to the hills to impress his lovely Romenna. When he is refused induction. Ernest goes on a window breaking rampage. Andy and Barney haul him in, but the jail can't hold him. After Ernest T. tells Andy his reason for coming to town, Andy settles the whole matter by giving him one of Barney's whiplash cord uniforms to take home. Allan Melvin play a army recruiting sergeant who signed up Ernest T. Bass..

Andy’s Vacation (Episode 117) – Mar. 9, 1964
A grumpy Andy agrees to take a few days off and heads up to the lake to relax. With Barney and Gomer in charge, they manage to capture--and lose--an escaped convict (Allan Melvin). When the criminal runs into Andy in the woods, he's recaptured by the sheriff. Naturally, Barney and Gomer mistakenly set him free again.

Barney's Uniform (Episode 135) – Nov. 9, 1964
The grocery store clerk (Allan Melvin) repeatedly sweeps trash into the street, even after Barney writes him a citation. Fred threatens that if he ever sees Barney out of uniform, he'll pound him. Barney creates excuse after excuse as to why he always wears his uniform, even to the big town dance. Not surprisingly, Andy schemes a plot to get Fred off of Barney's back.