Richard Stahl

Summary

Richard Stahl (January 4, 1932 – June 18, 2006) was an American actor who mostly appeared in comic roles on television and in films.

Richard Stahl
BornJanuary 4, 1932
DiedJune 18, 2006(2006-06-18) (aged 74)
Years active1966–1999
Spouse
(m. 1959)
Children2

Early life edit

Born in Detroit, he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.[1] In the 1950s, he was appearing in Off-Broadway productions, where he met his wife to be Kathryn Ish in 1959.[2] In the 1960s, he relocated to San Francisco and became a member of an improvisational comedy group, The Committee.[1]

Career edit

Some of Stahl's best known film credits include Five Easy Pieces (1970), The Student Nurses (1970), Billy Jack (1971), Beware! The Blob (1972), Dirty Little Billy (1972), High Anxiety (1977), 9 to 5 (1980), Tin Man (1983), The Flamingo Kid (1984), Overboard (1987), L.A. Story (1991), The American President (1995) and Ghosts of Mississippi (1996).

He appeared in many TV situation comedies and in occasional dramas, including That Girl, The Partridge Family, Bonanza (2 roles), Love American Style, Columbo (3 roles), All in the Family (2 roles), Good Times, What's Happening!!, The Odd Couple (9 episodes, 9 different roles), Maude, The Rookies, Happy Days, Harry O (4 episodes, in 2 different roles), McMillan & Wife, The Bob Newhart Show (2 roles), WKRP in Cincinnati, Soap, Benson, Barney Miller (3 roles), Laverne & Shirley (3 roles), Hill Street Blues, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Who's the Boss?, Highway to Heaven, Newhart (3 roles as 2 different characters), Simon & Simon, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Murder, She Wrote, Night Court (2 roles), Golden Girls, Empty Nest (3 roles), and Married... with Children.

Stahl co-starred in the short-lived comedy mini-series Turnabout (1979); and between 1985 and 1989 was a regular on the sitcom It's a Living, appearing in a total of 93 episodes.

Personal life and death edit

Stahl died aged 74, on June 18, 2006, at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Health Center in Los Angeles, after a 10-year struggle against Parkinson's disease.[1]

Stahl's wife, actress Kathryn Ish, died of cancer in Santa Barbara, California, on December 31, 2007.[2]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1964 Too Tough to Care Lumkin, a chemist Educational anti-smoking short film
1967 Funnyman Zach, Comic Salesman
1970 The Student Nurses Dr. Warshaw
1970 Five Easy Pieces Recording Engineer
1971 Billy Jack Council Chairman
1971 Summertree Man in Conservatory
1972 Slaughterhouse-Five Army Doctor Uncredited
1972 ¡Qué hacer! Martin Scott Bradford
1972 Beware! The Blob Edward Fazio
1972 Every Little Crook and Nanny Airport Security Guard Uncredited
1972 Fuzz Vagrant
1972 Dirty Little Billy Earl Lovitt
1973 Terminal Island TV Anchorman
1973 The Daring Dobermans Winston
1975 Hearts of the West Barber
1977 High Anxiety Dr. Baxter
1980 9 to 5 Meade
1981 All Night Long Pharmacist
1981 Under the Rainbow Lester Hudson
1983 Private School Mr. Flugel
1983 Tin Man Tyson
1984 The Flamingo Kid Charlie Cooper
1987 Overboard Elk Cove: Hospital Psychiatrist
1991 L.A. Story Bank Executive
1995 The American President Rumson Staffer
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Judge Hendrick
1999 The Other Sister Train Ticket Seller Final film role

Television edit

  • Benson (Benson) - serie TV, (Bugging the Governor)|1X16]] (1980)
  • Columbo (Columbo) - serie TV, episodio 3x04 (1973)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Richard Stahl, Film and Television Actor, 74, Is Dead". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 23, 2006. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Actress Kathryn Ish dies at age 71 after battle with cancer". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. January 10, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.

External links edit