Richard Stahl (January 4, 1932 – June 18, 2006) was an American actor who mostly appeared in comic roles on television and in films.
Early life A native of Detroit, Stahl moved to California when he was 15. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. After, he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. In 1959, he was appearing in off-Broadway productions when he met his wife to be, Kathryn Ish. In the 1960s, they relocated to San Francisco and became members of an improvisational comedy group, The Committee.
Career Stahl's film credits include Five Easy Pieces, High Anxiety, 9 to 5, and Ghosts of Mississippi.
He appeared in many TV situation comedies and in occasional dramas, including Columbo, The Odd Couple, Harry O, Barney Miller, Laverne & Shirley, Newhart, and Empty Nest.
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.
Personal life and death Stahl died aged 74 on June 18, 2006, at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Health Center in the Woodland Hills neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, after a 10-year struggle against Parkinson's disease.
Stahl's wife, actress Kathryn Ish, died of cancer in Santa Barbara, California, on December 31, 2007.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotesRef1964Too Tough to CareLumkin, a chemistEducational anti-smoking short film1967FunnymanZach, Comic Salesman 1970The Student NursesDr. Warshaw 1970Five Easy PiecesRecording Engineer 1971Billy JackCouncil Chairman 1971SummertreeMan in Conservatory 1972Slaughterhouse-FiveArmy DoctorUncredited1972¡Qué hacer!Martin Scott Bradford 1972Beware! The BlobEdward Fazio 1972Every Little Crook and NannyAirport Security GuardUncredited1972FuzzVagrant 1972Dirty Little BillyEarl Lovitt 1973Terminal IslandTV Anchorman 1973The Daring DobermansWinston 1975Hearts of the WestBarber 1977High AnxietyDr. Baxter 19809 to 5Meade 1981All Night LongPharmacist 1981Under the RainbowLester Hudson 1983Private SchoolMr. Flugel 1983Tin ManTyson 1984The Flamingo KidCharlie Cooper 1987OverboardElk Cove: Hospital Psychiatrist 1991L.A. StoryBank Executive 1995The American PresidentRumson Staffer 1996Ghosts of MississippiJudge Hendrick 1999The Other SisterTrain Ticket SellerFinal film role
Television
TitleNotesRefThat Girl The Partridge Family Bonanza Love American Style Columbo(3 roles)All in the Family(3 episodes, 3 different 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 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 Golden Girls Empty Nest(3 roles)Married... with Children
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