Dick Kallman (July 7, 1933 – February 22, 1980) was an American actor.
Early life Kallman was born in Brooklyn, New York City, into a wealthy family. His father Alvan Kallman, a former barnstorming pilot, was owner of the Savoy-Plaza Hotel in New York City, The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in New Hampshire, and the St. Johns Hotel in Havana. Kallman's mother, Zara Whitman Kallman, had been a Broadway actress.
Career After working on the New York stage where he won a Theatre World Award for his performance in the 1951 Broadway musical Seventeen,Naden, Corinne J. The Golden Age of American Musical Theatre: 1943-1965 Scarecrow Press, 2011 p 205 Kallman starred in the title role of the 1965–1966 television sitcom Hank. He returned to Broadway, taking over the leading role in the musical Half a Sixpence.Dick Kallman, 1966 - NYPL Digital Collections As a singer, he released several albums of pop standards, including Hits & the Misses and Speak Softly, and in conjunction with his TV series, Hank Sings and Dick Kallman Drops in as 'Hank'''. He performed one of his songs on an episode of Hullabaloo.
Kallman played non-recurring roles in TV series such as The Jack Benny Show, Bachelor Father and Medical Center. He also acted in episodes 110 and 111 of Batman, playing Little Louie Groovy, a takeoff on record producer Phil Spector.
Filmography + Television and Film Year Title Role Notes1950The Billy Rose ShowUnnamed role(TV Series), 1 episode: "Bright Golden Girl"Skylarkin' TimeSinger(Short film)1955-1960The Jack Benny ProgramDancer in Diner (1955)/ Unnamed role (1960)(TV Series), 2 episodes: "Jack's Lunch Counter" and "Lunch Counter Murder"1957Hell Canyon OutlawsSmiley Andrews(Western film)1958-1960U.S. MarshalYoung Deputy (1958)/ Harry (1960)(TV Series), 2 episodes: "Seventh Stranger" and "Paper Bullets"1959The TexanBen Howell / Grady Fenton(TV Series), 2 episodes: "The Gunfighter" and "Dangerous Ground"MarkhamMartin Valcour(TV Series), 1 episode: "The Nephews"Born to Be LovedEddie Flynn(Comedy film)Bachelor FatherMike Brinkerhoff(TV Series), 1 episode: "Bentley and the Motorcycle"WhirlybirdsJohnny(TV Series), 1 episode: "A Matter of Trust"The CaliforniansArmand(TV Series), 1 episode: "Deadly Tintype"Verboten!Helmuth Strasser(War film)1960The Lucy–Desi Comedy HourBellboy(TV Series), 1 episode: "Lucy Meets the Mustache"1961Back StreetSailor at USO(Drama film)1965-1966HankHank Dearborn (title role)(TV Series), 26 episodes1967Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!Pat Murad(Comedy film)1967-1968BatmanLittle Louie Groovy(TV Series), 2 episodes: "The Funny Feline Felonies" and "The Joke's on Catwoman"1970-1974Medical CenterDr. Charlie Guinness (1970)/ Dr. Styles (1972)/ Larry (1974)(TV Series), 3 episodes: "Witch Hunt", "The Outcast" and "Adults Only"
Personal life From youth, Kallman had exhibited an appreciation of fine antique furnishings and an acumen for business. Kallman formed a music publishing company in 1966. By the late 1970s, he had retired from show business and was a wealthy antiques and art dealer living with life partner Steven Szladek in a Manhattan apartment.
Kallman and Szladek were murdered by three intruders in 1980 during a robbery of the art, antiques, and jewelry in their apartment. The killers were later caught and convicted. A fictionalized account of Kallman's life, Up With the Sun'' by Thomas Mallon, was published by Knopf in February 2023.
References
External links
Dick Kallman at TV Guide Dick Kallman at Fandango
Dick Kallman at Allmusic
Hank at TV Party Hank at Sitcoms Online (Flash video)