Noam Pitlik (November 4, 1932February 18, 1999) was an American television director and actor. In 1979, Pitlik won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for his work on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller.
Early life The son of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Pitlik, he was born in Philadelphia. He was a graduate of Central High School, Gratz College, and Temple University.
Career Pitlik began his acting career in a Western series on WCAU in Philadelphia. In 1951, he was part of the set design and construction crew for the Philadelphia Experimental Theater. In 1952, he was a member of the cast for the Summer Theater Guild's production of Philadelphia Story in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
In 1957, he starred in an Off-Broadway production of Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera. During the 1960s and 1970s, Pitlik became a familiar character actor on television, making guest appearances in around 80 different TV series (making multiple appearances in several) including The Untouchables; The Rifleman; The Patty Duke Show; Gunsmoke; My Favorite Martian; Combat!; The Virginian; The Munsters, Gidget; The Andy Griffith Show; Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; Get Smart; The Invaders; The Fugitive; The F.B.I.; I Dream of Jeannie; Hogan's Heroes (in seven different roles, including in the pilot episode); The Monkees; Bewitched; The Flying Nun; That Girl; Run for Your Life; The Mod Squad; The Doris Day Show; The Odd Couple; Nanny and the Professor; The Partridge Family; Room 222; Night Gallery; Love, American Style; All in the Family; Mannix; Ironside; Cannon; Barnaby Jones; Hawkins; and The Six Million Dollar Man. He had recurring roles on Ben Casey; I'm Dickens, He's Fenster; The Bob Newhart Show and Sanford and Son. He also appeared in TV movies, commercials and some theatrical films such as The Fortune Cookie, The Graduate, Fitzwilly and The Front Page. Though he largely retired from acting in the mid-1970s to concentrate on directing, Pitlik still made a handful of widely spaced acting appearances over the next two decades. His final appearance as an actor was in an episode of Becker in 1998.
Pitlik directed episodes of 29 different TV series including Barney Miller (102 episodes, more than anyone else), Wings (27 episodes), Night Court (1 episode), Mr. Belvedere (44 episodes), Off the Rack (6 episodes), Taxi (11 episodes), One Day at a Time (18 episodes) and Porters (6 episodes). In addition to the Emmy, he also received the Peabody Award and Directors Guild of America Award for his work on Barney Miller.
Personal life and death Pitlik was married three times; his first marriage was to Jesse Lou Blostein on February 11, 1967. They divorced on September 29, 1970. Pitlik next married Linda Hirsch on June 23, 1974; they divorced on April 25, 1977. Pitlik's last marriage was to Susan Whittaker on January 18, 1986. They remained married until his death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from lung cancer on February 18, 1999, at the age of 66.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1963 A Child Is Waiting Concerned Father Uncredited1963 My Favorite Martian Officer Thorp 1965 The Satan Bug Motel Clerk Uncredited1965 The Hallelujah Trail Interpreter 1965 Hogan's Heroes Wagner The Informer, series pilot1965 Gunsmoke (TV series) Dobbs S10:E29, “20 Miles From Dodge”1966 The Fortune Cookie Max 1966 Penelope Bank Security Guard Uncredited1966 Texas Across the River Indian Uncredited1966 The Young Warriors 1967 Fitzwilly Charles 1967 The Graduate Gas Station Attendant Uncredited1967 The Monkees (TV series) Shazar S2:E3, “Everywhere a Sheik, Sheik”1967 The Monkees (TV series) Harry S2:E12, “Hitting the High Seas”1968 Fade In George 1968 The Virginian (TV series) Walt Hardesty S6:E24, “The Handy Man” 1968 Hogan's Heroes (TV series) Major Lutz S4:E2, “The Gonculator”1968 Get Smart Bodecker S3:E26, “The Reluctant Redhead”1969 The Thousand Plane Raid Lt. Jacoby 1969 The Big Bounce Sam Turner 1969 I Dream of Jeannie (TV series) Major Gregorian S5:E14, “Never Put a Genie on a Budget”1969 Downhill Racer T.V. Announcer Uncredited1970 Hogan's Heroes (TV series) Major Strauss S5:E21, “Standing Room Only”1970 Hogan's Heroes (TV series) Captain Metzler S6:E2, “The Experts”1970 Bewitched (TV series) Newton S7:E4, “Samantha's Hot Bedwarmer”1970 Bewitched (TV series) Ashley Flynn S7:E9, “Samantha's Pet Warlock”1974 The Front Page Wilson
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