Herb Edelman
Herbert Edelman (b. November 5 1933, Brooklyn, New York – d. July 21 1996, Woodland Hills, California) was an American actor of stage, film and television. He was twice-nominated for an Emmy for his television work.
Biography
Before becoming an actor, Edelman studied to be a veterinarian at Cornell University, but he left during his first year. His other occupations included a journalist, a radio operator and announcer for the Armed Forces, and, after dropping out of Brooklyn College, a hotel manager. Edelman started acting in theater, where he performed in Barefoot in the Park; he played the same role in the 1967 movie. Edelman made appearances in many TV shows (including starring in Big John, Little John, as well as "The Good Guys" with Bob Denver), films, and TV movies over the years, but may be best remembered for his recurring role as Dorothy Zbornak's ex-husband Stan on the long-running sitcom The Golden Girls.
Edelman had an extensive television career that spanned three decades (even appearing on the 1970s sitcom Maude, his future co-star Bea Arthur's show), Love, American Style, St. Elsewhere and Murder She Wrote. He was married to soap opera actress Louise Sorel from 1964-1970. Edelman was romantically linked with actress Christina Pickles, with whom he costarred on St. Elsewhere, from the mid-1980s until the time of his death.
Standing roughly 6'5", prematurely bald and decidedly "ethnic" looking, he remains best known for his extensive work in television, generally in stints as a series regular or recurring character (Murder, She Wrote), (Welcome Back, Kotter, St. Elsewhere, and Knots Landing), but rarely as a lead. He starred with Bill Bixby and Valerie Perrine in the Bruce Jay Friedman television comedy-drama, Steambath (1973), a controversial PBS program.
Edelman attended Cornell University's School of Agriculture for six months before accepting his destiny. After a stint in the Army, he enrolled at Brooklyn College where he began acting. Dropping out of college and driving a cab to make ends meet, Edelman picked up a fateful fare - stage director Mike Nichols. Nichols cast him in his breakthrough Broadway role as the bewildered telephone repairman in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park in 1963. Edelman would reprise the role in the 1967 film version. He also appeared in the film versions of Simon's The Odd Couple (1968) and California Suite (1978). While appearing on Broadway, he kept driving a taxi. [citation needed]
Edelman succumbed to emphysema in 1996 at the age of 62.