Al Lewis(Grandpa Munster), 93, recovering from coma/amputation

[maveric]

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/columnists/nyc-hen0916,0,944135.column?coll=ny-opinion-columnists

One of my favorite characters from 60's TV. He played a great role in an otherwise stupid sitcom.

His Brooklyn accented Dracula character was unique and probably kept that dumb show on air for the two seasons in prime time.

He is also politically active, ran for NY governor on the Green ticket, and is very outspoken on NY/Rockefellor drug laws.

Oh! He's also a Phd from Columbia University.

Go Grandpa Go!

[BurtWorm]

1. Love him!

You gotta love a vampire from Brooklyn.

[MrBenchley]

2. He also was wonderful

in Car 54--Where Are You and Sgt.. Bilko.

And he comes in near the end of Used Cars as a nutcase right wing judge.

Get well soon, Al!

[VOX]

11. Thanks for mentioning his great turn in "Used Cars"...

His role as the nutjob judge really sticks in memory. He had a miniature gallows and guillotine on his desk, and would play with them matter-of-factly as the defendants said their piece...

Classic! :toast:

[MuseRider]

13. I do not

remember too much about Car 54 but I do remember when it was on it was my favorite show. I wasn't very old I don't think. I don't remember when it was on but thanks for jogging my memory. Get Well Al!

[redwitch]

16. There's a hold up in the Bronx

Brooklyn's broken out in fights
there's a traffic jam in Harlem
that's backed up to Jackson Heights
there's a scout troop short a child
Kruschev's due in Idlewild
Car 54 Where are you?


Memory is soooooo wierd. I am currently searching the house for my glasses- which Î had 10 minutes ago. But this dumb TV jingle is permanently lodged in my brain- and easily accessed too!

[latebloomer]

17. That song goes thru my head a lot, too

AND I can't find my car key!!

[SiouxJ]

3. That's so sad

a truly great actor.

I disagree though, I thought Fred Gwynn and he made the show thoroughly enjoyable. I still watch it today. Had one of the all time great theme songs too!

[MrScorpio]

4. Grandpa, We're thinking up you

Please pull though!!!

[Braden]

5. **** the FCC

one of the funniest radio moments ever!

[maveric]

6. He's been an advocate for many liberal causes.

Nameingly the abolition of the Rockefeller drug policies.
I remember when he ran for Gov of NY he wore a ten gallon cowboy hat and smoked 9 inch long cigars while walking the streets of Manhattan.
He's just an all-around cool guy.

[radwriter0555]

7. DANG, I thought he died AGES ago!

And he woke UP! How cool is that?

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I remember when he ran for office! I always liked him!

Thanks for posting this! Poor Grandpa...:-(

[REP]

9. Yow! Poor Guy

Hard not to like Al Lewis - glad he's recovering.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. I saw a biography of him, one time

The poor guy became typecast and ended up playing ``Grandpa Munster'' for the rest of his life. He was pretty cool, though, in real life, and quite political.:shrug:

[RetroLounge]

12. I believe one of his Vaudeville song was covered by

Cindi Lauper on her first album...

From the album "She's So Unusual"

He's so Unusual - Word and Lyrics by Al Lewis

You talk of sweeties bashful sweeties
I've got one of those
Oh he's handsome as can be
But he worries me

He goes to college
And gathers knowledge
Oo, what that boy knows
He's up in his Latin and Greek
But in his chicin' he's weak cause,
When I want some lovin'
And I gotta have some lovin'
He says please stop it please
he's so unusual...

[david_vincent]

14. I agree with SiouxJ, the show had more going for it than Al Lewis

Fred Gwynne was terrific, and Butch Patrick, one of the greatest "child-actor-gone-bad" types ever!
Not to even mention The Munsters was so hip they had the Standells on one episode.
Am I the only person alive who finds the current sitcoms utterly lacking in imagination or any sense of fun? Old TV shows are infinitely better because they weren't all scared to death of failing and they took chances with absurd premises. Now all we have is an endless and endlessly tedious round of variations on a theme: boringly realistic borderline-dysfunctional families interacting.
But Al Lewis was, after all, wonderful!

[latebloomer]

15. He has a weekly radio show

on WBAI, the New York Pacifica station. He and his wife Karen are devoted to prisoners' rights. He also has a few choice words to say about the state of our country, in particular about "that piece of crap in the White House."

[Kat45]

18. I hope he'll be ok.

That guy's great! I loved him in the Munsters.

[Bush_has_Parvo]

19. Get well soon, Grandpa Al!

Didn't he have a restaurant in NY, called "Grandpa's" or something? I seem to remember a news report, and he would greet the patron's in his Grandpa Munster vampire outfit. I always wanted to go to that restaurant. He's a treasure.

[BattyDem]

20. Yes ..

It was an Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village called "Grampa's" - I went there a few times. He was always sitting outside in a director's chair, smoking a cigar and chatting with everyone. The truck drivers would even wave to him and yell "Hey Grampa" as they drove by. I talked with him a couple of times - really sweet guy. I hope he gets well soon. :-)

[Rhiannon12866]

21. That's a really lovely story, BattyDem!

I can just picture him! Thanks for sharing this and welcome to DU!:toast: