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The Man of Many Names and Characters
Allan Melvin
Allan Melvin born February, 18, 1922 in Kansas City Missouri is one of the most beloved and recognized character actors in the business. Soon after his birth, Allan Melvin's family moved to NY, and it was there that Allan Melvin would eventually attend Columbia University. After university he served with the Navy and married his present wife, Amalia in 1943. While working at a job in the sound effects dept. of NBC radio he did a nightclub act and appeared and won on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts radio show. While appearing on Broadway in "Stalag 17", he got his break into television getting the role of Cpl. Henshaw on the popular "Sgt. Bilko" show. Moving to Hollywood he would become a household face playing various sidekick roles on shows the most beloved being:
“The Andy Griffith Show”
“Jailbreak” –as Doc Malloy
“Andy & Barney Big City”- Detective
“Lawman Barney”- as Neal
“Barneys First Car” – as Jake
“ET Joins The Army”- as recruiting seargant
“Andys Vacation” – as escaped prisoner
“Barneys Uniform” –as Fred Plummer
“Howards Main Event”- as Clyd Plaunt
"The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961+) as Sol Pomeroy
"Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1965-69) as Sergeant Hacker
All in the Family" (1973-83) as Barney Hefner.
"The Brady Bunch" (1969-74) as Sam the butcher
His real talent has always been his voice and has enchanted millions with his charming and hilarious characters including:
"Magilla Gorilla" (1966) as Magilla
"The Banana Splits Hour" (1968] as Drooper
"H.R. Pufnstuf" (1970) as H.R. Pufnstuf and others
He also appeared as the plumber in the Liquid Plumber commercials for 15 years.
18 February 1922 – 17 January 2008
Allan Melvin died of cancer Thursday 17 January 2008 at his home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, said Amalia Melvin, his wife of 64 years. The jowly, jovial Melvin spent decades playing a series of sidekicks, second bananas and lovable lugs, including Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on "All in the Family," and Sgt. Bilko's right-hand man Cpl. Henshaw on the "Phil Silvers Show." But his place in pop culture will be fixed as butcher and bowler Sam Franklin, the love interest of Brady family maid Alice Nelson, who was played by Ann B. Davis. Melvin played the role from 1970 to 1973. Born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1923, Melvin grew up in New York and attended Columbia University. He was appearing on Broadway in "Stalag 17" when he began his decades-long television career with "The Phil Silvers Show," playing a role his wife said was always his favorite. "He was proudest of that show," Amalia Melvin said. "I think the camaraderie of all those guys made it such a pleasant way to work. They were so relaxed." He saw steady employment as a voice actor from the early 1960s to the early 1990s, most famously providing the voice of "Magilla Gorilla" for the Hanna Barbera cartoon of the same name. His other credits include several guest appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show", "Gomer Pyle: USMC," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
In addition to Amalia, Melvin is survived by daughter Jennifer Hanson and grandson Jon Hanson Jr. A daughter, Mya, died in 1970.
Thank You Allan for all the laughs
February 1962 Jail Break: Clearence "Doc" Mallory was a man on the run. After Barney accidently allowes Doc to get away they soon find out his girl brought his suit in to be cleaned and they are able to track them back to a tailor park where they are camping.
March 1962 Andy and Barney in the Big City: Detective Bardoli is a former police man who is now the house detective in the hotel that the fellows are staying in. With out realizing what he is doing Barney mistakes Bardoli for a Jewel Theif and a Jewel Thief for a news paper owner.
November 1962 Lawman Barney Fife: Pedling farmer Neil wants to give ol Barn a hard time but soon learns the respect that is need to show the badge.
April 1963 Barney's First Car: Jake, Mert leshes accomplis helps get one over on barney by selling him a bad car. It isn't long before Jake messes up and the guys bring back Barney's car to paint and sell again but this time with Andy and Barney a tow.
October 1963 Ernest T Joins the Army: After the Recruiting Sergeant tells Ernest T the Army doesn't want him, he tells him how Andy warned him against him setting Ernest T in a spin against Andy.
March 1964 Andy's vacation: While Andy is up in the wood the state police drop off an Escaped Prisoner to be held in the Mayberry Jail it isn't long before Barney and Gomer let him escape (twice), only to let Andy capture him not once but twice,
November 1964 Barney's Uniform: After giving Fred Plummer a ticket for continued littering Fred treatens Barney causing Barney to wear his uniform non stop.
October 1967 Howard's main Event: It seems the new clerk at the Bakery brought along some trouble in the form of an ex boyfriend Clyde Plaunt who wants Howard to leave Millie alone causing Howard to stand up for himself.
