Character Actor Frank Aletter Dies at 83

Zoneboy · 05-14-2009, 05:47 PM

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Frank Aletter, a veteran character actor who starred in the 1960s situation comedies "Bringing Up Buddy" and "It's About Time," has died. He was 83.

Aletter, who was once married to actress and former Miss America Lee Meriwether, died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Tarzana, said his daughter Kyle Oldham.

Aletter, a 1950s Broadway actor whose credits included the musical comedy "Bells Are Ringing," appeared in a number of movies, including "Mister Roberts" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!," but he was best known for his extensive work in television.

In the 1960-61 series "Bringing Up Buddy," he played bachelor Buddy Flower, an investment counselor living with his meddlesome spinster aunts.

In "It's About Time," a 1966-67 series, he and Jack Mullaney played astronauts who crack the time barrier and wind up back on Earth during the Stone Age, where they are befriended by a couple named Shad and Gronk (Imogene Coca and Joe E. Ross).

Aletter also played Cara Williams' husband in "The Cara Williams Show," a 1964-65 situation comedy, and he was a regular on the 1970-71 sitcom "Nancy."

As a guest actor, he appeared in more than 100 series, including "Perry Mason," "The Lucy Show," "MASH," "Kojak," "All in the Family," "Fantasy Island," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Dallas."

"He was one of the faces that everybody would stop and ask, 'Do I know you from anywhere?' " said Oldham, recalling that her father was riding in the passenger seat of a car in New York City years ago when a homeless car-window washer came up and said, "Hey, dude, I just saw you on 'What's Happening!!' "

Aletter, who was born in Queens, N.Y., on Jan. 14, 1926, served in the Army from 1946 to 1948, during which he was in a Special Service unit in Germany.

After his discharge, he enrolled in the Dramatic Workshop at the New School for Social Research in Manhattan.

He made his Broadway debut in 1950 when he replaced Eli Wallach in the role of Stefanowski in "Mister Roberts." His other Broadway credits include "Wish You Were Here" and "Time Limit!"

Aletter served for many years on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild.

His 1958 first marriage to Meriwether ended in divorce in the early `70s.

In addition to Oldham, he is survived by his second wife of 25 years, Estella; his other daughter, Lesley Aletter; his stepdaughters Alix Hodes and Julia Hodes;.and his granddaughter, Ryan Oldham.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A memorial service is pending.

Stuck In The '70's · 05-14-2009, 05:54 PM

Very sad. I remember him on quite a few tv shows. I remember he guest starred on Three's Company too . R.I.P.

Marvo301 · 05-14-2009, 05:57 PM

It's always sad when we lose one of our great character actors.

Frank Aletter.

Scoobiedoo30 · 05-14-2009, 06:40 PM

Rest in Peace

Heidi Dawn · 05-15-2009, 06:24 PM

Frank appeared in the pilot episode of 'The Golden Girls' as Blanche's fiancee, turned out his character was a bigamist. I also remember seeing him on MASH and Three's Company.

One of Frank's daughters is Kyle Aletter-Oldham, she's best known as a substitute model on 'The Price Is Right', filling in for either Janice Pennington, Dian Parkinson, Holly Hallstrom, or Kathleen Bradley.

tv star collector · 05-15-2009, 06:48 PM

Frank Aletter also starred in the "Danger Island" live-action segment of the
Saturday morning TV series The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, on NBC
(1968-1970). It was a serialized adventure. The show was produced by
Hanna-Barbera and also featured music, comedy and cartoons.

05-14-2009, 05:47 PM	#1
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Posts: 14,668	Character Actor Frank Aletter Dies at 83 Link Frank Aletter, a veteran character actor who starred in the 1960s situation comedies "Bringing Up Buddy" and "It's About Time," has died. He was 83. Aletter, who was once married to actress and former Miss America Lee Meriwether, died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Tarzana, said his daughter Kyle Oldham. Aletter, a 1950s Broadway actor whose credits included the musical comedy "Bells Are Ringing," appeared in a number of movies, including "Mister Roberts" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!," but he was best known for his extensive work in television. In the 1960-61 series "Bringing Up Buddy," he played bachelor Buddy Flower, an investment counselor living with his meddlesome spinster aunts. In "It's About Time," a 1966-67 series, he and Jack Mullaney played astronauts who crack the time barrier and wind up back on Earth during the Stone Age, where they are befriended by a couple named Shad and Gronk (Imogene Coca and Joe E. Ross). Aletter also played Cara Williams' husband in "The Cara Williams Show," a 1964-65 situation comedy, and he was a regular on the 1970-71 sitcom "Nancy." As a guest actor, he appeared in more than 100 series, including "Perry Mason," "The Lucy Show," "MASH," "Kojak," "All in the Family," "Fantasy Island," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Dallas." "He was one of the faces that everybody would stop and ask, 'Do I know you from anywhere?' " said Oldham, recalling that her father was riding in the passenger seat of a car in New York City years ago when a homeless car-window washer came up and said, "Hey, dude, I just saw you on 'What's Happening!!' " Aletter, who was born in Queens, N.Y., on Jan. 14, 1926, served in the Army from 1946 to 1948, during which he was in a Special Service unit in Germany. After his discharge, he enrolled in the Dramatic Workshop at the New School for Social Research in Manhattan. He made his Broadway debut in 1950 when he replaced Eli Wallach in the role of Stefanowski in "Mister Roberts." His other Broadway credits include "Wish You Were Here" and "Time Limit!" Aletter served for many years on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild. His 1958 first marriage to Meriwether ended in divorce in the early `70s. In addition to Oldham, he is survived by his second wife of 25 years, Estella; his other daughter, Lesley Aletter; his stepdaughters Alix Hodes and Julia Hodes;.and his granddaughter, Ryan Oldham. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A memorial service is pending. __________________ Somewhere between the greed for money and sound judgment, the legends of country music were tossed aside for the outlandish sound they call country music today.

05-14-2009, 05:54 PM	#2
Stuck In The '70's Forum Legend Back on TV again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: In the middle of nowhere Posts: 52,262	Very sad. I remember him on quite a few tv shows. I remember he guest starred on Three's Company too . R.I.P. __________________ Sonny Formerly mr roper, Nighthawk, DallasCowboysFanatic , I Walk The Line, Walking Tall, and Clint Eastwood Fan

05-14-2009, 05:57 PM	#3
Marvo301 Forum Veteran Joe Cool! Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: Abbotsford,B.C. Canada Posts: 11,389	It's always sad when we lose one of our great character actors. Frank Aletter. __________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Alfred Einstein

05-14-2009, 06:40 PM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Forum Celebrity MEMBER Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,398	Rest in Peace __________________ Who Dat

05-15-2009, 06:24 PM	#5
Heidi Dawn Forum Regular Happy Days Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 705	Frank appeared in the pilot episode of 'The Golden Girls' as Blanche's fiancee, turned out his character was a bigamist. I also remember seeing him on MASH and Three's Company. One of Frank's daughters is Kyle Aletter-Oldham, she's best known as a substitute model on 'The Price Is Right', filling in for either Janice Pennington, Dian Parkinson, Holly Hallstrom, or Kathleen Bradley. __________________ TV Show DVD sets I own: Complete Series Box Sets: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break. Other Series: Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, WKRP in Cincinnati, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts Of Life, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, The Love Boat, 227.

05-15-2009, 06:48 PM	#6
tv star collector Senior Member Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,820	Frank Aletter also starred in the "Danger Island" live-action segment of the Saturday morning TV series The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, on NBC (1968-1970). It was a serialized adventure. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera and also featured music, comedy and cartoons.

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