Avery Schreiber

Avery Lawrence Schreiber (April 9, 1935 – January 7, 2002) was an American actor and comedian. He was a veteran of stage, television, and movies who came to prominence in the 1960s in a comedy duo with Jack Burns. He acted in an array of roles mostly on television sitcoms and a series of popular advertisements for Doritos tortilla chips.

Schreiber is remembered for his many Doritos commercials during the 1970s and 1980s, as well as his appearances on several television series. He was known for his trademark bushy handlebar moustache, curly hair, and comedic reactions.

In 1965, Schreiber played the role of Captain Manzini on My Mother the Car. In the summer of 1973, he co-hosted the ABC comedy The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour. He was a regular guest star on the situation comedy Chico and the Man, and was also a frequent guest panelist on the game show Match Game, and a guest in a first-season episode of The Muppet Show (written by former partner Jack Burns, whom he mentioned during a stand-up routine in the episode). In addition, he participated in the 1980 Tournament of Celebrities on the Jim Perry-hosted version of Card Sharks. He appeared on The Love Boat S8 E13 as Patrick Turney in a Christmas-themed vignette "Santa, Santa, Santa" which aired on December 15, 1984.

His movie appearances include The Monitors (the first film production of Chicago's Second City comedy troupe, 1969), Don't Drink the Water (1969), Deadhead Miles (1972), Swashbuckler (1976), The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977), The Concorde... Airport '79, Silent Scream (1979), Scavenger Hunt (1979), Caveman (1981), Jimmy the Kid (1983) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).

Avery continued to work in film, television and theater, as well as teaching improvisational theater technique up until the time of his death. He taught master classes at The Second City in Chicago and Los Angeles.

He and his wife Rochelle had two children.

Death In 1994, Schreiber suffered a heart attack resulting from complications of diabetes. Although he survived triple coronary artery bypass surgery, he never fully recovered. He died of another heart attack on January 7, 2002, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Legacy In 2003, the Avery Schreiber Theatre was founded in North Hollywood, California. In 2013, the Avery Schreiber Theatre changed its name to The Avery Schreiber Playhouse with the approval of Rochelle Isaacs Schreiber (née Shelley), Avery's widow. It is located at 4934 Lankershim Boulevard in the NoHo Arts District.

Filmography Features Year Title Role Notes 1969 The Monitors Max Jordan 1969 Don't Drink the Water The Sultan 1972 Deadhead Miles Boss Fulano 1976 Swashbuckler Pulaski 1977 The Last Remake of Beau Geste Arab Chieftain / Used Camel Salesman 1978 Loose Shoes Theatre Manager 1978 Christmas at Walt Disney World Geppetto 1979 The Concorde... Airport '79 Russian coach Markov 1979 Silent Scream Sgt. Manny Ruggin 1979 Scavenger Hunt Zookeeper 1980 Steve Martin: All Commercials 1980 Galaxina Captain Cornelius Butt 1981 Caveman Ock 1983 Jimmy the Kid Dr. Stevens 1984 Cannonball Run II Uncredited 1987 Hunk Constatine Constapopolis 1988 Saturday the 14th Strikes Back Frank Baxter 1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Tax Assessor 1995 Dracula: Dead and Loving It Peasant on Coach 1997 The Lay of the Land Dean Bill Whittier 1998 The Russian Room Old Russian Man Short 2000 Rebel Yell Granddaddy of Punk 2000 Pedestrian 2001 Dying on the Edge Saul

Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 East Side/West Side Truck Driver 1964 Vacation Playhouse 1965-1966 My Mother the Car Captain Bernard Manzini 11 episodes 1967 Our Place 1968 Premiere Spivak 1968 Get Smart Oleg 1969 The Mothers-in-Law Mr.Crawford 1969-1973 Love, American Style Season 1, Episode 7: Love and the Advice-Givers 1969 The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Fire Commissioner Lilly Season 2, Episode 10: The Firehouse Five Plus Ghost 1969-1970 That Girl Al Taylor Season 4, Episodes 1 and 2: Mission Improbable, Part 1 and Part 2 1970 The Doris Day Show Warren Coleman 1971 Story Theatre 1971 Escape Nicholas Slye TV movie 1972 McCloud Milton 1972 Second Chance Roberto Gazzari TV movie 1973 The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour Host Unknown episodes 1974 The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine Mr. Evil Saturday Morning Variety Series 1975 Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya Regular Performer Unknown episodes 1975 Chico and the Man Gypsy / Fortune Teller 2 episodes 1975 Sammy and Company Himself 3 episodes 1976 The Muppet Show Himself 1976 The Rockford Files Azie Boyajian Episode: Rattlers' Class of '631976 Monster Squad The WeathermanEpisode: The Weatherman 1977 Sha Na Na Himself 1977 Don't Push, I'll Charge When I'm Ready Announcer TV movie 1978 The Love Boat Everett Buell Season 2, Episode 1 & 2 1979 The Dukes of Hazzard Wendel Episode 1:13 - Double Sting 1979 Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers Munroe TV movie 1980 Avery Schreiber Live From the Second City Himself TV movie 1980 More Wild Wild West Russian Ambassador TV movie 1982 Fantasy Island Ed Turner 1984 The Fall Guy Truck Driver (Episode 4:1 - Losers Weepers) 1984 Faerie Tale Theatre Pinocchio Boatman 1985 The Pound Puppies Tubbs Voice, TV movie 1985 Shadow Chasers Jordan Kerner 1985-1987 The Smurfs Additional Voices 2 episodes 1986 Outlaws Halifax 1987 Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats Benny the Ball Voice, TV movie 1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Additional Voices 13 episodes 1989 Saved by the Bell Dr. Mertz 1990 Wake, Rattle & Roll Dr. Lester T. Quirk Voice, TV Series, Unknown episodes 1992 Days of Our Lives Leopold Alamain 1993-1995 Animaniacs Beanie the Brain-Dead Bison Voice, 3 episodes 1999 Becker Man Outside Reggie's Diner