Ken Olfson

Ken Olfson (April 2, 1937 – December 31, 1997) was an American film, theatre and television actor in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life Olfson was born on April 2, 1937, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He began acting at the age of 10 and was active in Boston Children's Theatre until he was 18. He attended Syracuse University, then studied at the American Theatre Wing. In 1967, he created the role of Dr. Schoenfeld in Bruce Jay Friedman's off-Broadway play Scuba Duba. He was cast as a standby for Charles Nelson Reilly in Neil Simon's God's Favorite, produced on Broadway in 1974. In 1978, he appeared on the short-lived series Flying High. Other series included: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; One Day at a Time; Happy Days; Charlie's Angels; Eight Is Enough; Gimme a Break!; Three's Company; Diff'rent Strokes; The Jeffersons; Murder, She Wrote; Trapper John, M.D.; and Amazing Stories. His films included Spaceballs, Mr. Mom, Odd Jobs, and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Personal life and death After volunteering as a lay counselor at the Southern California Counseling Center, the organization appointed him to a staff position as the head of the Training Lay Counselors program. He designed the program, which was attended by the public.

He had a twin, Lewy Olfson, who wrote children's books.

Ken Olfson died of a heart attack on December 31, 1997 in Los Angeles after a two-month illness. He was age 60.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1977 You Light Up My Life 1st Commercial Director Prime Time a.k.a. American Raspberry Mr. Sloan 1978 The One and Only Mr. Arnold House Calls Make-Up man 1979 H.O.T.S. Dean Larry Chase 1983 Mr. Mom Exec. #3 1984 Angel Mr. Saunders Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Randall Micki & Maude Interior Decorator 1986 Odd Jobs Mayor Brady Also known as Summer Jobs in the United States The Check Is in the Mail... Assessor 1987 Spaceballs Head Usher 1988 Kandyland Cleaner Customer 1989 Trust Me Benjamin Greenberg

Television Year Title Role Notes 1976Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman The Librarian episode: "Episode 006" (S 1:Ep 6) One Day at a Time Mr. Faraday episode: "Fighting City Hall" (S 1:Ep 9) 1976–1977 The Nancy Walker Show Terry Folson 1977 Happy Days Simpson episode: "Fonz-How, Inc." (S 4:Ep 22) Charlie's Angels Seth episode:" Unidentified Flying Angels" (S 2:Ep 9) 1978 Flying High Raymond Strickman Starsky & Hutch Big Ed episode: "Cover Girl" (a.k.a. "No Deposit, No Return") (S 4:11) Match Game '78 Himself episodes: 1982 Madame's Place Bernie of Culver City Episode: "The Man is an Artist" 1983 The Jeffersons Ben episode: "My Maid...My Wife" (S 9:Ep 14) Three's Company Patrick Townsend episode: "Out On a Limb" Gimme a Break! Jason Swinborn III episode: "Grandpa Robs a Bank" (S 2:Ep 19) Small & Frye Freddie the Fence episode: "Fiddler on the Hoof (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1) Diff'rent Strokes Mr. Cribbsepisode: "Drafted" (S 6:Ep 5) 1984 Murder, She Wrote TV Book Critic episode: "The Murder Of Sherlock Holmes (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1) 1985 Remington Steele episode: "Steele of Approval" (S 3:Ep 22) 1986 Cagney & Lacey Lazaroff episode: "Exit Stage Centre" (S 5:Ep 19) Amazing Stories Clifford Monroe episode: "Hell Toupee" (S 1:Ep 21) It's Garry Shandling's Show The Executive episode: "The Graduate" (S 1:Ep 5) 1988 21 Jump Street episode: "Chapel of Love" (S 2:Ep 14)