Larry Gelman

Lawrence Sheldon Gelman (November 3, 1930 – June 7, 2021) was an American film and television character actor. He was known for playing Dr. Bernie Tupperman on the TV series The Bob Newhart Show and Vinnie, the poker playing friend of Oscar and Felix, in the original TV series version of The Odd Couple.

Biography Gelman was born in Brooklyn, New York,

In film, Gelman appeared (credited as Larry Spelman) in the X-rated 1976 film Alice in Wonderland with Kristine DeBell, and the adult comedy Chatterbox (1977) starring Candice Rialson. He also had roles in Disney's Superdad (1973), The Strongest Man in the World (1975), Tunnel Vision (1976), Raid on Entebbe (1977), The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979), The Frisco Kid (1979), O'Hara's Wife (1982), Dreamscape (1984), Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985), The Naked Cage (1986) and Mr. Saturday Night (1992).

On Broadway, Gelman portrayed Tambi Rothman in The Roast (1980). His other stage activities included touring in a production of The Odd Couple and playing Albert Einstein in Einstein: A Stage Portrait.

Gelman also played Einstein in the real-time strategy games Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge.

He died in June 2021, at the age of 90, from injuries suffered in a fall.

Television Year Title Role Notes1966 The Monkees Director S1:E12, "I've Got a Little Song Here"1967 The Monkees Stage Manager S1:E23, "Captain Crocodile"1967 The Monkees Salesman S2:E15, "The Christmas Show"