Phil Bruns

Philip Bruns (May 2, 1931 – February 8, 2012) was an American television and movie actor and writer. He portrayed George Shumway, the father of Mary Hartman on the 1970s comedic series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and Morty Seinfeld, the father of Jerry Seinfeld, in the 1990 second episode of Seinfeld.

Early life Bruns was born on May 2, 1931, at a farm near Pipestone, Minnesota, the youngest of three children of Margie Evelyn Solon (née Trigg) and Henry Phillip Bruns. His ancestry was German and Irish. He played high school football.

Films in which Bruns appeared include A Thousand Clowns (1965), Jenny (1970), The Out-of-Towners (1970), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972), Harry and Tonto (1974), The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), Nickelodeon (1976), Corvette Summer (1978), The Stunt Man (1980), My Favorite Year (1982), Flashdance (1983), Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988), Dead Men Don't Die (1991), The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them (1993), Love Bites (1993), Pentathlon (1994), The Trigger Effect, and Ed (1996). He wrote The Character Actor's Do's, Don't and Anecdotes''', which was published in early November 2008.

On television Bruns appeared in such dramas and comedies as Sanford and Son, The Wild Wild West, The Rat Patrol, Here's Lucy, Maude, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Secrets of Isis, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rookies, Kojak, Delvecchio, The Jeffersons, Archie Bunker’s Place, Hill Street Blues, Simon & Simon, St. Elsewhere, Trapper John, M.D., Cagney & Lacey, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Mr. Belvedere, Columbo: Exercise in Fatality, Barney Miller (as different characters in 4 episodes), Night Court, Airwolf, Just Shoot Me!, and M*A*S*H

Personal life and death Bruns married Jill Owens, a dancer on The Jackie Gleason Show, in 1969. Afterward, he married Laurie Franks, a Broadway star. He was lifetime friends with Peter O'Toole.

Until his death, Bruns resided in Hollywood with his wife, Laurie Franks (1929–2022). He died of natural causes at a hospital in Los Angeles on February 8, 2012.

Partial filmographyA Thousand Clowns (1965) - The Man in the RestaurantAll Woman (1967) - Drunken ManThe Swimmer (1968) - Biswangers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)Midnight Cowboy (1969) - Man in TV Montage (uncredited)Jenny (1970) - FredThe Out-of-Towners (1970) - Officer MeyersTaking Off (1971) - PolicemanThe Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) - GallagherSilent Night, Bloody Night (1972) - Wilfred Butler (1929)Harry and Tonto (1974) - BurtThe Great Waldo Pepper (1975) - DillhoeferFlash and the Firecat (1975) - Mr. WalleyNickelodeon (1976) - DuncanCorvette Summer (1978) - GilThe Stunt Man (1980) - AceMy Favorite Year (1982) - Fed. Marshal HoltBlood Feud (1983) - Senator John L. McClellanFlashdance (1983) - Frank SzaboThe Christmas Star (1986) - LuckyAmazon Women on the Moon (1987) - French Ventriloquist Dummy - ManagerReturn of the Living Dead Part II (1988) - Doc MandelSeinfeld (1990) “The Stakeout” - Morty Seinfeld Dead Men Don't Die (1990) - NolanThe Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them (1992) - Irv CrownLove Bites (1993) - Vinnie HelstingPentathlon (1994) - VicDigital Man (1995) - BobEd (1996) - ClarenceThe Trigger Effect (1996) - Mr. SchaeferJohnny Skidmarks (1998) - Old CootInferno'' (1999) - Old Man Buyer (final film role)