Steven Franken

Stephen Robert Franken (May 27, 1932 – August 24, 2012) was an American actor who worked in film and television for over fifty years.

Early life and career

Franken was born in Queens, New York. He earned his B.A. from Cornell University, and returned to New York to pursue acting rather than realize his parents' dreams for a medical career.

Another early role was as Bully in the 1961 episode "The Pit" of the series The Rebel, starring Nick Adams. He played the lead guest-starring role in the 1961 episode "The Case of Willie Betterley" in Lock Up. In 1962, he was cast as Dunc Tomilson in "The Yacht-Club Gang" on Checkmate. He appeared as Jerry Allen in two episodes of Mr. Novak. In 1964, he appeared in The Time Travelers. In 1965, he appeared in "Birth of a Salesman" on McHale's Navy, and in "Tim and Tim Again" on My Favorite Martian.

He appeared in 1964 on Petticoat Junction as the son of the villain, Homer Bedloe in "Bedloe and Son". He played another rich wastrel on the short-lived sitcom Tom, Dick and Mary. Franken appeared in the famous 1963 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Deadly Verdict" (in which Mason actually loses a case, at least initially) as Christopher Barton.

Immediately after Dobie Gillis was cancelled, Franken was cast as Lieutenant Samwell "Sanpan" Panosian in the Gary Lockwood series The Lieutenant episode "To Take Up Serpents", the first television series created by Gene Roddenberry. He played other military roles, such as a decorated U.S. flier turned arms-dealer and traitor in "The Gun Runner Raid" episode of The Rat Patrol and as a P.O.W. lieutenant in Follow Me, Boys!. From 1966 to 1971, he appeared in various roles in at least six episodes of Bewitched. In 1970, he starred with Jerry Lewis in the comedy film Which Way to the Front?

From 1970 to 1973, he appeared five times on Love, American Style. He appeared as Officer Albert Porter in three episodes of Adam-12 from 1971 to 1972 as well as Ralph Salisbury in the 1971 episode "The Ferret." In 1972, he appeared as Jonas Lasser on the season three episode "The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

He appeared on Barney Miller in 1975 (episode: "The Arsonist") and again in 1981 (episode: "Resignation"). In 1979, he starred as Tom Voorhies alongside Michael Constantine in Disney's The North Avenue Irregulars. He appeared with Peter Sellers in 1980's The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu.

He acted and directed in various episodes of Insight.

Death Franken died on August 24, 2012, at a nursing and rehabilitation center in Canoga Park, California, of complications from cancer, at the age of 80. He had three daughters, two from his first marriage to Julia Carter, and one from his second marriage to Jean Garrett. He was the second cousin of actor and politician Al Franken.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes1958 Decoy Bar Patron Episode: "Saturday Lost" Playhouse 90 Willie Episode: "The Time of Your Life" 1960 Deadline Copy Boy Episode: "To Move a Mountain" 1960–1963 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. Recurring role1961 Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Crazed Soldier Episode: "Night of Decision" The Rebel Ruck Episode: "The Pit" Assignment: Underwater Carstairs Episode: "Witness from the Dead" Lock-Up Willie Betterley Episode: "The Case of Willie Betterley"1962 Checkmate Dunc Tomilson Episode: "The Yacht-Club Gang" Dr. Kildare Freddie Binns Episode: "Operation: Lazarus" Ensign O'Toole Ensign Clifford Bender Episode: "Operation: Gaslight"1963 Perry Mason Christopher Barton Episode: "The Case of the Deadly Verdict" The Lieutenant Lieutenant Sam Panosian Episode: "To Take Up Serpents" Beetle Bailey Lieutenant Forbes Episode: "Psychological Testing" 1963-1964 Mr. Novak Jerry Allen Recurring role 1964 Petticoat Junction Homer Bedloe Jr. Episode: "Bedloe and Son" 1964-1965 Tom, Dick and Mary Dr. Dick Moran Recurring role1965 The Patty Duke Show Bob Episode: "Sick in Bed" McHale's Navy Lieutenant Jason Whitworth Episode: "Birth of a Salesman" Please Don't Eat the Daisies Crawford Episode: "Two Seats on the Moon Shot" The Farmer's Daughter Bellboy Episode: "Crisis at Crystal Springs" My Favorite Martian George Episode: "Tim and Tim Again"1966 Tammy Crazy Wolf Episode: "Two for Tee Pee" The Patty Duke Show Ronald Dawson Episode: "Do You Trust Your Daughter?" The Wild Wild West Le Fou Episode: "The Night of the Bottomless Pit" That Girl Actor Playing Dr. Bruce Alden Episode: "Soap Gets in Your Eyes" The Long, Hot Summer Episode: "Carlotta, Come Home" The Rat Patrol Ned Cunningham Episode: "The Gun Runner Raid"Bewitched George Barkley Episode: "Follow That Witch" Hawkins Episode: "A Gazebo Never Forgets"1967 Batman Rudy, the Valet Episode: "That Darn Catwoman" T.H.E. Cat Carl Leandro Episode: "Matter Over Mind" My Three Sons Al Morgan Episode: "The Sky Is Falling" Mission: Impossible Akim Hadramut Episode: "The Slave"1968 The Second Hundred Years Corporal Episode: "Luke and Comrade Tanya" The Outsider Roger Edgeway Episode: "What Flowers Daisies Are" The Big Valley Bank Teller Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury" Blondie David Dithers Episode: "Once Upon a Guru"Bewitched Orvis Episode: "Samantha's Secret Saucer" Juke Episode: "Darrin Gone! and Forgotten?"1969 My Friend Tony Episode: "The Hazing" The Mod Squad Rabbi Elliott Tannenbaum Episode: "In This Corner - Sol Alpert" Bewitched Cousin Henry Episode: "Samantha's Shopping Spree" 1970 Night Gallery Dr. Peter Mitchell Episode: "The House" 1970-1973 Love, American Style Various roles 5 episodes 1970-1979 Insight Various roles 6 episodes1971 Marcus Welby, M.D. Dr. Weitzman Episode: "A Passing of Torches" Bewitched Bruce Episode: "Samantha and the Loch Ness Monster" Adam-12 Ralph Salisbury Episode: "The Ferret"1972 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Kurt Balks Episode: "The Trouble with Ralph" Adam-12 Officer Albert Porter 2 episodes Norman Corwin Presents Episode: "Odyssey in Progress" The Mary Tyler Moore Show Jonas Lasser 2 episodes1974 The Rookies Alvin Conrad Episode: "Key Witness" Sierra Tommy Episode: "Taking Cody Winslow" Emergency! Bernard Goldberg Episode: "Daisy's Pick Blind Date"1975 Kolchak: The Night Stalker Neil Episode: "Chopper" Police Story D.A. Wallberger 2 episodes Barney Miller Edward Foreman Episode: "The Arsonist"1976 Doc Harvey Kramer Episode: "Oldies but Goodies" Good Heavens Mr. Dee Episode: "See Jane Run" Holmes & Yoyo Jerry Episode: "Funny Money"1977 Man from Atlantis Doctor Episode: "Man from Atlantis" Lanigan's Rabbi Will Stopes Episode: "The Cadaver in the Clutter" Charlie's Angels Fred Olsen Episode: "Pretty Angels All in a Row" Petticoat Affair Milton Episode: "A Party for the Captain" C.P.O. Sharkey Dr. Simon Episode: "Sharkey Files Over the Cuckoo's Nest"Police Woman Clerk Episode: "Do You Still Beat Your Wife?"1978 J.P. Thompson Episode: "Murder with Pretty People" Kojak Arnie Goldman Episode: "May the Horse Be with You" Quincy, M.E. Dr. Kitei Episode: "The Last Six Hours" Alice Holdup Man Episode: "Better Never Than Late" CHiPs Student Driver Episode: "Crash Diet"1979 Kaz Episode: "Kazinski Versus Bennett" Supertrain Episode: "The Queen and the Improbable Knight" One Day at a Time Victor Mulhern Episode: "The Piano Teacher"1980 Disneyland Virgil Quinby Episode: "The Ghosts of Buxley Hall" Trapper John, M.D. Bernie Chalmers Episode: "Slim Chance"1981 Barney Miller Edward Novak Episode: "Resignation" The Love Boat Harry Mason 2 episodes1982 CHiPs Alan Drummond Episode: "Force Seven" Trapper John, M.D. Patient Episode: "Three on a Mismatch" Simon & Simon Tunridge Episode: "The Ten Thousand Dollar Deductible"1983 Ryan's Four Episode: "Ryan's Four" Fantasy Island Wes Perry Episode: "The Wedding Picture/Castaways"1984 The Smurfs Additional voices Episode: "Symbols of Wisdom/Blue Eyes Returns"; uncredited Jessie Mr Anderson Episode: "The Psychic Connection"1985 Diff'rent Strokes Mr. Anderson Episode: "Arnold Saves the Squirrel" Hill Street Blues Arnold Solomon Episode: "Queen for a Day" MacGyver Walt, the Pilot Episode: "Last Stand" Hotel Carmondy Episode: "Echoes"1986 On Wings of Eagles Mort Myerson Miniseries Our House Forrester Episode: "See You in Court"1987 One Big Family Dickie Tyler Episode: "Stagestruck" Rags to Riches''' Dennis Baxter Episode: "Born to Ride" Small Wonder| Doctor Episode: "Everyone Into the Pool" 1988

Episode: "Killer Instinct"

Mr. Sexton Episode: "Silence Is Golden" Hunter| Lou Episode: "The Legion"

The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda| Additional voices Episode: "Pity the Poor Pirate" China Beach| Judge Julius H. Hoffman Episode: "The Call"

Harry and the Hendersons| Dr. J Episode: "The Girl Who Cried Bigfoot" Human Target| Quentin Firth Episode: "Designed by Chance" 1993 Batman: The Animated Series| Rundle Voice, episode: "The Mechanic"

Herman's Head| Mr. Prescott Episode: "Bedtime for Hermo" Sisters| Huey Short Episode: "Heroes" 1995 ER| Hank Travis Episode: "Full Moon, Saturday Night"

The Young and the Restless| Dr. Everhart 1 episode Sparks| Judge Episode: "Porky's Revenge" 1996-1997 Road Rovers| Professor Eugene Atwater Voice, 2 episodes 1997-1999 Todd McFarlane's Spawn| Additional voices Recurring role

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries| President Generic Voice, episode: "Spooker of the House" Seinfeld| Brendan Episode: "The Maid" Murphy Brown| College Roommate Episode: "Dial and Substance" Maggie Winters| Mr. Addison Episode: "Dinner at Rachel's" 1999 Detention| Mr. Beal Voice, 2 episodes

Chicken Soup for the Soul| Mr. Bellinger Episode: "A Mason-Dixon Memory" Static Shock| Mr. Janus Voice, episode: "Grounded" 2001 Family Law| Teacher Episode: "Obligations"

The Comeback| Episode: "Valerie Stands Out on the Red Carpet" The King of Queens| Vasili Episode: "Move Doubt" 2006 Threshold| Graham Bolton Episode: "Alienville" 2012 The Jeff Lewis 5 Minute Comedy Hour'' Father Episode: "Deathbed"