Tom Bosley

Thomas Edward Bosley (October 1, 1927 – October 19, 2010) was an American actor, television personality and entertainer. Bosley is most notable for portraying Howard Cunningham on the ABC sitcom Happy Days (1974–1984) for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nomination. Bosley also did a variety of voiceover work such as playing the lead character, Harry Boyle, in the animated series Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, and the narrator of the syndicated film history documentary series That's Hollywood. He was also known for his role as Sheriff Amos Tupper in the Angela Lansbury-led CBS mystery series Murder, She Wrote (1984–1988), and as the title character in the NBC/ABC series Father Dowling Mysteries (1989–1991).

Known for his work on stage, he originated the role of Fiorello La Guardia in the Broadway musical Fiorello!, earning the 1960 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. He's also known for his film appearances in Love with the Proper Stranger (1963), The World of Henry Orient (1964), Divorce American Style (1967), Yours, Mine and Ours, The Secret War of Harry Frigg (both 1968), Gus (1976), and The Back-up Plan (2010).

Bosley made his television debut as the Knave of Hearts in the NBC adaptation of Alice in Wonderland in 1955. He gained attention as a character actor performing various roles in shows such as Naked City, Profiles in Courage, The Defenders, Night Gallery, Get Smart, Bewitched, and Mission: Impossible.

Early life Born and raised in Chicago, Bosley was the son of Dora (née Heyman) and Benjamin Bosley. Although well known for playing a Catholic priest and Protestant patriarchs, Bosley was actually Jewish.

Career Early roles and stage roles Bosley played the Knave of Hearts in a Hallmark Hall of Fame telecast of Eva Le Gallienne's production of Alice in Wonderland in 1955. But his breakthrough stage role was New York mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in the long-running Broadway musical Fiorello! (1959),

Bosley as George W. Norris in the television anthology Profiles in Courage, 1965

Among his early television appearances was in 1960 on the CBS summer replacement series, Diagnosis: Unknown, with Patrick O'Neal. In 1962, he portrayed Assistant District Attorney Ryan in the episode "The Man Who Wanted to Die" on James Whitmore's ABC legal drama The Law and Mr. Jones. Also in 1962, Bosley played Teddy opposite Tony Randall and Boris Karloff in Arsenic & Old Lace for the Hallmark Hall of Fame. About this time, he was a guest star on the NBC police sitcom, Car 54, Where Are You?. In June 1964, he appeared on the satirical television comedy revue, That Was the Week That Was.

He also appeared on episodes of Bonanza, Bewitched, Get Smart, The Silent Force, The Streets of San Francisco, Night Gallery, A Touch of Grace, and The Love Boat. In 1969, Bosley appeared in a comical episode of The Virginian, titled "Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs," appearing alongside fellow guest-stars James Brolin, Yvonne De Carlo, Carrie Snodgress, Gary Vinson, with Virginian regulars David Hartman and Doug McClure.

Bosley's first motion picture role was in 1963, as the would-be suitor of Natalie Wood in Love with the Proper Stranger. Other films include The World of Henry Orient; Divorce American Style; Yours, Mine and Ours; Gus and the made-for-television The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal. Bosley shared a heartfelt story about his own experience with the Holocaust in the documentary film Paper Clips.

In 1994, he originated the role of Maurice in the Broadway version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Bosley toured as Cap'n Andy in Harold Prince's 1994 revival of Show Boat.

Voice-over roles Bosley was known for his unique gravelly voice, leading to a number of voice acting roles. He narrated the syndicated television documentary That's Hollywood (1976–82). He hosted The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater, a 1977 radio drama series for children. He voiced many cartoon characters, including Harry Boyle in the animated series Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. Bosley was the voice of B.A.H. Humbug in the 1978 Rankin & Bass holiday special The Stingiest Man in Town. He provided the voice of the title character in the 1980s cartoon The World of David the Gnome and the shop owner Mr. Winkle in the children's Christmas special The Tangerine Bear.

Endorsements

From the 1950s through the 1990s, Bosley appeared in numerous television commercials including Studebaker automobiles (1956), and Glad sandwich and garbage bags. He appeared in radio commercials for the new Saturn car company, a "different kind of car company," in 1990. Later in life, he was the television spokesman for SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corporation), a national wholesaler and drop shipper.

Bosley was a spokesman for YES Entertainment Network, Inc., a fraudulent internet firm scheme that defrauded $13 million from investors around the country in the late 1990s.

Death Bosley died from complications of a staphylococcal infection on October 19, 2010, at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, near his home in Palm Springs, California. His agent, Sheryl Abrams, said Bosley, a longtime smoker, had lung cancer. He was survived by his wife, former actress Patricia Carr, and daughter Amy Bosley Baer, who married Matthew Baer, son of Richard Baer.

Happy Days lawsuit On April 19, 2011, Bosley's estate and four of his Happy Days co-stars, Erin Moran, Don Most, Marion Ross, and Anson Williams, filed a $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show, claiming they had not been paid for merchandising revenues owed under their contracts. The cast members claimed they had not received revenues from show-related items, including comic books, T-shirts, scrapbooks, trading cards, games, lunchboxes, dolls, toy cars, magnets, greeting cards, and DVDs where their images appear on the box covers. Under their contracts, they were supposed to be paid five percent from the net proceeds of merchandising if their sole image were used, and half that amount if they were in a group. CBS said it owed the actors $8,500 and $9,000 each, most of it from slot machine revenues, but the group said they were owed millions. The lawsuit was initiated after Ross was informed by a friend playing slots at a casino of a "Happy Days" machine on which players win the jackpot when five Marion Cunninghams (Ross's character on Happy Days) are rolled.

In October 2011, a judge rejected the group's fraud claim, which if proved could have garnered them millions of dollars in punitive damages, above and beyond any actual damages proven. On June 5, 2012, a judge denied a motion filed by CBS to have the case thrown out, which meant it would go to trial on July 17 if the matter was not settled by then. In July 2012, the actors settled their lawsuit with CBS. Each received a payment of $65,000 and a promise by CBS to continue honoring the terms of their contracts.

Filmography and stage roles

Film Year Title Role Notes 1963 Love with the Proper Stranger Anthony Colombo 1964 The World of Henry Orient Frank Boyd 1967 Divorce American Style Farley Bang Bang Kid Meriweather P. Newberry 1968 The Secret War of Harry Frigg Brigadier General Roscoe Pennypacker Yours, Mine and Ours Family Doctor 1972 To Find a Man Dr. Katchaturian 1974 Mixed Company Al 1976 Gus Spinner 1982 O'Hara's Wife Frank O'Hara 1987 Million Dollar Mystery Sidney Preston Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night Mister Geppetto Voice The Gnomes' Great Adventure David The Gnome 1989 Wicked Stepmother Lieutenant MacIntosh 1998 Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home Ranger Tasker 2000 The Tangerine Bear Mr. Winkle Voice, Direct-to-video 2002 Returning Mickey Stern Harry Mankelbaum 2004 Felix the Cat Saves Christmas Santa Claus Voice, Direct-to-video 2005 Confession Father Abbott Sutton Popstar Harvey Geppetto's Secret Geppetto Voice 2006 Mothers and Daughters Bob 2009 Santa Buddies Santa Paws Voice, Direct-to-video 2010 The Back-up Plan Arthur Final appearance

Television Year Title Role Notes 1955 Alice in Wonderland Knave of Hearts Television film TV Reader's Digest Man In Studebaker Commercial Episode: "If I Were Rich"; Uncredited 1959 The Play of the Week Dupont-Dufour Jr. Episode: "Thieves Carnival" 1960 Diagnosis: Unknown Freddie Ziegler Episode: "The Case of the Radiant Wine" The Right Man Throttlebottom Television film 1962 Focus Fred Copper Arsenic & Old Lace Teddy Brewster The Law and Mr. Jones Assistant District Attorney Ryan Episode: "The Man who Wanted to Die" 1963 Car 54, Where Are You? Reverend Harold Petersen / Archie, The Artist Episode: "The Star Boarder" Naked City Judge Episode: "Golden Lads and Girls" Route 66 Jim HorstSummer Klein "Soda Pop and Paper Flags""Same Picture, Different Frame" 1963–1964 The Nurses ClarenceMr. Ross "The Witch of the East Wing""Rites of Spring" 1964 A Very Close Family Son Television film The DuPont Show of the Week Howard Episode: "The Gambling Heart" 1965 Dr. Kildare Harry Markham Episode: "All Brides Should Be Beautiful" Profiles in Courage George William Norris Episode: "George W. Norris" Ben Casey Timothy Michael MacMurrough Episode: "Did Your Mother Come from Ireland, Ben Casey?" The Defenders Charlie Barry Episode: "The Bum's Rush" 1966 Jericho Percy Vandercook Episode: "Dutch and Go" The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Quantum Episode: "The Faustus Affair" 1968 The F.B.I. John Clanton Episode: "Ring of Steel" Get Smart Emil Farkas Episode: "The Farkas Fracas" 1968–1969 Bonanza Titus SimpsonHiram Peabody "The Last Vote""A Lawman's Lot is Not a Happy One" 1969 The Virginian Nat Trumbull Episode: "Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs" The Mod Squad John Wells Episode: "A Run for the Money" Marcus Welby, M.D. "Tiny" Baker Episode: "A Matter of Humanities" 1969–1970 The Debbie Reynolds Show Bob Landers Series regular18 episodes 1969–1971 Night Gallery Sidney ResnickJules Kettleman "The Cemetery/Eyes/The Escape Route""Make Me Laugh/Clean Kills and Other Trophies" 1970 The Bill Cosby Show "Cookie" Moharg Episode: "The Gumball Incident" The Most Deadly Game George Episode: "Breakdown" The Silent Force Binachi Episode: "In By Nine, Out By Five" 1970–1973 Love, American Style Dr. Y.A. HarrisJack SmallerdHarry BoyleAlan Walker "Love and the Uncoupled Couple""Love and the Artful Codger""Love and the Old-Fashioned Father""Love and the Comedienne" 1970–1971 The Name of the Game Charley ReidMorey Tate "A Love to Remember""Seek and Destroy" 1971 A Step Out of Line Jack Berger Television film Vanished Johnny Cavanaugh Bewitched Ferdy Episode: "Samantha's Magic Mirror" Mission: Impossible Henry Matula Episode: "Blind" Funny Face Used Car Dealer Episode: "The Used Car" Congratulations, It's a Boy! Herb Television film Sarge Stanley Miller Episode: "Psst! Wanna Buy a Dirty Picture?" The New Dick Van Dyke Show Mr. O'Hare Episode: "A Home is Not a Home, Yet" Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones Mr. Jones Television film 1972 Me and the Chimp Goodrich Episode: "The Paint Job" Bobby Jo and the Good Time Band Mayor Television movie No Place to Run Dr. Golinski Banyon Steve Corbett Episode: "The Graveyard Vote" The Sixth Sense Albert Episode: "The Eyes that Wouldn't Die" The Sandy Duncan Show Bert Quinn Main cast11 episodes 1972–1974 Wait Till Your Father Gets Home Harry Boyle (voice) Lead role48 episodes 1973 Temperatures Rising Gibson Episode: "Black is Beautiful" Medical Center Howard Spirling Episode: "Judgement" The Paul Lynde Show Congressman Landis Episode: "The Congressman's Son" Maude Dr. Tasko Episode: "Maude and the Medical Profession" A Touch of Grace Preacher Episode: "The Lodge" Chase Axel Sullivan Episode: "Gang War" Tenafly Dave Barker Episode: "Joyride to Nowhere" McMillan & Wife Sam Hamilton Episode: "Freefall to Terror" Miracle on 34th Street Judge Henry X. Harper Television film 1973–1976 The Streets of San Francisco SarettiEddie CoughlinEddie Clark "Pilot""Going Home""Dead or Alive" 1974 The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped Harold Television film Death Cruise David Mason 1974–1984 Happy Days Howard Cunningham Main cast255 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 1975 Who Is the Black Dahlia? Bevo Means, Reporter Television film Insight Incredible Man Episode: "The Incredible Man" The Last Survivors Marcus Damian Television film Kolchak: The Night Stalker Jack Flaherty Episode: "The Sentry" Ellery Queen Bud Armstrong Episode: "The Adventure of the Comic Book Crusader" The Night That Panicked America Norman Smith Television film Mobile One John Brewster Episode: "The Crusader" 1976 The Love Boat George Havlicek Pilot film 1977 Testimony of Two Men Dr. Lewis Hedler Miniseries Black Market Baby Dr. Andrew Brantford Television film 1978 With This Ring Edward Edwards Television movie The Bastard Benjamin Franklin Miniseries The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour Himself Comedy-Variety Show The Stingiest Man in Town B. A. H. Humbug, Esq. (voices) Television special 1979 The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal Morris Feldman Television film The Castaways on Gilligan's Island Henry Elliott The Rebels Benjamin Franklin Miniseries The Return of Mod Squad Frank Webber Television film 1980 Here's Boomer Archie Hale Episode: "Me and My Shadow" For the Love of It Norman Television film 1982 Tales of the Unexpected Robert Stackpole Episode: "Light Fingers" Joanie Loves Chachi Howard Cunningham Two episodes 1982–1987 The Love Boat Harry MeachamHerbert ChandlerGeorge HammondHoward Pfister "Pride of the Pacific/The Viking's Son/Separate Vacations/The Experiment/Getting to Know You""Julie and the Bachelor/Set-Up for Romance/Intensive Care""Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary""Who Killed Maxwell Thorn?" 1984 The Jesse Owens Story Jimmy Hoffa Television film 1984–1988 Murder, She Wrote Sheriff Amos Tupper Recurring role19 episodes 1985 Finder of Lost Loves Malcolm Beck Episode: "Deadly Silence" Private Sessions Harry O'Reilly Television film Glitter Doc Episode: "Rock 'n' Roll Heaven" 1986 Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun Father Chris DeLeon Television film 1986–1987 Hotel Walter DevlinBlaine Chapman "Child's Play""Fatal Attraction" 1987 Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery Father Frank Dowling Television film The World of David the Gnome David The Gnome (voice) (English version) 1988–1989 Out of This World Grandpa Zelig Two episodes 1989 Fire and Rain Derryl Price Television film 1989–1991 Father Dowling Mysteries Father Frank Dowling Lead role42 episodes 1990 The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage Lieutenant Logan Television film 1992 Hearts Are Wild Sam Fesman Episode: "The Catch" 1993 ABC Weekend Special Carl W. Clemmer Episode: "The Parsley Garden" 1993–2002 Rugrats Strike MaxwellDwayne Tickerbacker "King Ten Pen/Runaway Angelica""Murmur on the Ornery Express" 1994 Burke's Law Dr. Blake Episode: "Who Killed Alexander the Great?" Heaven Help Us Albert Episode: "Lovers Lullaby" 1996 The Drew Carey Show Mr. Bobeck Episode: "Mimi's Day Parade" Boy Meets World Himself Episode: "I Was a Teenage Spy" 1997 Johnny Bravo Santa Claus (voice) Episode: "'Twas the Night" 1999 Early Edition Uncle Vic Episode: "Just One of Those Things" Port Charles Burt One episode Maggie Father George Episode: "Uh-oh Baby" 2000 Jack & Jill Bernie Episode: "Lovers and Other Strangers" Walker, Texas Ranger Minister Two episodes 2001 Jason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus Jupiter (voice) Main cast26 episodes 2001 ER Walter Nikolaides Two episodes Legend of the Candy Cane Franklin Holz (voice) Television film Family Law Kyle Mason Episode: "Angel's Flight" 2002 Touched by an Angel Elmer Episode: "The Blue Angel" Mary Christmas Les Turner Television film 2004 It's All Relative Father Joseph Episode: "Fight for Your Invite to Party" Christmas at Water's Edge Harry Television film 2005 Still Standing Dr. S.T. Bloom Episode: "Still Holding" The Fallen Ones Rabbi Eli Schmitt Television film One Tree Hill Mel McFadden Episode: "Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends" Family Guy Howard Cunningham (voice) Episode: "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz" 2006 Nobody's Watching Tom Bosley Television pilot Hidden Places Wakefield Television film That '70s Show Dr. Hammond Episode: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" 2008 Charlie & Me Charlie Television film 2010 Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures Principal Richard Warner (voice) Episode: "The People in Our Community: Introducing the Police Department"

Stage Year Title Role Notes 1958 The Power and the Glory Villager, Prisoner, Indian Broadway 1959 The Beaux' Stratagem Scrub Fiorello! Fiorello LaGuardia BroadwayTony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical 1962 Nowhere to Go But Up Izzy Einstein Broadway 1963 Natural Affection Vince Brinkman 1964 A Murderer Among Us Cabouche 1965 Catch Me If You Can Performer 1968 The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N Hyman Kaplan 1994 Beauty and the Beast Maurice 1996 Show Boat Cap'n Andy national tour 2002 Cabaret Herr Schultz Broadway 2006 On Golden Pond Norman Thayer Jr. national tour

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1987 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actor Million Dollar Mystery 1964 Laurel Awards Top Male New Face 1978 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Happy Days 1960 Tony Awards Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical Fiorello!