Tony Randall

Tony Randall
Negative of this photo: unknown. Proprietor of this photo print: ABC Television · Public domain · source
Name	Tony Randall
Birth name	Arthur Leonard Rosenberg
Birth date	February 26, 1920
Birth place	Tulsa, Oklahoma
Death date	May 17, 2004
Death place	New York City
Occupation	Actor, comedian

Tony Randall was an American actor, comedian, and Broadway performer, best known for his role as Felix Unger in the ABC sitcom The Odd Couple, alongside Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. He began his career in the 1940s, performing in various Off-Broadway productions, including Circle in the Square Theatre and New York City Center. Randall's early work also included appearances on NBC's The Ed Sullivan Show and CBS's The Garry Moore Show. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he would often engage in witty banter with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon.

● Early Life

Tony Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to a family of Jewish descent. His father, Jack Rosenberg, was an art dealer and his mother, Julia Rosenberg, was a homemaker. Randall grew up in Tulsa and developed an interest in acting at a young age, attending Northwestern University and later Columbia University. He served in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II, where he was stationed in New York City and began performing in USO shows, alongside other notable entertainers such as Bob Hope and Milton Berle. After the war, Randall moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting, studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and performing in various Off-Broadway productions, including Theatre Row and The Public Theater.

● Career

Randall's career spanned over five decades, with notable appearances on Broadway in productions such as Caesar and Cleopatra, The Liar, and Inherit the Wind, alongside Helen Hayes and Charles Laughton. He also appeared in numerous television shows, including The Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and The Dick Van Dyke Show, where he worked with Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Randall's film career included roles in Pillow Talk, The Mating Game, and Send Me No Flowers, alongside Doris Day, Rock Hudson, and Clint Eastwood. He was a frequent guest on The Merv Griffin Show and The Mike Douglas Show, where he would often engage in witty banter with Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas.

● Filmography

Randall's filmography includes a wide range of genres, from comedy to drama. Some of his notable films include Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, The Seven Year Itch, and Lover Come Back, alongside Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and Cary Grant. He also appeared in The Brass Bottle, The Alphabet Murders, and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask), alongside Barbara Streisand, Walter Matthau, and Woody Allen. Randall's work in television included appearances on The Golden Girls, The Love Boat, and Murder, She Wrote, where he worked with Angela Lansbury and Peter Falk.

● Personal Life

Randall was married twice, first to Florence Gibbs from 1938 until their divorce in 1941, and then to Heather Harlan from 1995 until his death in 2004. He had two children, Julia Randall and Jeffrey Randall, with his second wife. Randall was a longtime supporter of the National Actors Theatre and the New York City Center, and he served on the board of directors for both organizations. He was also a frequent performer at the White House, where he would often entertain presidents and their guests, including Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

● Legacy

Tony Randall's legacy continues to be celebrated through his body of work, which includes numerous Tony Awards and Emmy Awards nominations. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998, and he was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2005. Randall's work has been recognized by the American Film Institute, the Library of Congress, and the Museum of Modern Art, and his performances continue to be enjoyed by audiences around the world, through DVD releases and streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. He remains one of the most beloved and respected entertainers of his generation, alongside Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, and Mel Brooks. Category:American actors