Lou Cutell (October 6, 1930[1] – November 21, 2021) was an American actor, who was perhaps best known for his appearance as Amazing Larry in the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure and as Dr. Howard Cooperman in the 1995 Seinfeld episode "The Fusilli Jerry".
Lou Cutell | |
|---|---|
 Cutell as Dr. Howard Cooperman in the 1995 Seinfeld episode The Fusilli Jerry | |
| Born | October 6, 1930 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 21, 2021 (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1961–2021 |
Life and career
editCutell was born in New York City[1] to Sicilian parents.[2] He moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, where he received a bachelor's degree at the University of California.[1]
Cutell began his acting career in 1961, appearing in the Broadway play The Young Abe Lincoln in the role of William Berry[3][4]
Cutell made his television debut in 1964, guest-starring in The Dick Van Dyke Show.[5][6]
From the 1970s to the 1990s Cutell appeared and guest-starred in numerous films and television programs including Seinfeld, The Love Boat, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Alice, The Bob Newhart Show, Rhinoceros, The World's Greatest Lover, The Wild Wild West, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (and its spin-off Lou Grant), Barney Miller, The Black Marble, The Odd Couple II, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, My Mom's a Werewolf and Bridget Loves Bernie.[6]
In the 1990s Cutell scripted and appeared in the Broadway play The Sicilan Bachelor.[7][8] In 2010, Cutell starred in the Broadway play Viagara Falls, which he co-wrote with Joao Machado.[9][10][11]
Cutell also continued appearing in film and television. He played a recurring role in Betty White's Off Their Rockers and guest-starred in other television programs.[2] His final role was in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, in 2015.[12]
Death
editFilmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster | Dr. Nadir | |
| 1970 | Little Big Man | Deacon | |
| 1972 | Every Little Crook and Nanny | Landruncolo | |
| 1972 | Goodnight, My Love | Sidney | TV movie |
| 1973 | The Blue Knight | Charles A. Lupus | TV movie |
| 1974 | Rhinoceros | Cashier | |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein | Frightened Villager | uncredited |
| 1977 | The World's Greatest Lover | Mr. Kipper | |
| 1978 | Foul Play | House Manager | |
| 1979 | Mr. Horn | Small Man | TV movie |
| 1979 | The Last Word | Contest M.C. | |
| 1979 | Marciano | Cashier | TV movie |
| 1980 | The Black Marble | Mr. Limpwood | |
| 1982 | Shoot the Moon | Willard | |
| 1983 | Missing Pieces | Man | TV movie |
| 1985 | Pee-wee's Big Adventure | Amazing Larry | |
| 1985 | Maxie | Art Isenberg | |
| 1986 | Legal Eagles | Kapstan | |
| 1986 | The Malibu Bikini Shop | Speaker | |
| 1987 | Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's | Skolsky | TV movie |
| 1988 | Frankenstein General Hospital | Dr. Saperstein | |
| 1988 | Bird | Bride's Father | |
| 1988 | The Diamond Trap | Rosencrantz | TV movie |
| 1989 | My Mom's a Werewolf | Butcher | |
| 1989 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | Dr. Brainard | |
| 1991 | Voyager | New York Doorman | |
| 1994 | Jimmy Hollywood | Meyerhoff | |
| 1994 | A Part of the Family | Saul | TV movie |
| 1995 | Unstrung Heroes | Uncle Melvin | |
| 1996 | Norma Jean & Marilyn | Henry Weinstein | |
| 1997 | Just Write | Man Guest at Luncheon | |
| 1997 | Glam | Sandy Silver | |
| 1998 | The Odd Couple II | Abe | |
| 2002 | Laurel Canyon | Elderly Man | |
| 2005 | Wedding Crashers | Old Jewish Man | Final film role |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Vinnie | 1 episode |
| 1968 | The Wild Wild West | Major Frederick Frey | 1 episode |
| 1969 | My Three Sons | Marvin Horndiffer | 1 episode |
| 1970 | Then Came Bronson | Mr. Willoughby | 1 episode |
| 1972 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | Samson | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Room 222 | Mr. Caruse | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Bridget Loves Bernie | Parfel | 1 episode |
| 1973 | The New Temperatures Rising Show | 1 episode | |
| 1974–1978 | The Bob Newhart Show | Delivery Man/Petersen Character | 2 episodes |
| 1974 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Nice Little Man | 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Bob Crane Show | Murray | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Jigsaw John | Pawn Shop Proprietor | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Starsky & Hutch | Mike | 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Love Boat | Gus | 1 episode |
| 1977–1982 | Barney Miller | Jerome Grodin/Mr. Roselle | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | Lou Grant | Haskins | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Kojak | Dave | 1 episode |
| 1981–1984 | Alice | Angry Customer/Lou | 4 episodes |
| 1981 | Gimme a Break! | The Druggist | 1 episode |
| 1982 | T.J. Hooker | Manager | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Spaceman | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Life with Lucy | Charlie Zellman | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Tales from the Darkside | Otto Schrog | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Starman | Clerk | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Throb | Rack Guy | 1 episode |
| 1987 | The Judge | Lou Kernon | 1 episode |
| 1987 | 1st & Ten | Wedding Priest | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Square One Television | Store Manager | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Mathnet | Store Manager | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Baby Boom | Stanley Elkman | 1 episode |
| 1989 | Small Wonder | The Actor | 1 episode |
| 1989 | The New Dragnet | Mr. Phelps | 1 episode |
| 1990 | Newhart | Dr. Grossman | 1 episode |
| 1990 | Knots Landing | TV Critic | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Amen | Sid | 1 episode |
| 1991 | The Golden Girls | Irving | 1 episode |
| 1991 | ABC Weekend Special | Mr. Minch | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Eerie, Indiana | Old Man Dithers | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Jake and the Fatman | Store Owner | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Empty Nest | Dr. Wilkins | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Santa Barbara | Reverend Mulcher | 1 episode |
| 1993 | The Wonder Years | Comic | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Maurice | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Tales of the City | Herb Siegel | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Mad About You | Eddie the Doorman | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Seinfeld | Dr. Howard Cooperman | Episode: "The Fusilli Jerry" |
| 1995 | Almost Perfect | Shiny | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Weird Science | Bert | 1 episode |
| 1997 | The Practice | Adelstein | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Something So Right | Emil | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | Tailor | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Will & Grace | Mr. Arthur Pressman | 1 episode |
| 2000 | The Brothers Garcia | Louie | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Spin City | Shelly Hallerman | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Henry | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Leo Funkhouser | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Four Kings | Sharon's Dad | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Medium Rare | Sergeant | 1 episode |
| 2013 | How I Met Your Mother | Uncle Mort | 1 episode |
| 2013–2014 | Betty White's Off Their Rockers | Various Characters | 8 episodes |
| 2015 | The Brink | Leonard | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Grey's Anatomy | Abe | 1 episode |
References
edit- ^ a b c Leszczak, Bob (August 6, 2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. McFarland. pp. 39–42. ISBN 978-0786477906 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Roe, Michelle (July 8, 2014). "Lou Cutell Held Off Writing Until Late in Comedic Career". Palm Springs Life Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (November 23, 2021). "Lou Cutell Dies: 'Seinfeld' Character Actor Who Had 50-Year Career Was 91". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Lou Cutell, 'Seinfeld's' Assman and Pee-wee's Amazing Larry, Dies at 91". Extra. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Waldron, Vince (2001). The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book: The Definitive History and Ultimate Viewer's Guide to Television's Most Enduring Comedy. Applause. p. 353. ISBN 9781557834539 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Lou Cutell Filmography". Fandango. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ Foley, Kathleen (November 25, 1999). "Married to the Idea of Bachelorhood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ Manus, Willard (November 16, 1999). "Sicilian Bachelor Opens at American Renegade Theatre Nov. 20". Playbill. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (July 26, 2010). "Two Guys Trying Their Best to Grow Old Disgracefully". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ Cutell, Lou (July 13, 2010). "Lou Cutell on Bringing Septuagenarian Sex Off-Broadway in Viagara Falls". Broadway Buzz. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ "VIAGARA FALLS Opens at Little Shubert Theatre, 7/21". BroadwayWorld. July 21, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ Matthews, David (November 23, 2021). "'Seinfeld' actor Lou Cutell dies at 91". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Moore, Sam (November 23, 2021). "Lou Cutell: Grey's Anatomy and Seinfeld star dies aged 91". The Independent. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (November 23, 2021). "Lou Cutell, Actor in 'Seinfeld' and 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure,' Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 24, 2021.