Tom Poston
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Tom Poston (October 17 1921 – April 30 2007) was an American television and film actor.
Poston starred on television in a career that began in 1950. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist, game show host, film actor, and Broadway performer.
Early life
Poston was born in Columbus, Ohio, USA. After completing high school, Poston went to Bethany College in West Virginia, but did not graduate. Instead, he joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1941, as a Buck Private. He put in for, and was accepted to officer school and flight training. Serving as a pilot in the European Theater in World War II, his aircraft dropped paratroopers for the initial invasion of Normandy. He was awarded the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, representing a total of three Air Medals for his actions during the war. Poston served honorably in North Africa, Italy, France and England, and had reached the rank of captain, by the time of his discharge.. After his discharge, he began studying acting in New York City. Tom was a good ole boy!
Career
In the 1950s, Poston gained recognition as a comedic "Man in the Street" (along with his colleagues Wally Cox and Don Knotts) on the Steve Allen Show. Following that, Poston appeared frequently on Broadway and as a game show panelist, including regular appearances on To Tell the Truth and What's My Line?. While Poston's film career was limited to quirky comedies (such as William Castle's "Zotz" and "The Old Dark House" of the 1960s), his television career was expansive, covering the better part of five decades, and saw him contributing his comedic talents in virtually every corner of the medium, from made-for-TV movies to variety shows to situation comedies to talk shows and even to cartoons.
Poston was a recurring guest star on The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s. He later played the role of Mr. Bickley on Mork & Mindy. A longtime friend of Bob Newhart, Poston played George Utley, country handyman of the Stratford Inn, on Newhart. He had a third appearance with Newhart in the short-lived program Bob.
Poston also had regular roles on many TV series: Family Matters, Murphy Brown, Home Improvement, Cosby, Malcolm & Eddie, ER, Grace Under Fire, That '70s Show, and The Simpsons as The Capitol City Goofball.
In 2001, Poston married actress Suzanne Pleshette, who played the wife of Newhart's character Bob Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show. Poston continued to appear in supporting roles in films, with two new ones released in 2004, Christmas with the Kranks and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, and on several television programs.
In 2005, he played the character "Clown" on the NBC series Committed.
Death
Poston died April 30 2007 in Los Angeles after a brief illness at the age of 85. The cause of the illness has not been released at this time.[1]
Trivia
- Even though Poston had left without graduating, Bethany College awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Letters on September 13 1990.
- They Might Be Giants mentions Poston as a writer for the New York Times in their song Critic Intro. [2]