Actor Arnold Stang died 20 December 2009 of pneumonia. He claimed to have been born in 1925 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, but was apparently born 28 September 1918 in New York City (see this New York Times obituary for the story of his birthdate and more of his life). Stang got an early start on his career, acting on radio, and then moving to television with its rise in the 1950s. He also acted in movies, and even on Broadway.
Stang was a distinctive character actor, 5’3″, less than 100 pounds, with thick glasses and a nasal twang. He could play dramatic roles, but he knew his calling was comedy. Stang’s list of costars is among the most impressive in Hollywood; it includes Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Eddie Cantor, Bill Cosby, Jackie Gleason, Walter Matthau, Frank Sinatra, and Jonathan Winters. Hercules in New York (1970) is the first film to star “the two Arnolds”, that is, Stang and Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the title character) in his first film role.
Stang’s genre roles include: four episodes of Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2001), Ghost Dad (1990), Tales from the Darkside (1987), The Fourth King (1977), Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977), Hello Down There (1969), Batman (1968), Pinocchio in Outer Space (1965), The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962), Saiyu-ki (1960, Alkazam the Great), Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1951), and Land of Lost Watches (1951)
Stang is survived by his wife Joanne (they married in 1948 or ’49), a son, a daughter, and two granddaughters.