Actor Harry Anderson, best known for presiding over NBC’s ‘Night Court,’ has died. He was 65.
Anderson was found at his home by police officers early Monday morning, reports WSPA-TV of Greenville, N.C. No foul play was suspected, police told the station.
Anderson was a magician turned actor who was known as a rabid fan of jazz singer Mel Torme. The affection for Torme was woven into his TV alter ego, Judge Harry Stone, a quirky character who ruled the bench at a Manhattan night court. The sitcom was a mainstay of NBC from 1984 to 1992. Anderson earned three consecutive Emmy nominations for his work on the show from 1985-1987.
Below, the intro and outro of ‘Night Court.’
Anderson was a master stage magician and illusionist.
In the Tonight Show clip below, Johnny Carson calls him ‘One of the best comedy magicians around.’ In this clip, he brings Carson a great magic catalog, like the kind kids growing up in his generation would order pranks, gags, and illusion tricks from. He shows Carson one from 1940.
[Variety]
(Thanks, Kristen)