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Al Lewis

Al Lewis

Known for
Acting
Born
April 30, 1923, New York City, New York, USA
Died
February 3, 2006
Movies
46

An American character actor best known for his role as Count Dracula lookalike "Grandpa", opposite Fred Gwynne's and Yvonne De Carlo's characters on the CBS television series The Munsters from 1964 to 1966 and its subsequent film versions. Later in life, he was also a restaurant owner, political candidate, and radio broadcaster. His acting career begins the well-documented portion of his life. He worked in burlesque and vaudeville theaters, then on Broadway in the dramas The Night Circus (1958) and One More River (1960) and as the character Moe Shtarker in the musical comedy Do Re Mi (1962).

His earliest television work includes appearances on the Beverly Garland crime drama Decoy and The Phil Silvers Show. From 1959–63, he appeared in four episodes of Naked City. Lewis' first well-known television role was as Officer Leo Schnauser on the NBC sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? from 1961–63, also starring Fred Gwynne (Lewis reprised the role in the 1994 movie of the same name). In the series, Lewis first played Al Spencer the Auto Body Man in two early first-season episodes before landing the more familiar role of Officer Schnauser. But he is best remembered as "Grandpa" on The Munsters, which ran on CBS from 1964–66.

In 1967, Lewis played the part of Zalto the wizard in the Lost in Space episode, Rocket to Earth. His first role in a movie was as Machine Gun Manny in Pretty Boy Floyd (1960). He had small roles in The World of Henry Orient (1964), They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), They Might Be Giants (1971). He appeared as Hanging Judge Harrison in Used Cars (1980) and had a minor role in Married to the Mob (1988). His last film role was in Night Terror (2002).

Best-Known Movies

Filmography

2015Auto-Tune the Munsters: A Rock OperaGrandpa Munster (archive footage)
2008The Munsters: Family PortraitGrandpa
2007Goodbye, AmericaHimself
2006Midnight Blue: Vol. 5: Porn King
2006Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities EditionSelf (archive footage)
2005Porn King: The Trials Of Al Goldstein
2004Ramones: RawSelf
2004The Munsters: America's First Family of Frightself
2002Night TerrorFather Hanlon
2001Porn Star: The Legend of Ron JeremySelf
2000Al Lewis: Forever GrandpaSelf
1996South Beach AcademyUncle Gene
1996Fast MoneyPoon
1995Here Come the MunstersRestaurant Guest
1994Car 54, Where Are You?Leo Schnauzer
1993Al Lewis in the Flesh
1992My Grandpa Is a VampireVernon Cooger
1991Coney IslandSelf - Actor
1989Fright HouseCaptain Levi
1989Grampa's More Silly ScariesGrampa
1989Howard Stern's U.S. Open SoresHimself
1989Grampa's Sci-Fi HitsGrampa
1988Grampa's Silly ScariesGrampa
1988Grampa’s Monster MoviesGrampa
1988Bum RapMr. Wolfstadt
1988Married to the MobJoe Russo
1988Save the Dog!
1988Grampa Presents Carnival Of SoulsGrampa
1987Comic Cabby
1981The Munsters' RevengeGrandpa
1980Used CarsJudge Harrison
1978Ring of PassionMike Jacobs
1975CoonskinThe Godfather (voice) (uncredited)
1975White House MadnessJudge Cirrhosis
1974Black StarletSam Sharp
1974Death WishGuard at Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1973The Mini-MunstersGrandpa
1973The Night StranglerTramp
1971They Might Be GiantsMessenger
1970The BoatniksBert
1969They Shoot Horses, Don't They?Turkey
1966Munster, Go Home!Grandpa Munster
1965Marineland Carnival: The Munsters Visit MarinelandGrandpa Munster
1964The World of Henry OrientStore Owner
1960Pretty Boy FloydMachine Gun Manny
1957Lust of the VampireAssistant (uncredited)

Data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

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