Probably my favorite, all-time TV character actor. His Odd Couple appearances were priceless, especially as the Head Monk and the pet store owner to whom Felix brought the incapacitated bullfrog.
Richard Stahl, Film and Television Actor, 74, Is Dead
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 23, 2006
LOS ANGELES, June 22 (AP) — Richard Stahl, an actor who spent more than 40 years in stage, film and television comedies, died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 74.
His death followed a 10-year battle with Parkinson's disease, said his wife, the actress Kathryn Ish.
Born in Detroit, Mr. Stahl did magic tricks as a boy and moved to California as a performer at 15, Ms. Ish said. He served in the Army during the Korean War and later graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
Ms. Ish and Mr. Stahl were both Off Broadway actors when they met in 1959. They married later that year and in the 1960's joined the improvisational comedy group the Committee in San Francisco.
Mr. Stahl's film credits include
"Five Easy Pieces" (1970),
"High Anxiety" (1977),
"9 to 5" (1980) and
"Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996). He also appeared on television shows including "Laverne and Shirley,"
"The Odd Couple" and "Barney Miller," and was a regular on the sitcom
"It's a Living" in the 1980's.
In addition to Ms. Ish, Mr. Stahl is survived by a daughter, Allegra, and a son, Oliver.
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