Tony Randall

Diagnoses

Vocation

Lifestyle

Notable

Family

American actor best known for his Emmy-winning role as the nitpicking Felix Unger in "The Odd Couple, a TV series that ran from 1970-1975. He received the Emmy for "The Odd Couple" in 1975. Adept at sardonic comedy, his roles were often of playing light drunks, depressives and buddy roles to the hero. Randall studied at Northwestern University and at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York City. His Broadway credits included "Inherit the Wind," in 1955, and "Oh, Captain!" in 1958. He made his TV debut in "One Man's Family," in 1950, and appeared in the "Mr. Peepers" series from 1952-1955. He has had several television series, "The Odd Couple," "The Tony Randall Show," from 1976-1978, and "Love, Sidney," 1981-1983. His film credits include, "Will Success spoil Rock Hunter?" 1957, "Let's Make Love," 1960, and "King of Comedy," 1983. He also directed a Broadway show, "Let's Lunch," in the mid-'80s. In the early '90s, he created the National Actor's Theatre, a repertoire company staging classical theater. He is an avid opera fan. He married his college sweetheart Florence Mitchell in 1939. He said, "I never saw another girl in my life; she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen." He cared for her during her death of cancer in 1992, after 53 years together. In 1991, Randall met 21-year-old Heather Harlan, a blonde actress when she interned at his theatre company. Lonely after his loss of Florence, he grew close to Heather and their romance blossomed in 1994. Randall and Harlan married on 11/17/1995, New York City. He became a father for the first time when he was 78, thrilled with his daughter Julia Laurette, born on 04/11/1997. A year later Heather gave birth to a son, Jefferson Salvini, 6/15/1998. The actor died in his sleep on May 17, 2004 at age 84. The cause of his death was given as "complications from a prolonged illness." Hospitalized since December 2003 for a triple heart bypass, Randall later contracted pneumonia. Link to Wikipedia biography