Tony Randall

Tony Randall - Film & Theater Personalities, Birthday and Childhood

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Tony Randall's Personal Details

Tony Randall was a popular American actor

InformationDetail
BirthdayFebruary 26, 1920
Died onMay 17, 2004
NationalityAmerican
FamousFilm & Theater Personalities, Actors
City/StateOklahoma
SpousesFlorence Gibbs (m. 1942–1992), Heather Harlan (m. 1995–2004)
Known asAryeh Leonard Rosenberg
ChildrensJefferson Salvini Randall, Julia Laurette Randall
Birth PlaceTulsa, Oklahoma
Height173
GenderMale
FatherMogscha Rosenberg
MotherJulia Finston
Sun SignPisces
Born inTulsa, Oklahoma
Famous asActor
Died at Age84

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Tony Randall's photo

Who is Tony Randall?

Aryeh Leonard Rosenberg popularly known as Tony Randall was an American actor who rose to fame following his portrayal of the neat-freak, Felix Unger, in the TV show ‘The Odd Couple’. In the six decades of his career, Randall made immense contribution to Broadway, television and films. He was nominated for several awards of which he bagged the Emmy for ‘The Odd Couple’. Apart from acting he was also a raconteur and co-wrote a collection of show business anecdotes titled ‘Which Reminds Me’. He strongly promoted arts and often hosted the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's concerts in Central Park. Eventually, he founded the National Actors Theatre which was the only professional theatre company in a university in New York. Not only did he invest his own money in the venture, he also ensured that the tickets to his shows were reasonably priced so theatre enthusiast could enjoy his shows. He also supported several social causes and headed the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, which works towards raising funds for the treatment of the incurable neuromuscular disease. His personal life became the talk of the town after he married Heather Harlan who is 50 years his junior.

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Childhood & Early Life

Tony Randall was born on February 26, 1920 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Mogscha Rosenberg and his wife, Julia Finston. His father was an art and antiques dealer.

As a kid, Randall got interested in theatre after he watched a touring ballet troupe. His habit and mastery at mimicry annoyed a lot of his school teachers who often complained about it to his parents.

He completed his schooling from Tulsa Central High School and enrolled into Northwestern University where he studied speech and drama for a year. He then joined Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York and studied under known names such as Sanford Meisner and Martha Graham.

For a brief period, he took up the name Anthony Randall and worked as an announcer at the radio station WTAG in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was also a part of two stage plays named ‘Candida’ and ‘Corn Is Green’ before enlisting with the Army. He served in the U.S. Signal Corps during World War II for four years.

After completing his service, he returned to work at Montgomery County's Olney Theatre for some time before moving back to New York City to further pursue his acting career.

Career

His appearance in the play ‘A Circle of Chalk’ marked his foray in Broadway in 1941. Thereafter, Randall took on several minor roles in theatre. His most notable character was that of Reggie from the long-running radio series ‘I Love a Mystery’.

Throughout the early 1950s Tony Randall played a lot of supporting roles in Broadway as well as television shows. The theatre play in ‘Inherit the Wind’ that came out in 1955, was one of his most successful plays. His role of Newspaperman E. K. Hornbeck was inspired by real life cynic H. L. Mencken.

In 1958, he played the leading role in the musical play ‘Oh, Captain!’. Even though the play did not meet much success, Randal was still nominated for the Tony Award nomination for his dance with ballerina Alexandra Danilova.

Thereafter, he appeared in films such as ‘Pillow Talk’ in 1959, ‘Lover Come Back to Me’ in 1961 and ‘Send Me No Flowers’ in 1964.

He also appeared in dramas simultaneously. In 1957, he played the role of an alcoholic in the show ‘No Down Payment’. He showed his acting prowess by playing all the seven faces in the 1964 drama ‘The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.’

Randall spent the 1970s and 1980s playing numerous characters in television series. His first major television role was that of a history teacher, Harvey Weskit in the show ‘Mister Peepers’ from 1952 to 1955. Next, he appeared in a NBC special ‘The Secret of Freedom’ in 1959.

He played the role of an alcoholic who kills his wife in a drunken state in an episode of ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’ in 1961.

Randall finally found fame following his portrayal of Felix Unger opposite Jack Klugmanin the hit TV series ‘The Odd Couple’ in 1970. The show was such a big hit that the two actors recorded an album called ‘The Odd Couple Sings’ for London Records which became very popular amongst the shows’ fans.

In ‘The Tony Randall Show’ that aired on television from 1976-78, he played the role of a Philadelphia judge.

In the 1981 show ‘Love, Sidney’ he was cast as the supposed gay character, Sidney Shorr. Thereafter, Randall took a break from television and decided to fully concentrate on his Broadway shows.

Randall hosted the free preview of HBO’s premium channel ‘Festival’ for two months in late 1987.

He went on to reprise his role of Felix Unger along with Jack Klugman as they came together in the CBS-TV movie, ‘The Odd Couple: Together Again’, which was released in September 1993.

He founded the National Actors Theatre in 1991. He then acted in most of its plays such as ‘Three Men on a Horse’ in 1993, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘The Inspector General’ in 1994, and finally Luigi Pirandello's ‘Right You Are’ in 2003 which also happened to be his last theatre performance.

Personal Life & Legacy

Tony Randall married Florence Gibbs in 1938 and they remained together till she died due to cancer in 1992.

Three years later, he married Heather Harlan, an intern at the National Actors Theatre, on November 17, 1995. The couple had a 50 years age gap with Randall being 75 years old and Harlan being 25 years old at the time of their marriage. Together they had two children, Julia and Jefferson.

Tony Randall passed away in his sleep on May 17, 2004 at the age of 84. He had undergone a coronary bypass surgery in December 2003 after which he contracted pneumonia that ultimately cost his life.

Trivia

Tony Randall did not smoke and strongly opposed it.

He loved collecting modern art, opera recordings, and antiques.

He made a record 70 appearances on 'Late Show with David Letterman'.

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Tony Randall's awards

YearNameAward

Primetime Emmy Awards

1975Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesThe Odd Couple (1970)

Tony Randall biography timelines

  • // 26th Feb 1920
    Tony Randall was born on February 26, 1920 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Mogscha Rosenberg and his wife, Julia Finston. His father was an art and antiques dealer.
  • // 1938 To 1992
    Tony Randall married Florence Gibbs in 1938 and they remained together till she died due to cancer in 1992.
  • // 1941
    His appearance in the play ‘A Circle of Chalk’ marked his foray in Broadway in 1941. Thereafter, Randall took on several minor roles in theatre. His most notable character was that of Reggie from the long-running radio series ‘I Love a Mystery’.
  • // 1955
    Throughout the early 1950s Tony Randall played a lot of supporting roles in Broadway as well as television shows. The theatre play in ‘Inherit the Wind’ that came out in 1955, was one of his most successful plays. His role of Newspaperman E. K. Hornbeck was inspired by real life cynic H. L. Mencken.
  • // 1957 To 1964
    He also appeared in dramas simultaneously. In 1957, he played the role of an alcoholic in the show ‘No Down Payment’. He showed his acting prowess by playing all the seven faces in the 1964 drama ‘The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.’
  • // 1958
    In 1958, he played the leading role in the musical play ‘Oh, Captain!’. Even though the play did not meet much success, Randal was still nominated for the Tony Award nomination for his dance with ballerina Alexandra Danilova.
  • // 1961
    He played the role of an alcoholic who kills his wife in a drunken state in an episode of ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’ in 1961.
  • // 1970
    Randall finally found fame following his portrayal of Felix Unger opposite Jack Klugmanin the hit TV series ‘The Odd Couple’ in 1970. The show was such a big hit that the two actors recorded an album called ‘The Odd Couple Sings’ for London Records which became very popular amongst the shows’ fans.
  • // 1976 To 1978
    In ‘The Tony Randall Show’ that aired on television from 1976-78, he played the role of a Philadelphia judge.
  • // 1981
    In the 1981 show ‘Love, Sidney’ he was cast as the supposed gay character, Sidney Shorr. Thereafter, Randall took a break from television and decided to fully concentrate on his Broadway shows.
  • // 1987
    Randall hosted the free preview of HBO’s premium channel ‘Festival’ for two months in late 1987.
  • // Sep 1993
    He went on to reprise his role of Felix Unger along with Jack Klugman as they came together in the CBS-TV movie, ‘The Odd Couple: Together Again’, which was released in September 1993.
  • // 17th Nov 1995
    Three years later, he married Heather Harlan, an intern at the National Actors Theatre, on November 17, 1995. The couple had a 50 years age gap with Randall being 75 years old and Harlan being 25 years old at the time of their marriage. Together they had two children, Julia and Jefferson.
  • // Dec 2003 To 17th May 2004
    Tony Randall passed away in his sleep on May 17, 2004 at the age of 84. He had undergone a coronary bypass surgery in December 2003 after which he contracted pneumonia that ultimately cost his life.

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Tony Randall's FAQ

  • What is Tony Randall birthday?

    Tony Randall was born at 1920-02-26

  • When was Tony Randall died?

    Tony Randall was died at 2004-05-17

  • Where was Tony Randall died?

    Tony Randall was died in New York City, New York

  • Which age was Tony Randall died?

    Tony Randall was died at age 84

  • Where is Tony Randall's birth place?

    Tony Randall was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • What is Tony Randall nationalities?

    Tony Randall's nationalities is American

  • Who is Tony Randall spouses?

    Tony Randall's spouses is Florence Gibbs (m. 1942–1992), Heather Harlan (m. 1995–2004)

  • Who is Tony Randall childrens?

    Tony Randall's childrens is Jefferson Salvini Randall, Julia Laurette Randall

  • How tall is Tony Randall?

    Tony Randall's height is 173

  • Who is Tony Randall's father?

    Tony Randall's father is Mogscha Rosenberg

  • Who is Tony Randall's mother?

    Tony Randall's mother is Julia Finston

  • What is Tony Randall's sun sign?

    Tony Randall is Pisces

  • How famous is Tony Randall?

    Tony Randall is famouse as Actor