Ken Olfson

Ken Olfson
Born	April 2, 1937 Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts
Died	January 13, 1998 (aged 60) Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Film and television actor
Years active	1976–1989

Ken Olfson (April 2, 1937 – January 13, 1998) was an American film and television actor who had roles in numerous television series and films in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life

Olson was born on April 2, 1937, with fraternal twin, Lewy who became a writer, in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. He began acting at the age of ten.^[1] Olfson was active in acting at the Children's Theatre until he was 18. He attended Syracuse University for one year before studying at the American Theatre Wing.^[1] In the early 60s, Olfson worked for an insurance firm. He was cast as a standby for Charles Nelson Riley in Neil Simon's God's Favorite which was produced in 1974.^[1]

Career

In 1976, he co-starred on The Nancy Walker Show as Terry Folson, one of the earliest portrayals of a homosexual character on American television.^[2] In 1978 he appeared on the short-lived series Flying High. He also appeared on series including Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, One Day at a Time, Happy Days, Charlie's Angels, Eight is Enough, Gimme a Break, Three's Company, Diff'rent Strokes, The Jeffersons, Murder She Wrote, Trapper John M.D, and Amazing Stories. He was also in films such as Spaceballs, Mr. Mom, Odd Jobs, and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. Olfson became a coordinator and supervisor at the mid-Wilshire district's Southern California Counseling Center.^[3]

Personal life and death

As Olfson aged, he remembered how therapy helped him overcome depression.^[3] He was bisexual.^[1] Olfson died of a heart attack on January 13, 1998, in Los Angeles. He was 60 years old.^[4]

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1977	You Light Up My Life	1st Commercial Director	Romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Joseph Brooks.[5]
1978	House Calls	Make-Up man	Comedy film directed by Howard Zieff.[6]
	The One and Only	Mr. Arnold	Comedy film directed by Carl Reiner.
1979	H.O.T.S.	Dean Larry Chase	Sex comedy directed by Gerald Seth Sindell.[7]
1983	Mr. Mom	Exec. 3	Comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and written by John Hughes.[8]
1984	Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo	Randall	Sequel to the breakdancing film Breakin' and directed by Sam Firstenberg.[9]
	Angel	Mr. Saunders	Directed and co-written by Robert Vincent O'Neil.[10]
	Micki & Maude	Interior Decorator	Comedy film directed by Blake Edwards.[11]
1986	Odd Jobs	Mayor Brady	Comedy film directed by Mark Story. Also known as Summer Jobs in the United States.
	The Check Is in the Mail...	Assessor	Comedy film directed by Joan Darling.[12]
1987	Spaceballs	Head Usher	Parody film directed and co-written by Mel Brooks.[13][14]

Television

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1976	Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman	the Librarian	Episode: "Episode 006" (S 1:Ep 6)
	One Day at a Time	Mr. Faraday	Episode: "Fighting City Hall" (S 1:Ep 9)
1976–77	The Nancy Walker Show	Terry Folson	Contract role
1977	Happy Days	Simpson	Episode: "Fonz-How, Inc." (S 4:Ep 22)
	Charlie's Angels	Seth	Episode:" Unidentified Flying Angels" (S 2:Ep 9)
1978	Flying High	Raymond Strickman	Contract role
	Starsky & Hutch	Big Ed	Episode: "Cover Girl (a.k.a. No Deposit, No Return)" (S 4:11)
	Match Game '78	Himself	Episodes: "MG78-47" (S 6:Ep 47) "MG78-48" (S 6:Ep 48) "MG78-49" (S 6:Ep 49) "MG78-50" (S 6:Ep 50) "MG78-51" (S 6:Ep 51)
1983	The Jeffersons	Ben	Episode: "My Maid. . . My Wife" (S 9:Ep 14)
	Gimme a Break!	Jason Swinborn III	Episode: "Grandpa Robs a Bank" (S 2:Ep 19)
	Small & Frye	Freddie the Fence	Episode: "Fiddler on the Hoof (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1)
	Diff'rent Strokes	Mr. Cribbs	Episode: "Drafted" (S 6:Ep 5)
1984	Murder, She Wrote	TV Book Critic	Episode: "The Murder Of Sherlock Holmes (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1)
1985	Remington Steele	Guest	Episode: "Steele of Approval" (S 3:Ep 22)
1986	Cagney & Lacey	Lazaroff	Episode: "Exit Stage Centre" (S 5:Ep 19)
	Amazing Stories	Clifford Monroe	Episode: "Hell Toupee" (S 1:Ep 21)
	It's Garry Shandling's Show	The Executive	Episode: "The Graduate" (S 1:Ep 5)
1988	21 Jump Street	Guest	Episode: "Chapel of Love" (S 2:Ep 14)

References

1. (via Google news)"Nancy's secretary, 'gay resident', says role's okay". Star-News (New Media Investment Group). December 18, 1976. p. 49. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
2. Marsh, Earle F. (2003). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. p. 831. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
3. Los Angles Times Staff (January 3, 1998). "Ken Olfson; TV Actor, Counseling Center Official". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Publishing). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
4. Variety Staff (March 2, 1998). "Ken Olfson dies at 60". Variety (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
5. "You Light Up My Life". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
6. "House Calls". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
7. "H.O.T.S.". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
8. "Mr. Mom". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
9. "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
10. "Angel". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
11. "Micki + Maude". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
12. "The Check Is in the Mail...". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
13. "Spaceballs". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
14. "Spaceballs - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". AllMovie. All Media Network. June 24, 1987. Retrieved February 21, 2011.

External links

• Ken Olfson at the Internet Movie Database
• Ken Olfson at TV Guide
• Ken Olfson at TV.com