Tom Poston, a familiar comedic presence on television since the 1950s, when he was an Emmy Award-winning regular on "The Steve Allen Show" but who may be best remembered as the bumbling handyman on the popular situation comedy "Newhart," has died. He was 85.
The husband of actress Suzanne Pleshette, Poston died Monday at his home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, said family representative Tanner Gibson.
Poston launched his career in 1947 in Jose Ferrer's Broadway production of "Cyrano de Bergerac." He later appeared in live television dramatic anthologies such as "Studio One" and "Goodyear Television Playhouse."
But he soon established himself as a comedic actor who gained national exposure on Allen's comedy-variety show, which ran from 1956 to 1961, first on NBC and then ABC.
In the 1970s, Poston made occasional guest appearances on "The Bob Newhart Show" as Newhart's college chum. But he earned lasting recognition playing handyman George Utley on "Newhart" throughout the sitcom's 1982-90 run.
In a statement Tuesday, Newhart described his friend Poston as a "versatile and veteran performer and a kindhearted individual" who "was always the go-to guy on 'Newhart.' "
Peter Scolari, a fellow "Newhart" cast member, said that "as a comedian, Tom was truly unique."
"Here's a guy who worked on Broadway with Bert Lahr [in a Burlesque revue] and Jose Ferrer," Scolari told The Times. "On 'Newhart,' he was by then about 70 and as fresh and feeling a comedic actor as you'd ever want to work with. There was an unbridled joy in Tom."
Poston had appeared in Broadway comedies such as "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" in the 1950s. But it was his work as host of "Entertainment," a local daily comedy-variety show in New York, that caught the attention of two writers for "The Steve Allen Show," whose comedic stock company included Don Knotts and Louis Nye.
In Allen's famous man-in-the-street sketches, Poston was the man who could never remember his name.
When Allen was auditioning actors for the sketch, Poston recalled in a 1982 interview with the Newhouse News Service, "I was, naturally, scared to death."
"He asked me my name and darned if my mind didn't go blank. I sat there like a big dope and held my head. Steve thought I was kidding. He said, 'Hey, that's great! We'll use it.' From then on, I was a regular."
Tim Conway, a longtime friend who toured with Poston in "The Odd Couple," was an early fan.
