Ken Olfson

Ken Olfson (April 2, 1937 – December 31, 1997) was an American film, theater and television actor in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life

Olfson was born on April 2, 1937, in Boston, Massachusetts. He began acting at the age of ten and was active in Boston Children's Theatre until he was 18. He attended Syracuse University before studying at the American Theatre Wing. In 1967, he created the role of Dr. Schoenfeld in Bruce Jay Friedman's off-Broadway play, "Scuba Duba." He was cast as a standby for Charles Nelson Riley in Neil Simon's God's Favorite which was produced on Broadway in 1974.[1]

Career

In 1976, he co-starred on The Nancy Walker Show as Terry Folson, the first gay principal character on American television.[2] In 1978, he appeared on the short-lived series Flying High. Other series included: 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. His films included: Spaceballs, Mr. Mom, Odd Jobs, and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. After many years of volunteering as a lay counselor at Southern California Counseling Center, he was given a staff position as the head of the Training Lay Counselors program (TLC), and asked to design it from scratch.

Personal life and death

In later life, he became a lay counselor at the Southern California Counseling Center and headed a group designed to help other lay counselors in organizations across the city. This group was well-attended and wildly popular. Ken had a twin, Lewy Olfson, who wrote children's books.[1] Olfson died of a heart attack on December 31, 1997, in Los Angeles after a two-month illness. He was 60 years old.[3]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1977 You Light Up My Life 1st Commercial Director Romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Joseph Brooks.[4]
American Raspberry Mr. Sloan
1978 The One and Only Mr. Arnold Comedy film directed by Carl Reiner.
House Calls Make-Up man Comedy film directed by Howard Zieff.[5]
1979 H.O.T.S. Dean Larry Chase Sex comedy directed by Gerald Seth Sindell.[6]
1983 Mr. Mom Exec. #3 Comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and written by John Hughes.[7]
1984 Angel Mr. Saunders Directed and co-written by Robert Vincent O'Neil.[8]
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Randall Sequel to the breakdancing film Breakin' and directed by Sam Firstenberg.[9]
Micki & Maude Interior Decorator Comedy film directed by Blake Edwards.[10]
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.[11]
1987 Spaceballs Head Usher Parody film directed and co-written by Mel Brooks.[12][13]
1988 Kandyland Cleaner Customer
1989 Trust Me Benjamin Greenberg

Television
Year Title 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)
1976–1977 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)
Three's Company Patrick Townsend Episode: Out On A Limb
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. "Nancy's secretary, 'gay resident', says role's okay". Star-News. Wilmington, North Carolina. December 18, 1976. p. 49. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  2. Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. p. 831. ISBN 978-0307483201.
  3. "Ken Olfson dies at 60". Variety. March 2, 1998. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  4. "You Light Up My Life". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  5. "House Calls". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  6. "H.O.T.S." TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  7. "Mr. Mom". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  8. "Angel". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  9. "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  10. "Micki + Maude". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  11. "The Check Is in the Mail..." TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  12. "Spaceballs". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  13. "Spaceballs - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". AllMovie. All Media Network. June 24, 1987. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
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