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^[1] and was active in Boston Children's Theatre until he was 18. He attended Syracuse University before studying at the American Theatre Wing.^[1] In 1967 he created the role of Dr. Schoenfeld in Bruce Jay Friedman's off-Broadway hit, "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. He worked tirelessly to cajole licensed counselors to teach and supervise lay counselors in various community programs throughout the city. This became an extremely popular program that brought people who helped people together, giving them structure and community and, in the end, a graduation that made everyone cry.

Personal life and death

^[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	Film	Role	Notes
1977	You Light Up My Life	1st Commercial Director	Romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Joseph Brooks.[4]
1978	House Calls	Make-Up man	Comedy film directed by Howard Zieff.[5]
	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.[6]
1983	Mr. Mom	Exec. 3	Comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and written by John Hughes.[7]
1984	Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo	Randall	Sequel to the breakdancing film Breakin' and directed by Sam Firstenberg.[8]
	Angel	Mr. Saunders	Directed and co-written by Robert Vincent O'Neil.[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]

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){{cite 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 has a twin, Lewy, who wrote children's books. news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19761218&id=AsYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FhMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1299,4398992&hl=en|page=49|accessdate=February 21, 2016|date=December 18, 1976|work=Star-News|publisher=New Media Investment Group|title=Nancy's secretary, 'gay resident', says role's okay}}
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. Variety Staff (March 2, 1998). "Ken Olfson dies at 60". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. 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. "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
9. "Angel". 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.

External links

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