Tom Poston, R.I.P.

[ToSeek]

Sitcom Regular Tom Poston Dies At 85 (http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/01/people_late_great/main2751435.shtml)

Tom Poston, the tall, pasty-faced comic who found fame and fortune playing a clueless everyman on such hit television shows as "Newhart" and "Mork and Mindy," has died. He was 85.

Poston, who was married to Suzanne Pleshette of "The Bob Newhart Show," died Monday night at home after a brief illness, a family representative, Tanner Gibson, said Tuesday. The nature of his illness was not disclosed.

There aren't many actors (not any more, at least) who can make a career out of playing supporting characters, but he was one of the best.

[Maksutov]

Steve Allen, Louis Nye, Don Knotts, Tom Poston...man, the street looks empty tonight.

[Donnie B.]

When I was a kid, long before I had any idea who Tom Poston was, I saw the movie Zotz! (It was part of a summer movie program that operated through the school system.)

Poston was the star of that movie, one of his few leading-man roles. I loved it as a 9- or 10-year-old. I imagine it wouldn't hold up very well if I were to see it again today. But at least it didn't scare the pants off me the way another movie did that summer (one of the Harryhausen Sinbad movies. I had nightmares about the Cyclops.)

[mike alexander]

I got a Zotz! coin: they gave them out at the theatre.

[Tobin Dax]

Man, that's sad news. I know I'm the youngest poster to respond in this thread, but I've always enjoyed Poston's character roles. I think I first saw him on Mork & Mindy, and I like the roles he did on Home Improvement. He definitely had talent.