From: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...c4&refer=us

Tom Poston, Comic Actor on TV's `Newhart' Show, Dies (Update1)

By Mark Schoifet

May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Tom Poston, the droopy-eyed veteran comic actor best known as the bumbling handyman in Bob Newhart's hit television show ``Newhart,'' has died. He was 85.

Poston died last night at his home in Los Angeles, family representative Tanner Gibson said in a telephone interview. She declined to disclose the cause of his death.

Poston was married to actress Suzanne Pleshette. The two worked together on ``The Bob Newhart Show'' in the 1970s.

``Tom was always the `go-to guy' on `Newhart' in addition to being a good and longtime friend,'' Newhart said in a statement, according to AP.

Though he appeared on Broadway and in movies, it was Poston's five-decade TV career as a situation-comedy actor and panelist on various quiz programs that earned him recognition, including an Emmy.

``I've been very lucky,'' Poston told New York magazine two years ago about his television career, as he prepared to star in the NBC sitcom ``Committed.'' ``But I put in my work at the foundation. I'm not a Johnny-come-lately.''

Poston was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct, 17, 1921. He attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, for two years, 1938-1940, and then joined the Army Air Corps and served as a pilot in Europe during World War II.

Broadway Debut

Poston made his first stage appearance in 1930 at the age of 9 as a tumbler in ``The Flying Zebleys,'' and in 1947 he made his Broadway debut in Jose Ferrer's Broadway production of ``Cyrano de Bergerac.''

In 1955, Poston served as the host of New York-based variety show ``Entertainment,'' and then auditioned for Steve Allen's variety show.

He appeared on ``The Steve Allen Show'' from 1956 through 1960 with comedians Louis Nye and Don Knotts. Poston was cast as a man on the street who could never remember his name, a role for which he won an Emmy in 1959.

``When I started out, I was sorry I'd missed vaudeville,'' Poston told New York magazine. ``I was sorry I'd missed silent movies. At the time, it didn't occur to me that I was participating in the beginnings of television. TV was a weird option because of the advertising. When it first started, I said, `I don't want to have anything to do with promoting beer and cigarettes and cars. I don't want to peddle snake oil.' I had studied to be a classicist.''

In subsequent years, Poston starred in a number of TV quiz programs, most notably ``To Tell the Truth.''

In the 1970s, he played supporting roles in two situation comedies that failed, ``On the Rocks'' (1975) and ``We've Got Each Other'' (1977).

`Mork and Mindy'

Poston appeared as the grouchy neighbor Franklin Delano Bickley on the ABC hit show ``Mork and Mindy,'' which starred comedian Robin Williams as a space alien, until 1982.

He made guest appearances on ``The Bob Newhart Show'' during the 1970s, and when Newhart started his new comedy show ``Newhart'' in 1982, Poston played handyman George Utley. He beat out Jerry Van Dyke for the role and was nominated twice for an Emmy.

In 1990, Poston played on the short-lived Fox-TV show ``Good Grief'' with Howie Mandell. He joined ABC's hit series ``Grace Under Fire'' in 1995, playing Floyd.

Poston's first film appearance was in ``City That Never Sleeps (1953), followed by more than 20 other movies, including ``Zotz'' (1962); ``Old Dark House'' (1963); ``Rabbit Test'' (1978); ``Save the Dog!'' (1988); ``The Story of Us'' (1999); ``The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,'' 2004; and ``Christmas with the Kranks'' (2004).

Besides Pleshette, his third wife, Poston is survived by a daughter, Francesca, from his first wife, Jean Sullivan, and a son, Jason, and daughter, Hudson, from his second wife, Kay Hudson.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Schoifet in New York at [email protected] .

Last Updated: May 1, 2007 20:11 EDT

I heard about this last night. I LOVED Tom Poston on Newhart. And in anything I saw him, really. He had this wonderful earnestness about him. My heart goes out to his family.

I think Tom Poston was in Jennifer Finnigan's short-lived NBC Sitcom as well...he played the guy who lived in her closet. It was weird, btu really funny.

Postman has appeared in several short-lived sitcoms and projects after Newhart. The guy's been everywhere.

I think Tom Poston was in Jennifer Finnigan's short-lived NBC Sitcom as well...he played the guy who lived in her closet. It was weird, btu really funny.

Yep, The clown in the closet. He and Finnigan had great chemistry.

RIP Mr Poston