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 Dorchester, Massachusetts. He began acting at the age of 10 and was active in Boston Children's Theatre until he was 18. He attended Syracuse University, then studied 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 Reilly in Neil Simon's God's Favorite, 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.

Personal life and death

After many years of volunteering as a lay counselor at the Southern California Counseling Center, he was given a staff position as the head of the Training Lay Counselors program and asked to design it from scratch. This group was well-attended and wildly popular.

He had a twin, Lewy Olfson, who wrote children's books.[1]

Ken Olfson died of a heart attack on December 31, 1997 in Los Angeles after a two-month illness. He was age 60.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 You Light Up My Life 1st Commercial Director
American Raspberry Mr. Sloan
1978 The One and Only Mr. Arnold
House Calls Make-Up man
1979 H.O.T.S. Dean Larry Chase
1983 Mr. Mom Exec. #3
1984 Angel Mr. Saunders
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Randall
Micki & Maude Interior Decorator
1986 Odd Jobs Mayor Brady Also known as Summer Jobs in the United States
The Check Is in the Mail... Assessor
1987 Spaceballs Head Usher
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
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
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)
1982 Madame's Place Bernie of Culver City Episode: "The Man is an Artist"
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. 1 2 "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.
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