Ned Wertimer

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Ned Wertimer
Wharton School of Business
OccupationActor
Years active1950–2007
Known forRalph Hart, the doorman on The Jeffersons
Spouse
Skyne Uku-Wertimer
​
(m. 1971)​

Edward "Ned" Wertimer (October 27, 1923 – January 2, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Ralph Hart, the doorman on the sitcom The Jeffersons.[1]

Life and career

Early years

Wertimer was born on October 27, 1923, in

Mask and Wig Club, an all-male comedy and musical troupe. He was also a member of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.[1]

Theater, television, and film

After graduating college, Wertimer went to New York City to perform Broadway theatre in such shows as Texas Li'l Darlin', a 1949 musical by Robert E. Dolan and Johnny Mercer; 1950's The Live Wire by Garson Kanin; 1950's The Disenchanted, by Budd Schulberg, with Jason Robards; and 1963's All in Good Time by Bill Naughton. He also began performing in small roles in television, a new medium at the time. He was able to show his improvisational skills as a regular guest on The Shari Lewis Show.[1]

In the mid-1960s, Wertimer moved to Los Angeles to continue his burgeoning television career. He had over 100 guest-star credits on such shows as Gunsmoke, McMillan & Wife, Car 54, Where Are You?, The Debbie Reynolds Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, A Touch of Grace, WKRP in Cincinnati, Mork & Mindy, He & She, Family Law and Happy Days. He also appeared in such films as Mame, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, The Impossible Years, Pinocchio, The Strongest Man in the World, The Pack and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.[1] He had a role in the 1970 film C.C. and Company.

He was a longtime member of the performers' trade unions—Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which merged in 2012.[1]

The Jeffersons

Wertimer appeared as doorman Ralph Hart in a 1975

gratuity for his services.[1]

Personal life and death

Wertimer loved traveling around the world, from riding a camel in

Emmy Awards. Soon after moving to California in the mid-1960s, he met and married Dr. Skyne Uku, professor emeritus at California State University, Long Beach.[3]

Wertimer died on January 2, 2013, at the Sherman Village Health Care Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 89. According to his manager, Wertimer had never recovered from a fall at his Burbank, California, home in November 2012.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Let's Rock Studio Manager Uncredited
1964 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Andy Henderson
1968 What's So Bad About Feeling Good? Marshall legal aide Uncredited
1968 The Impossible Years Dr. Bodey
1968 Pinocchio Vito Whale / Farmer TV movie
1969 Some Kind of a Nut Larry Uncredited
1970 C.C. and Company Motorcycle Salesman
1972 Bad Company Mr. Dixon
1974 Mame Fred Kates
1975 The Strongest Man in the World Mr. Parsons
1975 At Long Last Love First Man (Nightclub)
1977 The Pack Walker
1979 Hometown U.S.A. Mr. Duckworth
2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Singing Gallows Pirate #6 (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnes, Mike (January 8, 2013). "Character Actor Ned Wertimer Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "Ned Wertimer, Doorman on 'Jeffersons,' Dies at 89". ABC News. Associated Press. January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "The Jeffersons Co-Star Ned Wertimer Passes Away at Age 89". tv.broadwayworld.com. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ned_Wertimer&oldid=1201068673"