
Person
Richard Erdman
Acting · 1925–2019 · Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Biography
Richard Erdman (June 1, 1925 - March 16, 2019) was an American film and television actor and director. In a career that has spanned seven decades, his best known roles are that of the barracks chief Hoffy in Stalag 17, and McNulty in the classic Twilight Zone episode "A Kind of a Stopwatch". In Tora Tora Tora he played Colonel Edward F. French, the officer who responded to the failure to transmit the warning to Pearl Harbor using Army radio to instead use commercial telegraph rather than using the Navy or FBI radio systems. Erdman appeared as the blackmailer, Arthur Binney, in the Perry Mason first season TV episode "The Case Of The Gilded Lily" aired May 24, 1958. In 1960, he co-starred with Tab Hunter in the short-lived The Tab Hunter Show on NBC, which aired opposite The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS and Lawman with John Russell on ABC. He was very funny when he appeared as a Broadway wardrobe man named Buck Brown on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". In 1962, Erdman had a recurring role as Klugie, the photographer, in the short-lived Nick Adams-John Larkin NBC series Saints and Sinners.
Known for

Perry Mason
Arthur Binney

Murder, She Wrote
Jonathan

Cheers
Duncan Fitzgerald

Beverly Hills, 90210
Mr. Perl

Community
Leonard

The Twilight Zone
Patrick McNulty

Batman: The Animated Series
Elliot (voice)

Wings
Howard Banks

Judging Amy
Mr. Callahan

Hogan's Heroes
Walter Hobson
Filmography
- 2021Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!Self
- 2015Dr. KenRichard Erdman
- 2015Weird LonersCarl's Grandfather
- 2009CommunityLeonard
- 2008Empire State Building MurdersEddie Walker
- 2003Joan of ArcadiaMr. Hanson
- 2002BoomtownKevin's Dad
- 2001The Bernie Mac ShowFrank
- 1999Judging AmyMr. Callahan
- 1998FelicityHowie
- 1994The PagemasterPirate (voice)
- 1992Batman: The Animated SeriesElliot (voice)
- 1992The Dark WindCo-Producer
- 1991Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmakeractor 'Stalag 17' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1990Beverly Hills, 90210Mr. Perl
- 1990Timeless Tales: The Emperor's New Clothes
- 1990WingsHoward Banks
- 1988JesseDr. Adams
- 1988Top Cat and the Beverly Hills CatsSid Buckman / Car Wash Manager (voice)
- 1987She's the SheriffFrank Rubin
- 1987DuckTalesMayor Rufus B. Pinfeathers (voice)
- 1987Valet GirlsWaiter
- 1986Stewardess SchoolAttorney
- 1986My TownFletcher Mays
- 1985TomboyChester
- 1984TrancersDrunken Wise Man
- 1984Murder, She WroteJonathan
- 1983The Secret World of OgPirate #1
- 1982Heidi's SongHerr Sessman (voice)
- 1982Remington SteeleBert the Coroner
- 1982CheersDuncan Fitzgerald
- 1982Cassie & Co.George Davenport
- 1981Space StarsAdditional Voices (voice)
- 1981Spider-Man: The Dragon's ChallengeMr. Zeider
- 1978The Amazing Spider-ManMr. Zeider
- 1977Lou Grant
- 1976Quincy, M.E.
- 1976The Bionic Woman
- 1975Kate McShaneFrederick de Fernando
- 1974Mr. MajestykDick Richard (uncredited)
- 1974The Six Million Dollar ManSlayton
- 1973Brothers O'TooleJudge Quincey P. Trumbell
- 1973Police Story
- 1972Visions...Ellis
- 1972The Great Man's WhiskersJoseph Somerby
- 1971Mooch Goes to HollywoodDirector
- 1971Teenage TeaseDirector
- 1970Tora! Tora! Tora!Colonel Edward F. French
- 1969RascalWalt Dabbett
- 1968Here's LucyClerk
- 1968Mayberry R.F.D.Frank Wylie
- 1967Mr. TerrificManny
- 1966That Girl
- 1966Namu, the Killer WhaleDeke
- 1965I Dream of JeannieStore Manager
- 1965Hogan's HeroesWalter Hobson
- 1965The Wild Wild WestMordecai Krone
- 1965Green Acres
- 1964Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
- 1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.P.T. Barkley
- 1964The Brass BottleSeymour Jenks
- 1963Petticoat JunctionColonel Millbank
- 1963The Small World: The Gypsy Children of GranadaHost and narrator
- 1962The Beverly Hillbillies
- 1962Saints and SinnersKlugie
- 1961The Dick Van Dyke ShowBuck Brown
- 1961Mister Ed
- 1960The Tab Hunter ShowRichard Fairfield III
- 1959Not for Hire
- 1959The Twilight ZonePatrick McNulty
- 1959Face of FireAl Williams
- 1958Saddle the WindDallas Hanson
- 1958The Rawhide TrailRupe Pardee
- 1957Perry MasonArthur Binney
- 1957Panic!
- 1956West Point
- 1956The Power and the PrizeLester Everett
- 1956Anything GoesEd Brent
- 1955Matinee Theater
- 1955Alfred Hitchcock PresentsCharlie Brown
- 1955Navy Log
- 1955BengaziSelby
- 1955Francis in the NavyMurph
- 1955Science Fiction Theatre
- 1954December Bride
- 1953The Steel LadyJim Evans
- 1953Where's Raymond?Pete Morrisey
- 1953Mission Over KoreaPvt. Swenson
- 1953Stalag 17Sgt. 'Hoffy' Hoffman
- 1953The Blue GardeniaAl
- 1952The Happy TimeAlfred Grattin
- 1952Cavalcade of AmericaHarry Jordan
- 1952Jumping JacksDogface Dolan
- 1952The San Francisco StoryShorty
- 1952Aladdin and His LampMirza
- 1951The Wild Blue YonderCpl. Frenchy
- 1951The StoogeBen Bailey
- 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsEddie McGuire
- 1951Cry DangerDelong
- 1951You're in the Navy NowEns. Chuck Dorrance
- 1950The MenLeo
- 1950The Admiral Was a LadyOliver 'Ollie' Bonelli
- 1949Swiss TourEddy
- 1949Easy LivingBuddy Morgan
- 1948The Time of Your LifeWillie
- 1947Wild HarvestMark Lewis
- 1947That Way with WomenEddie (as Dick Erdman)
- 1946Nobody Lives ForeverBellboy, The Marwood Arms
- 1946DeceptionTerry Spencer (uncredited)
- 1946So You Want to Play the HorsesEddie (uncredited)
- 1946Shadow of a WomanJoe, Counterman at Owl Lunch
- 1946Janie Gets MarriedLt. 'Scooper' Nolan (as Dick Erdman)
- 1945Too Young to KnowTommy
- 1945Danger SignalBunkie Taylor (as Dick Erdman)
- 1945Star in the NightMiddle Cowboy
- 1945Objective, Burma!Pvt. Nebraska Hooper
- 1944Hollywood CanteenSoldier on Deck (uncredited)
- 1944The Very Thought of YouSoda Jerk
- 1944Musical MovielandSailor with Tour (uncredited)
- 1944JanieScooper Nolan (as Dick Erdman)
- 1944Mr. SkeffingtonWestern Union Boy (uncredited)
- —The BagJohn Harper
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