Herbie Faye - Biography

Herbie Faye (February 2, 1899—June 28, 1980) was an American actor who appeared in both of Phil Silvers's CBS television series, The Phil Silvers Show (1955–1959) and The New Phil Silvers Show (1963–1964).

Aged 55, Faye was cast in his first major acting role as Corporal Sam Fender in twenty-four episodes of Silvers's first series, first known as You'll Never Get Rich and then in rebroadcasts as Sergeant Bilko. Faye appeared in such segments as "Bilko, the Art Lover", "Guinea Pig Bilko", "Doberman Missing Heir", "The Colonel's Second Honeymoon", and "The Weekend Colonel". After the original program ended, Faye appeared four years later as Waluska on the second series in which Silvers (1911–1985) played Harry Grafton, the foreman of fictitious Osborne Industries who is eager to make a profit by nearly any means possible. His co-stars on the program were Stafford Repp, Buddy Lester, Elena Verdugo, Ronnie Dapo, and Sandy Descher.

Other comedy roles

In 1961, Faye appeared as a cook in the comedy film, Snow White and the Three Stooges. The next year, he appeared as a Mr. Perkins in the episode "Jose's Portege" of CBS's The Danny Thomas Show sitcom, also known as Make Room for Daddy. In 1961 and 1962, he appeared three times on NBC's The Joey Bishop Show. Later sitcom appearances were as Officer Luke in the 1963 episode "Now I Lay Me Down to Steal" of CBS's The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis starring Dwayne Hickman. He appeared six times in various roles on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show, including Harry Keen in the 1965 segment "Brother, Can You Spare $2,500". He guest starred too on CBS's The Jack Benny Program and twice on both ABC's Bewitched and in the CBS series My Favorite Martian.

During the middle 1960s, he appeared three times on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and four times on the Griffith spin-off, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., a military comedy starring singer Jim Nabors. He appeared twice on The Andy Griffith Show's successor series, Mayberry, R.F.D. starring Ken Berry. In 1966, he appeared as a man in a diner in the Don Knotts film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. In 1968, he appeared as Croupier in the Walt Disney comedy film Blackbeard's Ghost. In 1969, he appeared in the role of Mr. Welch on Andy Griffith's film Angel in My Pocket. From 1966-1969, he appeared four times in different roles on CBS's rural comedy, Petticoat Junction, including as Doodles in the episode "It's Not Easy to Be a Mother".

From 1970-1972, he appeared four times on Lucille Ball's CBS series Here's Lucy. From 1972-1973, he guest starred on ABC's Love, American Style and CBS's The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show. From 1971-1974, he appeared four times on CBS's The New Dick Van Dyke Show, including the role of Uncle Manny. He also appeared as "Pop" in the 1974 episode "Knock Around the Block" of ABC's Happy Days starring Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Henry Winkler, and Ron Howard. From 1971-1975, he guest starred five times on ABC's sitcom The Odd Couple starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. In 1975, he appeared as Bernie in the Jack Albertson-Freddie Prinze NBC sitcom Chico and the Man in the episode entitled "Louie's Retirement". That same year, he appeared as Nathan Levine in the episode "The Social Worker" of ABC's sitcom Barney Miller.

Drama

In 1956, he appeared as Max in The Harder They Fall, a boxing story starring Humphrey Bogart in his last role. In 1962, he portrayed Charlie the bartender, in another boxing film Requiem for a Heavyweight starring Jack Palance. That same year, he appeared as "Lefty" in the episode "Fall Guy" of ABC's crime drama The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack as Elliot Ness.

In 1966, Faye appeared in the Billy Wilder comedy-drama film The Fortune Cookie. His later drama appearances were as Moe Fletcher in the 1975 episode "The Adventure of the Comic Book Crusader" in the NBC's drama Ellery Queen, starring Jim Hutton and David Wayne. In 1979, he appeared as Rocco in the episode "House of No Return" of NBC's Quincy M.E. starring Jack Klugman.

Death

His last appearance prior to his death was as an unnamed witness in the 1980 film Melvin and Howard starring Jason Robards. Faye died in Las Vegas, aged 81.