Graham P. Jarvis, a familiar character actor with a comedic image who worked steadily in films, television and theater for five decades, died of multiple myeloma Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 72. Perhaps best-remembered for his role as Charlie Haggers in the 1970s series “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” Jarvis more recently turned up in such diverse series as “7th Heaven” and “Six Feet Under.” Jarvis was born in Toronto and began acting at age 19 in a production of “The Seven Year Itch” in a small theater company in Virginia. He attended Williams College before moving on to New York City in the early 1950s to pursue a career in theater. He studied acting at the American Theater Wing and was an original member of the Lincoln Center Repertory Theater.
I thought he died back in April (?)
Sorry for the standard “I thought he already was dead!” (if anybody remembers Eddie “Rochester” Robinson’s cameo at the beginning of “The Comic”). I remember this actor as Archie Bunker’s American Legion friend to whom Archie angrily returned his fishing poles, saying “and you know what to do with them, hooks and all,” and the right-winger in “Cold Turkey” who said “I was never one to say Ike was a Communist!” And also as the old cop who let the Jo from Fact of Life get her head stomped on by her husband in some made-for-tv movie.
Same guy, right?
He did, but I just now read about it in Classic Images’ obit section. Since Peter Bart ruined Variety, CI is the only show-biz paper with a decent obit section.