I had a serious crush on Harry Anderson during his *Cheers *and *Night Court *days. 
Yes! As a kid I’d heard Mel Tormé’s recording of “The Christmas Song” (which he co-wrote), but the first time I ever heard anything else by him was on Night Court. I’m a jazz singer, and I still think of Harry/that show whenever I listen to Mel. ♫ 
He really kind of shut things down after Dave’s World. Did he just decide that he had had enough of the Hollywood game at that point?
I hadn’t really realized what he’d been up to after Dave’s World. His entry on Wikipedia indicates that he had moved to New Orleans, where he and his second wife ran a magic shop, and a speakeasy, and that he did a one-man stage show in that city for some time, before moving again to North Carolina.
I’d imagine that he might have been financially set after two long-running, successful TV series, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he wanted to live a lower-profile life. I loved all of his work, and I’m sad to see that he died too young.
I thought he was great as the adult Ritchie Tozier in the “It” miniseries (he was the grown-up version of Seth Green).
And Harry, your passing hit me in a little corner of my soul that was previously only occupied by John Ritter. I never really thought I was watching actors. It was like watching a friend.
The Ringer added a poignant obituary yesterday that’s worth a read. It also details his life after sitcoms (he never considered himself an actor, for starters).
https://www.theringer.com/tv/2018/4/17/17248358/harry-anderson-obituary-night-court-magic
Thank you for sharing that, witzel. A great article, and it does explain why he largely vanished from TV after Dave’s World. I’m glad to hear that it was because he wanted to get back to doing what he loved.
Yesterday I bought Season 1 of Night Court via iTunes/Apple TV ($10), and started watching it. Seemed like the thing to do. I can see buying a few more seasons.
FWIW, S1 E2 is the reason I started watching Night Court: Michael J. Fox had a cameo as a teen criminal (he was 22 when it aired). Family Ties had started me down the road of becoming a massive Fox fan – he’s the only celebrity I’ve ever written to; I think I still have the scrapbook I made in high school – and when I read that he was going to guest-star on this new show, I decided to watch. Then I stuck around for Harry Anderson. Back then I tended to pick shows based on cute boys. 
(Hell, sometimes I still do!)
That was amazing; thanks for linking it.
dittos
Break up hard voodoo, indeed!
I want to know, too.
I always wondered what happened to Anderson after Night Court. He dropped out of sight.
I didn’t recognize him in recent photos.
RIP
Well, as others have already noted, after Night Court, he was plenty visible for four seasons as the lead on Dave’s World. But, that show ended 21 years ago, and that was, in fact, when he left Hollywood behind.
There are a couple of episodes on YouTube. Coincidentally, one of them has the moment I remember most from the series.
Yikes, what pictures did you see that made him unrecognizable? I see some pics out there, but he just looks older…but like himself.
He didn’t look sick. I just wouldn’t have recognized Harry on the street or in line at a store. I only knew him from Night Court and he was very thin.
Scroll down to Harry wearing with the green shirt holding a rubber chicken.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2018/04/harry-anderson-dies-beloved-night-court-star-was-65/amp/?source=images
err, green jacket and pink shirt.
Harry always dressed colorfully. 
That was literally the best obit I’ve ever read…and very informative. Thanks.
Great obit.
Explains why he left New Orleans and spent his final years in Asheville, N Carolina.
Small city of 89,000. Seems like a good place to retire.
I was listening to Fresh Air on NPR this afternoon; they replayed an interview with Anderson from 1989, mostly about his early days as a con artist and street magician. If anyone’s interested, it’s on the NPR site:
I remember seeing him perform with his wife at my college back in the late 1970s. The only thing I remember about it was an escape trick.