Harry Laverne Anderson (October 14, 1952 – April 16, 2018) was an American actor, comedian, and magician. He is best known for his role as Judge Harold "Harry" T. Stone on the NBC sitcom Night Court (1984–1992). He later played Dave Barry on the CBS sitcom Dave's World (1993–1997).
In addition to eight appearances on Saturday Night Live between 1981 and 1985, Anderson had a recurring guest role as con man Harry "The Hat" Gittes on Cheers (1982–1993). He toured extensively as a magician, and did several magic/comedy shows for broadcast, including Harry Anderson's Sideshow (1987). He played Richie Tozier in the 1990 miniseries It, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.
Early life Anderson was born October 14, 1952, in Newport, Rhode Island. He spent much of his youth performing magic on the streets of Chicago, New York, St. Louis and New Orleans before landing in California at the age of 16. After moving to Los Angeles, he joined the Dante Magic Club and worked as a street magician in San Francisco when he was 17.Shanely, Patric (April 16, 2018). "'Night Court' Actor Harry Anderson Dies at 65". The Hollywood Reporter. He attended Buena Park High School before graduating from North Hollywood High School in 1970 as class valedictorian."Harry Anderson: Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 16, 2022. After high school, he attended Fullerton College. From 1971 to 1976, he lived in Ashland, Oregon, performing magic and working with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Career Anderson's appearances on Saturday Night Live led to his role as Harry "The Hat" Gittes on several seasons of the television sitcom Cheers, and eventually as Judge Harry Stone on the sitcom Night Court. He went on to appear in other television specials and shows, including 12 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live on the show's tenth season.
As a magician, Anderson toured extensively and performed in comedy/magic shows for clubs and broadcast, including Harry Anderson's Sideshow in 1987. In 1990, he starred in the television adaptation of Stephen King's It as the adult Richie Tozier. From 1993 to 1997, he starred in the television sitcom Dave's World, based loosely on the life and columns of humorist Dave Barry.
Together with longtime friend Turk Pipkin, Anderson wrote a book called Games You Can't Lose: A Guide for Suckers, a collection of gags, cons, tricks and scams. First published in 1989 (, 2001 reprint), it also contains a survey of "Games You Can't Win" told from an insider's perspective. He appeared with Criss Angel in a TV special called The Science of Magic, later released on DVD.The Science of Magic. Amazon.com
On July 15, 2000, Anderson hosted the pilot for a potential revival of the classic panel game show What's My Line?You Make The Pilot Call: This...What's My Line? - 2000 Pilot with BRYAN CRANSTON and BETTY WHITEWhat's My Line? 2000|Pilot 2 Line Cut featuring Catherine Bell, Bryan Cranston, Betty White and Al Franken as the four panelists for CBS primetime, but was later turned down in favor of Survivor.
He moved from Pasadena, California, to New Orleans in 2002. In 2002, he and his second wife, Elizabeth, whom he met in New Orleans while she was bartending, opened a small shop in the French Quarter named "Spade & Archer Curiosities by Appointment" (later named "Sideshow"), selling various "magic, curiosities, and apocrypha".
In 2005, Anderson opened a nightclub in the French Quarter, Oswald's Speakeasy, at 1331 Decatur Street at the corner of Esplanade Avenue. He performed a one-man show there called Wise Guy.
Anderson appeared in Hexing a Hurricane, a documentary about the first six months in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He and his wife sold Oswald's Speakeasy in October 2006. He continued to present his evening show Wise Guy, originally developed for his theater in New Orleans.
In November 2008, Anderson played himself on an episode of 30 Rock, along with fellow former Night Court cast members Markie Post and Charles Robinson.
In his final years, Anderson appeared in television comedy series such as Comedy Bang! Bang! (2013) and Gotham Comedy Live (2014). His final film portrayal was as Professor Kaman in the 2014 Christian drama film A Matter of Faith.
Personal life Anderson was a longtime fan of singer Mel Tormé, and his character Judge Stone on Night Court was also a Tormé fan; the singer appeared on the sitcom six times. Night Court creator Reinhold Weege said that Anderson and his character both being Tormé fans was completely coincidental. Anderson was among those who delivered eulogies at the singer's funeral in 1999.
Anderson was married twice. In 1977, he married Leslie Pollack (b. 1953); they had two children, a daughter, Eva Fay Anderson, and a son, Dashiell Anderson, before divorcing in 1999. In 2000, he married Elizabeth Morgan (b. 1973). In 2006, Anderson and his wife moved from New Orleans to Asheville, North Carolina.
Illness and death In late January 2018, Anderson had a bout of influenza and subsequently suffered several strokes. On April 16, 2018, at age 65, he died in his sleep of a stroke due to influenza and heart disease at his home in Asheville, North Carolina.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1982The Escape ArtistHarry Masters1988She's Having a BabyHimselfUncredited2006Hexing a HurricaneDocumentary2014A Matter of FaithProfessor KamanFinal film role
Television Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1981–1985Saturday Night LiveHimself8 episodes1982–1993CheersHarry "The Hat" Gittes6 episodes1984–1992Night CourtJudge Harold "Harry" T. StoneMain role; 193 episodes; also occasional director and writerNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1984–86)1985Tales from the DarksideLeonEpisode: "All a Clone by the Telephone"1986Vanishing AmericaDog OwnerShort television film1988Tanner '88Billy Ridenhour2 episodesSpies, Lies & Naked ThighsFreddieTelevision filmD.C. FolliesHimselfEpisode: "Nixon Hawks the Watergate Tapes for $29.99"The Absent-Minded ProfessorProfessor Henry CrawfordTelevision film (remake)1990Mother Goose Rock 'n' RhymePeter PiperTelevision filmItRichie TozierMiniseriesTales from the CryptJim KormanEpisode: "Korman's Kalamity"1992Parker Lewis Can't LoseRonny Ray RasmussenEpisode: "Glory Daze"1993–1997Dave's WorldDave Barry98 episodes1994Hearts AfireEpisode: "Sleepless in a Small Town"1996Night Stand with Dick DietrickHarryEpisode: "UFO Mother Show"The John Larroquette ShowDr. GatesEpisode: "Cosmetic Perjury"HarveyElwood P. DowdTelevision film (remake)1997Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanDr. Klaus "Fat Head" MensaEpisode: "The Family Hour"1998NoddyJack FableEpisode: "The Magic Show"2002Son of the BeachBull CrackerEpisode: "The Long Hot Johnson"200830 RockHimselfEpisode: "The One with the Cast of Night Court"2013Comedy Bang! Bang!Episode: "Rainn Wilson Wears a Short Sleeved Plaid Shirt & Colorful Sneakers"2014Gotham Comedy LiveEpisode: "Harry Anderson"
Video game YearTitleVoice1997Nightmare NedGraveyard Shadow Creature / Grampa Ted Needlemeyer
+Books, magazines, and publicationsYearTitleInfoISBNSource1982Wenii: The Intentional Confusers' MagazineA spoof on the magic magazineGenii: The Conjurers' Magazine1989Harry Anderson's Games You Can't Lose: A Guide for Suckers1993Harry Anderson: Wise Guy from the Street to the Screen2001Games You Can't Lose: A Guide for Suckers
References
External links