Al Lewis

Born: 1923-04-30

An American character actor best known for his role as Count Dracula lookalike "Grandpa", opposite Fred Gwynne's and Yvonne De Carlo's characters on the CBS television series The Munsters from 1964 to 1966 and its subsequent film versions. Later in life, he was also a restaurant owner, political candidate, and radio broadcaster. His acting career begins the well-documented portion of his life. He worked in burlesque and vaudeville theaters, then on Broadway in the dramas The Night Circus (1958) and One More River (1960) and as the character Moe Shtarker in the musical comedy Do Re Mi (1962). His earliest television work includes appearances on the Beverly Garland crime drama Decoy and The Phil Silvers Show. From 1959–63, he appeared in four episodes of Naked City. Lewis' first well-known television role was as Officer Leo Schnauser on the NBC sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? from 1961–63, also starring Fred Gwynne (Lewis reprised the role in the 1994 movie of the same name). In the series, Lewis first played Al Spencer the Auto Body Man in two early first-season episodes before landing the more familiar role of Officer Schnauser. But he is best remembered as "Grandpa" on The Munsters, which ran on CBS from 1964–66. In 1967, Lewis played the part of Zalto the wizard in the Lost in Space episode, Rocket to Earth. His first role in a movie was as Machine Gun Manny in Pretty Boy Floyd (1960). He had small roles in The World of Henry Orient (1964), They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), They Might Be Giants (1971). He appeared as Hanging Judge Harrison in Used Cars (1980) and had a minor role in Married to the Mob (1988). His last film role was in Night Terror (2002). Lewis was a recurring guest on The Howard Stern Show. In 1987, during a "Howard Stern Freedom Rally" against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that was broadcast live, Lewis repeatedly shouted "F*** the FCC!" until Stern was able to take the microphone away from him. Stern and the station were not punished for Lewis' comments. Unlike some actors, Lewis did not mind being typecast. He enjoyed acting out his "Grandpa" character—in the original costume—and got a surprising amount of mileage from such a short-lived role. "Why not?" he said. "It pays the bills." In 1991, he appeared as Grandpa Munster in an episode of Hi Honey, I'm Home on ABC. In 1991, he appeared in a low-budget New Zealand family movie called Grampire (My Grandpa Is a Vampire in the U.S. version), wearing much the same costume as he did in The Munsters. From 1987–89, Lewis hosted Super Scary Saturday on TBS in his Grandpa Munster outfit. This would later be parodied in Gremlins 2: The New Batch with the character of "Grandpa Fred" (Robert Prosky). [Biography from Wikipedia]


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Death Wish

as Guard at Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Released: 1974-07-24

After his wife is murdered by street punks, a pacifistic New York City architect becomes a...

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Married to the Mob

as Joe Russo
Released: 1988-08-19

Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the...

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Munster, Go Home!

as Grandpa Munster
Released: 1966-06-15

Herman discovers he's the new lord of Munster Hall in England. The family sails to Britain,...

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Used Cars

as Judge Harrison
Released: 1980-07-11

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to...

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They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

as Turkey
Released: 1969-12-10

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky enlists contestants for a dance...

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Coonskin

as The Godfather (voice)
Released: 1975-08-20

Brother Rabbit, Brother Bear, and Preacher Fox rise to the top of the crime ranks in Harlem by...

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The World of Henry Orient

as Store Owner
Released: 1964-03-19

A mischievous, adventuresome fourteen-year-old girl and her best friend begin following an...

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They Might Be Giants

as Messenger
Released: 1971-06-09

After the death of his wife, wealthy retiree Justin Playfair creates a fantasy world for himself...

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Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

as Self
Released: 2001-01-20

Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy offers audiences a penetrating look inside the world of Ron...

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Lust of the Vampire

as Assistant (uncredited)
Released: 1957-04-05

A mad scientist captures young women and drains their blood, in order to keep alive an ancient,...

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Car 54, Where Are You?

as Leo Schnauzer
Released: 1994-01-28

Brash NYC policeman Officer Gunther Toody is partnered with stiff, by-the-book Officer Francis...

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Fast Money

as Poon
Released: 1996-08-13

Butler is an experienced car thief, McCoy a struggling reporter trying to nail a bad...

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The Boatniks

as Bert
Released: 1970-07-01

Young and awkward, The Coast-Guard's ensign Thomas Garland suffers from the comparison with his...

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The Night Strangler

as Tramp
Released: 1973-01-16

After being run out of Las Vegas, reporter Carl Kolchak heads for Seattle and another reporting...

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Here Come the Munsters

as Restaurant Guest
Released: 1995-01-11

The Munsters come to America to search for Herman's brother-in-law Norman Hyde, only to find out...

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Ring of Passion

as Mike Jacobs
Released: 1978-02-04

Fact-based drama about the two Joe Louis-Max Schmeling heavyweight fights and the way both...

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The Munsters' Revenge

as Grandpa
Released: 1981-02-27

The lovable Munster family finds their placid world turned into turmoil by the diabolical Dr....

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Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2006-01-31

Featuring Robert Crumb, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiny Tim, Russ Meyer and more this volume of the...

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Fright House

as Captain Levi
Released: 1989-10-16

Everyone in town knows the old Vincent place is haunted, but when the local Frat inherits it, we...

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Pretty Boy Floyd

as Machine Gun Manny
Released: 1960-01-01

Trying to shake his troubled past and start a new honest life, Floyd loses his job because of...

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South Beach Academy

as Uncle Gene
Released: 1996-09-24

Brothers come to the aid of their uncle, who bet his Miami beach-sports school on a fixed...

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My Grandpa Is a Vampire

as Vernon Cooger
Released: 1991-06-01

Young Lonny comes from America to visit his Auntie Leah (Evision) and Grandfather Cooger...

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Coney Island

as Self - Actor
Released: 1991-02-04

Before there was Disneyland, there was Coney Island. By the turn of the century, this tiny...

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Ramones: Raw

as Himself
Released: 2004-09-28

Punk icons the Ramones star in this compilation of rare concert and behind-the-scenes footage...

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Bum Rap

as Mr. Wolfstadt
Released: 1988-09-26

Paul Colson is a New York cabdriver and struggling actor. When he learns that he has about three...

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Black Starlet

as Sam Sharp
Released: 1974-12-01

Girl leaves Gary, Indiana, to become a star in Hollywood.

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Goodbye, America

as Himself
Released: 2007-03-02

Documentary about Al Lewis. He sits in the make-up chair and remembers part of his 92 years life.

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Night Terror

as Father Hanlon
Released: 2002-11-11

College kids investigating a derelict fun house, unwittingly resurrect Donnie, a psychopath who...

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The Mini-Munsters

as Grandpa
Released: 1973-10-27

Animated telefilm based on characters from The Munsters. Originally aired as part of the ABC...

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White House Madness

as Judge Cirrhosis
Released: 1975-01-01

The Nixon Administration falls apart in a farcical manner in the time of the Watergate Scandal.

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Marineland Carnival: The Munsters Visit Marineland

as Grandpa Munster
Released: 1965-04-18

The Munsters take in the sights at Marineland.

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Midnight Blue: Vol. 5: Porn King

as uncredited
Released: 2006-06-27

Featuring commentary by Larry Flynt, Ron Jeremy and Al Lewis (of "The Munsters"), this volume of...

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Grampa's Sci-Fi Hits

as Grampa
Released: 1989-09-29

Grampa Munster introduces some of the best and worst Sci-Fi trailers from classic films.

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Al Lewis in the Flesh

as uncredited
Released: 1993-01-01

Al Lewis' role as Grampa on television's "The Munsters" has ensured him permanence in the...

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Love, American Style

as uncredited
First aired: 1969-09-29

An anthology comedy series featuring a line up of different celebrity guest stars appearing in...

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The Merv Griffin Show

as Self
First aired: 1962-10-01

The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran...

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Here's Lucy

as Mr. Barker
First aired: 1968-09-23

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Lost in Space

as Zalto
First aired: 1965-09-15

The space family Robinson is sent on a five-year mission to find a new planet to colonise. The...

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Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

as uncredited
First aired: 1964-09-25

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September...

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The Munsters

as Grandpa
First aired: 1964-09-24

A family of friendly monsters that have misadventures all while never quite understanding why...

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Night Gallery

as Mishkin (segment "Make Me Laugh")
First aired: 1970-12-16

Rod Serling narrates an anthology of fantasy, horror and sci-fi stories from a set resembling a...

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Taxi

as Security Guard
First aired: 1978-09-12

Louie De Palma is a cantankerous, acerbic taxi dispatcher in New York City. He tries to maintain...

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The United States Steel Hour

as uncredited
First aired: 1953-10-27

The United States Steel Hour is an anthology series which brought hour-long dramas to television...

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The Phil Silvers Show

as uncredited
First aired: 1955-09-20

The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, was a sitcom which ran on CBS...

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The Phil Silvers Show

as Bruno the Mobster
First aired: 1955-09-20

The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, was a sitcom which ran on CBS...

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American Experience

as Self
First aired: 1988-10-04

TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform...

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Naked City

as Mr. Pike
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Naked City

as Gus
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Naked City

as Mr. Tanner
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Naked City

as Mr. Carrari
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Route 66

as uncredited
First aired: 1960-10-07

Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America in a Chevrolet...

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Green Acres

as uncredited
First aired: 1965-09-15

Green Acres is an American sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from...

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Car 54, Where Are You?

as Officer Leo Schnauser
First aired: 1961-09-17

The misadventures of two of New York's finest in the 53rd precinct in the Bronx. Toody, the...

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Best of the West

as uncredited
First aired: 1981-09-10

The Wild West misadventures of a mild-mannered store owner turned town Marshal, Best of the West...

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Baseball

as Various (voice)
First aired: 1994-09-18

The history of the sport of baseball in America, told through archival photos, film footage, and...

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Decoy

as Chi Chi
First aired: 1957-10-14

New York City policewoman Casey Jones' assignment to fight crime often entails her going...

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Hi Honey, I'm Home!

as uncredited
First aired: 1991-07-19

Hi Honey, I'm Home! is an American television sitcom that ran from July 19, 1991, to July 12,...

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