December 2019 Roll Call (Updated 12/11)

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We’ve lost more classic TV contributors this month. Our condolences to their families and our thanks for their contributions to classic TV:

  • Actor René Auberjonois, known to classic TV fans for his role on Benson and guest shots on such 1970s staples as The Bob Newhart Show, Charlie’s Angels, Ellery Queen, Family, Night Gallery, The Rockford Files, Starsky & Hutch and Wonder Woman. He is also remembered for portraying Father Mulcahy in the original film version of M*A*S*H.
  • Writer D.C. Fontana, best known for her work on the original Star Trek. She also penned episodes of such classic series as Bonanza, Dallas, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Streets of San Francisco, The Waltons and The Wild Wild West.
  • Former ABC network programmer and long-time producer Leonard Goldberg, who helped bring us such 1970’s classics as Charlie’s Angels, Family, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, The Rookies and S.W.A.T. He also worked on movies for the small and big screen, including The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble and WarGames. His most recent project was the long-running CBS police drama Blue Bloods.
  • Actor Ron Leibman, who appeared on classic TV shows like The Edge of Night, Hawk and Police Story. He created, starred in and won an Emmy for the short-lived 1978 series Kaz. Leibman also worked in film, including such titles as Norma Rae and Slaughterhouse-Five. He was married to actress Jessica Walter and previously to Alice star Linda Lavin.
  • Former child actor Philip McKeon, best known for playing the titular character’s son Tommy on the 70s/80s sitcom Alice. His sister is actress Nancy McKeon (The Facts of Life).
  • Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who brought Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life on Sesame Street from 1969 to 2018.
  • Actor Robert Walker Jr., who guested on a host of classic series including Ben Casey, Cannon, The F.B.I., Naked City, Route 66, Quincy M.E. and Star Trek. He also worked on a number of movies, among them the cult classic Easy Rider.
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