Allan Melvin (February 18, 1923 - January 17, 2008) was an American character actor who appeared in several television shows and may be best remembered for his roles as Sam the Butcher, Alice's boyfriend on The Brady Bunch, and Barney Hefner, Archie Bunker's best friend on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in New York City, Melvin attended Columbia University. After graduation he served with the...
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Allan Melvin (February 18, 1923 - January 17, 2008) was an American character actor who appeared in several television shows and may be best remembered for his roles as Sam the Butcher, Alice's boyfriend on The Brady Bunch, and Barney Hefner, Archie Bunker's best friend on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in New York City, Melvin attended Columbia University. After graduation he served with the United States Navy and married his wife, Amalia Faustina Sestero, in March 1944 in New York City.
While working at a job in the sound effects department of NBC Radio, he did a nightclub act and appeared and won on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts radio show. While appearing on Broadway in Stalag 17, he got his break into television by getting the role of Corporal Steve Henshaw on the popular The Phil Silvers Show program. TV fans of this era usually best remember his role as Henshaw, Sergeant Bilko's right hand man on that show. "He was...
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