R.I.P. Danny Goldman, who went from 'MASH' to voicing Brainy Smurf
He played a Beatnik on 'Happy Days', too.
Danny Goldman voiced Brainy Smurf in 225 episodes of The Smurfs between 1981 and 1989. He played the geeky blue mushroom-dweller in specials like The Smurfs Christmas Special, My Smurfy Valentine and 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy. The Eighties kids eating cereal at home watching the Hanna-Barbera cartoon may not have been able to put a human face to the voice, but there is a good chance MeTV fans can.
Goldman began his screen career as a waiter — he popped on twice on That Girl serving food in tiny bit parts in 1969. The Columbia University grad quickly landed a meatier role, a part in Robert Altman's acclaimed Korean War dramedy MASH. Goldman portrayed Capt. Murrhardt in the film; he is the first to shake Hot Lips' hand when he hops off the helicopter. That would not be his only connection to the 4077th. He made two appearances on Trapper John, M.D. Oddly, he never appeared on the M*A*S*H series.
Throughout the 1970s, the bespectacled actor could be spotted on several beloved shows. He was a photographer on Columbo in "Double Exposure." He was the director in the Partridge Family episode "Bedknobs and Drumsticks."
In one of the earliest episodes of Happy Days, Goldman sported a goatee and beret to play a Beatnik named Lawrence who visits the Cunningham home.
On the big screen, he made a memorable appearance in Mel Brook's hilarious Young Frankenstein, playing a medical student.
It was not all bit parts for the performer, however. He scored recurring roles on the Larry Hagman sitcom The Good Life (1971–72), the small-screen adaptation of Busting Loose (1977) and The New Mike Hammer (1984–87).
Goldman passed away on April 12, as first reported by TMZ. He was 80.
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Also in the movie MASH. He was shamed by a doctor (Robert Duvall) for getting the wrong medication for a soldier?