R.I.P. Marvin Kaplan of 'Alice' and 'Top Cat'

The actor best known as Henry on 'Alice' passed away at 89.

Everett Collection

Marvin Kaplan, best known as Henry on the 1980s sitcom Alice, died Wednesday morning at the age of 89. 

"It is with a sad and heavy heart to inform you our very own Marvin Kaplan passed away today at 5 a.m. in his sleep," said a statement released by Theatre West. "We loved Marvin. He will truly be missed."

Kaplan started out his career with guest appearances on several TV shows, even landing a role on the sitcom Meet Millie in the 1950s.

In 1961, Kaplan became the voice of Choo-Choo in the animated series Top Cat. The role would become of his best remembered, despite only airing for one season. 

For the next 20 years, Kaplan continued to make appearances on shows like Honey West, Gidget, Petticoat Junction, and CHiPs

In 1978, Kaplan landed his best-known role of Henry Beesmeyer, a phone lineman who frequented Mel's Diner. The comical character won over audiences by always making fun of the cooking at the restaurant. Kaplan appeared in over 80 episodes from the start until the series wrapped in 1985. 

The hard-working actor continued to appear on television and lend his voice to various shows until 2004. 

According to Theatre West, Kaplan died of natural causes. 

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  • GARRY MARSHALL
  • PATTY DUKE
  • BETH HOWLAND FROM 'ALICE'
  • MIKE MINOR OF 'PETTICOAT JUNCTION'
  • WILLIAM SCHALLERT OF 'THE PATTY DUKE SHOW'
  • ROBERT HORTON OF 'WAGON TRAIN'
  • MICHU MESZAROS OF 'ALF'
  • ANN MORGAN GUILBERT OF 'THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW'
  • RONNIE CLAIRE EDWARDS OF 'THE WALTONS'
  • THERESA SALDANA FROM 'THE COMMISH'
  • FRANK SINATRA, JR.
  • EARL HAMNER, JR., CREATOR OF 'THE WALTONS' AND 'FALCON CREST'
  • BUCK KARTALIAN FROM 'PLANET OF THE APES'
  • JOE SANTOS OF 'THE ROCKFORD FILES'
  • DORIS ROBERTS, 'RAYMOND' MOM AND 'REMINGTON STEELE' STAR
  • JANET WALDO, VOICE OF JUDY JETSON ON 'THE JETSONS'
  • PETER BROWN, STAR OF 'LAWMAN,' 'LAREDO' AND SOAPS
  • MADELEINE SHERWOOD, MOTHER SUPERIOR ON 'THE FLYING NUN'
  • GEORGE KENNEDY, STAR OF 'COOL HAND LUKE,' 'AIRPORT' AND 'THE NAKED GUN'
  • MARTIN E. BROOKS OF 'THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN' AND 'HUNTER'
  • SYLVIA ANDERSON, CO-CREATOR OF 'THUNDERBIRDS' AND 'SPACE: 1999'
  • RICHARD DAVALOS OF 'EAST OF EDEN'
  • GEORGE GAYNES OF 'POLICE ACADEMY' AND 'PUNKY BREWSTER'
  • GARRY SHANDLING, COMIC AND STAR OF 'THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW'
  • RET TURNER, EMMY-WINNING COSTUME DESIGNER FOR CAROL BURNETT AND CHER
  • JOE ALASKEY, VOICE OF BUGS BUNNY AND DAFFY DUCK
  • KEN HOWARD, STAR OF 'THE WHITE SHADOW'
  • PAT HARRINGTON, JR. OF 'ONE DAY AT A TIME'
  • ALAN YOUNG OF 'MR. ED'
  • JAMES NOBLE OF 'BENSON'
  • STUART NISBET, WHO APPEARED IN (ALMOST) EVERY TV SHOW
  • WAYNE ROGERS, TRAPPER JOHN OF 'M*A*S*H'
  • FYVUSH FINKEL OF 'PICKET FENCES'
  • BARRY JENNER OF 'FAMILY MATTERS' AND 'STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE'
  • GARRY MARSHALL
  • PATTY DUKE
  • BETH HOWLAND FROM 'ALICE'
  • MIKE MINOR OF 'PETTICOAT JUNCTION'
  • WILLIAM SCHALLERT OF 'THE PATTY DUKE SHOW'
  • ROBERT HORTON OF 'WAGON TRAIN'
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  • EARL HAMNER, JR., CREATOR OF 'THE WALTONS' AND 'FALCON CREST'
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  • JOE SANTOS OF 'THE ROCKFORD FILES'
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  • MARTIN E. BROOKS OF 'THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN' AND 'HUNTER'
  • SYLVIA ANDERSON, CO-CREATOR OF 'THUNDERBIRDS' AND 'SPACE: 1999'
  • RICHARD DAVALOS OF 'EAST OF EDEN'
  • GEORGE GAYNES OF 'POLICE ACADEMY' AND 'PUNKY BREWSTER'
  • GARRY SHANDLING, COMIC AND STAR OF 'THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW'
  • RET TURNER, EMMY-WINNING COSTUME DESIGNER FOR CAROL BURNETT AND CHER
  • JOE ALASKEY, VOICE OF BUGS BUNNY AND DAFFY DUCK
  • KEN HOWARD, STAR OF 'THE WHITE SHADOW'
  • PAT HARRINGTON, JR. OF 'ONE DAY AT A TIME'
  • ALAN YOUNG OF 'MR. ED'
  • JAMES NOBLE OF 'BENSON'
  • STUART NISBET, WHO APPEARED IN (ALMOST) EVERY TV SHOW
  • WAYNE ROGERS, TRAPPER JOHN OF 'M*A*S*H'
  • FYVUSH FINKEL OF 'PICKET FENCES'
  • BARRY JENNER OF 'FAMILY MATTERS' AND 'STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE'

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