Allan Rich

Benjamin Norman Schultz (February 8, 1926 – August 22, 2020),[1] known professionally as Allan Rich, was an American character actor.

Allan Rich
Rich in 1984
Born
Benjamin Norman Schultz

(1926-02-08)February 8, 1926
DiedAugust 22, 2020(2020-08-22) (aged 94)
OccupationActor
Years active1963–2014
Spouse
Elaine Rich
(m. 1951; died 2015)
Children2

Career

Rich began his acting career when he was nine years old.[2] He appeared in the Broadway productions I'll Take the High Road (1943), Career Angel (1944), Darkness at Noon (1951), and The Emperor's Clothes (1953).[3] In 1948, Rich played the title role in a production of Ben Jonson's Volpone in Yellow Springs, Ohio.[4]

Beginning in 1979, Rich was distributor and publisher of Hollywood portraits made by George Hurrell.[2]

Personal life and death

Allan Rich was one of the many alleged communist sympathizers blacklisted in the 1950s Hollywood blacklist.[5] He married Elaine in 1951, who would go on to be a personal manager to a number of actors after the couple moved to Los Angeles in 1976. The couple had two children together.[6] Elaine Rich died in 2015, aged 81.[6]

He mentored Rene Russo in acting.[citation needed]

Rich spent the last five years of his life as a resident at the Lillian Booth Actors Home, run by the Actors Fund of America. He died from progressive dementia in Englewood, New Jersey, in August 2020, at the age of 94.[7][8]

Activism

Rich was the co-founder of non-profit organization We Care About Kids, which produces educational short films for middle and high school youths.[9][better source needed]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1973SerpicoDist. Atty. Herman Tauber
1974The GamblerBernie
1975The Happy HookerDesk Sergeant
1978Uncle Joe ShannonDr. Clark
1979VoicesMontrose Meier
The Frisco KidMr. Bialik
The SeekersGeneral Wayne
1980Hero at LargeMarty Fields
Leo and LoreeJarvis
1982Eating RaoulNazi
The EntityDr. Walcott
FrancesMr. Bebe
1984KidcoJim Clark
1985Rocky IVBoxing CommissionerScene deleted
1986Bad GuysLuigi Constantine
1989Another ChanceJ.R. Jacobs
Checking OutDr. Haskell
1990Betsy's WeddingNate Tobias
1991Highlander II: The QuickeningAllan Neyman
1994Quiz ShowRobert Kintner
DisclosureBen Heller
1995Two MuchReverend Larrabee
1996JackDr. Benfante
The Rich Man's WifeBill Adolphe
1997Out to SeaSebastian
AmistadJudge Juttson
1998A League of Old MenJudgeAlso director
MalaikaSal's Pizza Customer
1999The Dogwalker
2001SkippyGordan Gates
2002The Burial SocietyHy Leibowicz
2003IntoxicatingMichael Reilly
2006The AlibiKlump
2007Man in the ChairSpeed
The Memory ThiefZvi
Rise: Blood HunterHarrison
My Sexiest YearPapa
2008The Last WordFrancis
2013Rain from StarsOld John
2014Wish I Was HereKlumpFinal film role
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1977The San Pedro Beach BumsCaptain RossinkiEpisode: "The Bums vs. the Reds"
1977Hawaii Five-OLou MarvinEpisode: "Practical Jokes Can Kill You"
1979Happy DaysProfessor ThomasEpisode: "Potsie Quits School"
1979The SeekersGen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne2 episodes
1980CHiPsJudge TowersEpisode: "Jailbirds"
1981–1983Hill Street BluesJudge Maurice Schiller4 episodes
1981Barney MillerLenord the theatre producerEpisode: "Resignation"
1983Magnum, P.I.ColugaEpisode: "From Moscow to Maui"
1986Life With LucyThe JudgeEpisode: "Lucy, Leagle Beagle"
1987The Golden GirlsAlexiEpisode: "Letter to Gorbachev"
1995The NannyJudgeEpisode: "The Party's Over"
1998The New Batman AdventuresEdward "King" BarloweVoice, episode: "Joker's Millions"
2000–2001Judging AmyJim Southam4 episodes
2004Curb Your EnthusiasmSollySeason 4
2010House M.D.SidneyEpisode: "Selfish"

References