He was best know for his iconic role of “Grandpa Sam Dracula” on the television series “The Munsters”.  Much of his life remains a mystery as there were many inconsistencies in his own account of his life.  Some of his claims included having a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia, having served in the Merchant Marines prior to WW2, and having attended teacher’s college.  

He began his career in Vaudeville theatres and moved on to Broadway in the late 1950’s.  He began his television work in the early 1960’s with his first well known character being Officer Leo Schnauser on “Car 54, Where Are you?” in 1961.  His last acting job was in the 2002 movie Night Terror. 

Later in life he opened a restaurant in New York City (Grandpa’s Bella Gente), and was a recurring guest on the Howard Stern Radio Show.  He died of natural causes, was cremated and laid to rest in his favourite cigar box.