Henry Polic II (1945-2013)

[Vahan]

http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/...ge-68-20130812

Veteran character actor Henry Polic II, who found television pop culture fame as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1975 Mel Brooks television series When Things Were Rotten and as Uncle Jerry Silver in the 1980s television series Webster, died last night after a long battle with cancer, it was announced today by his longtime manager Brad Lemack. He was 68.

Polic was also a prolific and popular television game show player and host, having been a semi-regular on both The $25,000 Pyramid and its later incarnation The $100,000 Pyramid, both hosted by Dick Clark. Polic also hosted the 1986 ABC-TV game show Celebrity Double Talk and found cult fame as The Voice of the Scarecrow in the 1990s Batman: The Animated Series.

Polic earned a lifetime of acting credits in other television series and films, including his regular role as Dracula in the 1976 series Monster Squad and as a guest star in episodes of Alice, Mork & Mindy, Eight is Enough, Murder She Wrote, Sheena, Saved By the Bell and dozens of others.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1945, Polic attended Florida State University, where he earned a MFA degree in acting. While a student there, he appeared in numerous professional stage productions at the Asolo Repertory Company, in Sarasota.

Following graduation, he was drafted into the armed forces as a military policeman, initially stationed at Fort Riley, in Kansas, assigned to split duty special services. Later, on his way to becoming a professional actor, Polic became associated with the Missouri Tent Theatre, the Player's Theatre of Miami and Phoenix's Southwest Ensemble Theatre, among others.

His move to Los Angeles in the early 1970s led to his television debut as the Sheriff of Nottingham in When Things Were Rotten.

Polic's film credits include The Last Remake of Beau Geste, All You Need, Bring Him Home, The Trial of Old Drum, Oh God, Book II and Joan River's comedy Rabbit Test.

A complete list of Polic's television and stage credits is available on imdb.com or here.

Theatre was always a major interest and an intent passion. During his career, Polic appeared in more than 70 regional and local productions, including the world premiere production of the now-Broadway hit Sister Act: The Musical, at the Pasadena Playhouse, in which he originated the role of Monsignor Howard. Other theatre credits include Long Beach Civic Light Opera's production of 1776, Long Beach International City Theatre's Putting It Together, Music Theatre West's Never Gonna Dance and the world premiere productions of A Couple of Guys at the Movies and Is This Your Life? (written expressly for him), in which he starred.

Polic also loved working with actors as a stage director. His directing credits include Neil Simon's Fools for the Actors Co-op, in Hollywood, and the Rubicon Theatre, in Ventura, the world premiere of Jim Geoghan's Two Gentlemen of Corona, the world premiere production of Nebraska, both the Los Angeles and New York productions of Brine County Wedding, and a box office record-breaking production of Dracula, for American Stage, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

As a celebrity auctioneer and event host, he helped raise over two-million dollars over the years for numerous and varied charities across the country, including the Adam Walsh Foundation, Concern Foundation for Caner Research, American Diabetes Association and the Leukemia Foundation.

On occasion, Polic also took some time away from his acting and directing work to teach, including a course in acting for the camera at the Emerson College Los Angeles Center and a course in acting and performance at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Los Angeles.

Polic was a member of The Actors Fund since 1973 and a member of the organization's Western Council, which honored him last year with Emeritus status, one of his most cherished achievements.

A memorial scholarship fund has been established in Polic's name at his beloved alma mater to provide funding to assist the School of Theatre's annual production of new works. Contributions can be made by contacting Fred Salancy at fsalancy@admin.fsu.edu.

[Marvo301]

Henry Polic II

[simmytbone]

Henry even appeared on The NEW $100,000 Pyramid w/John Davidson of Hollywood Squares Fame and he appeared on Family Feud with the returning Richard Dawson during the 94/95 Season and he even appeared on Body Language w/Tom Kennedy

God Bless Him, may he R.I.P.

[Zoneboy]

He was a regular on “Webster” and Mel Brooks’ “When Things Were Rotten” and provided the voice of Scarecrow on “Batman: The Animated Series.”

Link

Veteran character actor Henry Polic II, who played the Sheriff of Nottingham on the Mel Brooks series When Things Were Rotten and Jerry Silver on Webster, another ABC comedy, has died. He was 68.

Polic, who also found cult fame as the voice of the evil Scarecrow/Dr. Jonathan Crane in Batman: The Animated Series, died Sunday in an assisted living facility in Sherman Oaks after a long battle with cancer, his longtime manager Brad Lemack announced.

Polic was a popular game show player, appearing often on The $25,000 Pyramid and its later incarnation, The $100,000 Pyramid, both hosted by Dick Clark. Polic was a game-show host himself, running ABC’s Double Talk in 1986.

Polic played Dracula on the short-lived 1970s NBC series Monster Squad and guest-starred on dozens of shows, including Alice, Mork & Mindy, Eight Is Enough, Murder, She Wrote, Sheena and Saved by the Bell.

In addition to his work on Batman, he lent his voice to the series The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, Smurfs, The Dukes and Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone.

On Webster, Polic played the sarcastic Jerry Silver, the secretary and confidant to Katherine (Susan Clark), on 54 episodes of the series, which ran on ABC and in syndication from 1983-89.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1945, Polic attended Florida State University and earned a master's degree in acting. Following graduation, he was drafted and stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas, then became associated with the Missouri Tent Theatre, the Player’s Theatre of Miami and Phoenix’s Southwest Ensemble Theatre, among others.

His move to Los Angeles in the early 1970s led to his TV debut as the Sheriff of Nottingham on ABC’s shortlived 1975 comedy When Things Were Rotten, starring Richard Gautier as Robin Hood and Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck.

Polic’s film credits include The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977), the Joan Rivers-written Rabbit Test (1978), Oh, God! Book II (1980), Bring Him Home (2000) and All You Need (2001).

Polic appeared in more than 70 regional and local productions, including the world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse of the eventual Broadway hit Sister Act: The Musical, in which he originated the role of Monsignor Howard.

Other theater credits include Long Beach Civic Light Opera’s production of 1776, Long Beach International City Theatre’s Putting It Together, Music Theatre West’s Never Gonna Dance and the world premiere productions of A Couple of Guys at the Movies and Is This Your Life? (written expressly for him), in which he starred.

Polic’s directing credits for the stage include Neil Simon’s Fools for the Actors Co-op in Hollywood and for the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura; the world premiere of Jim Geoghan’s Two Gentlemen of Corona; the world premiere production of Nebraska; both the Los Angeles and New York productions of Brine County Wedding; and a box-office record-breaking production of Dracula for American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla.

As a celebrity auctioneer and event host, he helped raise more than $2 million over the years for charities including the Adam Walsh Foundation, Concern Foundation for Caner Research, American Diabetes Association and the Leukemia Foundation.

He taught a class in acting for the camera at the Emerson College Los Angeles Center and a course in acting and performance at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in L.A.

Polic was a member of The Actors Fund since 1973 and a member of the organization’s western council, which honored him last year with emeritus status.

A memorial scholarship fund has been established in Polic’s name at Florida State to provide funding to assist the School of Theatre’s annual production of new works. Contributions can be made by contacting Fred Salancy at fsalancy@admin.fsu.edu.

Survivors include his sister, two nieces and a nephew.

[Zoneboy]

Saw this early this morning on another message board but apparently nobody could provide a verifiable source which is why I didn't post it. The BWW article was not available at the time and the only other reliable source I've found was from the Hollywood Reporter.

He was a regular on “Webster” and Mel Brooks’ “When Things Were Rotten” and provided the voice of Scarecrow on “Batman: The Animated Series.”

Link

Veteran character actor Henry Polic II, who played the Sheriff of Nottingham on the Mel Brooks series When Things Were Rotten and Jerry Silver on Webster, another ABC comedy, has died. He was 68.

Polic, who also found cult fame as the voice of the evil Scarecrow/Dr. Jonathan Crane in Batman: The Animated Series, died Sunday in an assisted living facility in Sherman Oaks after a long battle with cancer, his longtime manager Brad Lemack announced.

Polic was a popular game show player, appearing often on The $25,000 Pyramid and its later incarnation, The $100,000 Pyramid, both hosted by Dick Clark. Polic was a game-show host himself, running ABC’s Double Talk in 1986.

Polic played Dracula on the short-lived 1970s NBC series Monster Squad and guest-starred on dozens of shows, including Alice, Mork & Mindy, Eight Is Enough, Murder, She Wrote, Sheena and Saved by the Bell.

In addition to his work on Batman, he lent his voice to the series The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, Smurfs, The Dukes and Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone.

On Webster, Polic played the sarcastic Jerry Silver, the secretary and confidant to Katherine (Susan Clark), on 54 episodes of the series, which ran on ABC and in syndication from 1983-89.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1945, Polic attended Florida State University and earned a master's degree in acting. Following graduation, he was drafted and stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas, then became associated with the Missouri Tent Theatre, the Player’s Theatre of Miami and Phoenix’s Southwest Ensemble Theatre, among others.

His move to Los Angeles in the early 1970s led to his TV debut as the Sheriff of Nottingham on ABC’s shortlived 1975 comedy When Things Were Rotten, starring Richard Gautier as Robin Hood and Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck.

Polic’s film credits include The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977), the Joan Rivers-written Rabbit Test (1978), Oh, God! Book II (1980), Bring Him Home (2000) and All You Need (2001).

Polic appeared in more than 70 regional and local productions, including the world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse of the eventual Broadway hit Sister Act: The Musical, in which he originated the role of Monsignor Howard.

Other theater credits include Long Beach Civic Light Opera’s production of 1776, Long Beach International City Theatre’s Putting It Together, Music Theatre West’s Never Gonna Dance and the world premiere productions of A Couple of Guys at the Movies and Is This Your Life? (written expressly for him), in which he starred.

Polic’s directing credits for the stage include Neil Simon’s Fools for the Actors Co-op in Hollywood and for the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura; the world premiere of Jim Geoghan’s Two Gentlemen of Corona; the world premiere production of Nebraska; both the Los Angeles and New York productions of Brine County Wedding; and a box-office record-breaking production of Dracula for American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla.

As a celebrity auctioneer and event host, he helped raise more than $2 million over the years for charities including the Adam Walsh Foundation, Concern Foundation for Caner Research, American Diabetes Association and the Leukemia Foundation.

He taught a class in acting for the camera at the Emerson College Los Angeles Center and a course in acting and performance at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in L.A.

Polic was a member of The Actors Fund since 1973 and a member of the organization’s western council, which honored him last year with emeritus status.

A memorial scholarship fund has been established in Polic’s name at Florida State to provide funding to assist the School of Theatre’s annual production of new works. Contributions can be made by contacting Fred Salancy at fsalancy@admin.fsu.edu.

Survivors include his sister, two nieces and a nephew.

[Retro4Life]

I remember him from his short stint as Dracula on the 1976-1977 NBC Saturday morning show, "The Monster Squad".

[megamanj2004]

Last year, it was Alex Karras, now it's Henry Polic II this year.

R.I.P. Henry Polic II, voice-over artist, actor, game show player and host.