Beloved CYE Star Passes Away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

teddybare · 10-15-2005, 12:19 PM

Beloved CYE Star Louis Nye who played Jeff's Dad has passed away

Tue Oct 11, 6:29 PM ET

Louis Nye, the veteran comedian best known for coining the national catchphrase "heigh-ho, Steverino" in Steve Allen's classic 1950s TV show, died Sunday of lung cancer. He was 92.

Nye launched his five-decade-plus career in the theater and radio, playing mostly dramatic roles. But it was a chance meeting with Allen in an elevator that led to his greatest success. Allen eventually hired Nye for The Steve Allen Show, which ran from 1956 to 1961.

There, Nye hatched his alter ego Gordon Hathaway, a self-important advertising exec who always greeted Allen with the salutation, "Heigh-ho, Steverino."

Sort of the Frasier Crane of his day, Hathaway was featured in mock man-on-the-street interviews Allen did with other regulars (including Don Knotts, Bill Dana, and Tom Poston) that sent up various sacred cows. Nye's Hathaway, with his pearly white grin and exuberant demeanor, poked fun at Madison Avenue types.

Nye's signature greeting proved so popular he took the act a step further and recorded an LP, Heigh-Ho, Madison Avenue, with a group called the Status Seekers that satirized the advertising biz in such ditties as "The Ten Commandments of Madison Avenue (Plus Big Bonus Commandments)" and "The Conspicous Consumption Cantata."

After his stint with Allen, Nye became a regular on The Ann Sothern Show. On the big screen, he scored roles in such films as Sex Kittens Go to College (1960), The Facts of Life (1960), A Guide for the Married Man (1967) and Cannonball Run II (1984).

In later years, he made guest appearances on The Munsters, The Beverly Hillbillies, Happy Days, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Cosby Show and most recently as Jeff Garlin's dad on HBO's Curb Your Enthuisiasm.

Nye was born on May 1, 1913 in Hartford, Connecticut. It was after a stint in the Army, where he was stationed in "a wild town" in Missouri, that he set aside dramatic roles and dove into sketch comedy.

"I still think of myself as an actor," Nye told the Associated Press in 1970. In the radio days I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles--the whole span--and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties."

An artful ad-libber with a knack for accents and voices, Nye developed several comic characters, from clumsy Russians and country club braggarts to comically nasty Nazis.

Aside from his regular TV appearances, Nye often popped up on game shows. He also provided voices for the cartoon Inspector Gadet.

He's survived by his wife, Anita, and one son, Peter.

Brian Damage · 10-15-2005, 12:49 PM

teddybare · 10-15-2005, 12:58 PM

Im really gonna show my age here 43 but I remember watching Louis on the old Beverly Hillbillies playing Mr. Drysdale's Son Sonny Drysdale and On the Munsters where he played the horror kids tv show host ZABO.

Wonder if they will put a mention of his death with a pic at the end of the show this Sunday

10-15-2005, 12:19 PM	#1
teddybare Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 13, 2003 Location: Martinsville Virginia Posts: 744	Beloved CYE Star Passes Away Beloved CYE Star Louis Nye who played Jeff's Dad has passed away Tue Oct 11, 6:29 PM ET Louis Nye, the veteran comedian best known for coining the national catchphrase "heigh-ho, Steverino" in Steve Allen's classic 1950s TV show, died Sunday of lung cancer. He was 92. Nye launched his five-decade-plus career in the theater and radio, playing mostly dramatic roles. But it was a chance meeting with Allen in an elevator that led to his greatest success. Allen eventually hired Nye for The Steve Allen Show, which ran from 1956 to 1961. There, Nye hatched his alter ego Gordon Hathaway, a self-important advertising exec who always greeted Allen with the salutation, "Heigh-ho, Steverino." Sort of the Frasier Crane of his day, Hathaway was featured in mock man-on-the-street interviews Allen did with other regulars (including Don Knotts, Bill Dana, and Tom Poston) that sent up various sacred cows. Nye's Hathaway, with his pearly white grin and exuberant demeanor, poked fun at Madison Avenue types. Nye's signature greeting proved so popular he took the act a step further and recorded an LP, Heigh-Ho, Madison Avenue, with a group called the Status Seekers that satirized the advertising biz in such ditties as "The Ten Commandments of Madison Avenue (Plus Big Bonus Commandments)" and "The Conspicous Consumption Cantata." After his stint with Allen, Nye became a regular on The Ann Sothern Show. On the big screen, he scored roles in such films as Sex Kittens Go to College (1960), The Facts of Life (1960), A Guide for the Married Man (1967) and Cannonball Run II (1984). In later years, he made guest appearances on The Munsters, The Beverly Hillbillies, Happy Days, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Cosby Show and most recently as Jeff Garlin's dad on HBO's Curb Your Enthuisiasm. Nye was born on May 1, 1913 in Hartford, Connecticut. It was after a stint in the Army, where he was stationed in "a wild town" in Missouri, that he set aside dramatic roles and dove into sketch comedy. "I still think of myself as an actor," Nye told the Associated Press in 1970. In the radio days I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles--the whole span--and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties." An artful ad-libber with a knack for accents and voices, Nye developed several comic characters, from clumsy Russians and country club braggarts to comically nasty Nazis. Aside from his regular TV appearances, Nye often popped up on game shows. He also provided voices for the cartoon Inspector Gadet. He's survived by his wife, Anita, and one son, Peter.
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10-15-2005, 12:49 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107
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10-15-2005, 12:58 PM	#3
teddybare Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 13, 2003 Location: Martinsville Virginia Posts: 744	Im really gonna show my age here 43 but I remember watching Louis on the old Beverly Hillbillies playing Mr. Drysdale's Son Sonny Drysdale and On the Munsters where he played the horror kids tv show host ZABO. Wonder if they will put a mention of his death with a pic at the end of the show this Sunday