Al Lewis' REAL Age - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ethelmaepotter · 10-04-2007, 03:09 PM

I refuse to believe that Al Lewis, who was supposedly born in 1923, was only 41 when "The Munsters" premiered in 1964. I don't know why they are trying to pass him off as so young, but I have seen publicity photos of him sans makeup in 1964 and 1965, and no way is he a guy in his early 40s. I would say early 50s.

What do you think?

Mikado · 10-04-2007, 03:15 PM

Ive heard that Al Lewis indeed, used to lie about his age, but, no one says anything about it when a woman does it, so, why worry about it?.....besides, he's dead now, so, its a moot point

tv star collector · 10-04-2007, 03:50 PM

According to their obituaries in the newspapers, Al Lewis and Yvonne DeCarlo
(who played his daughter Lily on THE MUNSTERS) were born in the same year.
Dell's WHO'S WHO IN TELEVISION magazine #14 (1964) lists Yvonne's birthday
as Sept. 1, 1925 and states that Al Lewis was then 37 years old, which places them about two years apart. But the Dart set of Munsters trading cards lists Lewis' birthdate as 1910, which would have made him about 54, in
1964! This concurs with Stephen Cox's book THE MUNSTERS: TELEVISION'S
FIRST FAMILY OF FRIGHT (1989), which documents Lewis' birthday as Apr. 30,
1910. (It doesn't give the year Yvonne DeCarlo was born.) Many people think
Lewis lied about his age, so who knows for sure? Oh, and lastly, according to
the Official Munsters Website, Lewis was born on Apr. 30, 1923 while DeCarlo
was born on Sept. 1, 1922 (which makes her nearly eight months older than
her TV father!).

dirtprod · 10-05-2007, 06:31 AM

Al Lewis was born on 30 April 1923.

He sometimes gave his birth year as 1910, other times 1923. Ted Lewis, his son, said his father was born in 1923.

As to why Lewis might have lied about his age, the theory is that in 1964 he might have been concerned about being a year younger than Yvonne DeCarlo, who was cast to play his daughter, Lily. Nobody knows for sure.

Al passed away February 3, 2006. He was 82.

My best,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com

tv star collector · 10-05-2007, 12:20 PM

Thanks for clearing that up.

bingbangbaby · 10-05-2007, 02:43 PM

Yeah, thanks for clearing that up...

1910 would have put him at 96 at the time of his death, which seems unlikely, because I saw him a year or so before his death and he sure didn't look or act 96.

If you look closely at some of the early Munster episodes I think Al's face looks younger than the character is supposed to be, but you have to look close under all that makeup. Keep in mind 40's looked a whole lot different in 1964 than they do now, too.

davidh · 11-24-2009, 02:23 PM

does anyone know the name of Mr Lewis restaurant in new york and if its still open? thanks in advance

tv star collector · 11-24-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidh

does anyone know the name of Mr Lewis restaurant in new york and if its still open? thanks in advance

According to Stephen Cox's book, the name of Al Lewis's New York restaurant
was (appropriately enough) Grampa's. It is located in Greenwich
Village, and Butch Patrick attended the opening. It must have been a success because, Cox states, "the business has led to plans for opening a few more Italian eateries around the Big Apple."

According to his Associated Press obituary, Lewis "was a regular presence
[at the restaurant} -- chatting with customers, posing for pictures, signing autographs."

Lewis was also a basketball scout and political candidate. He was truly one of
a kind.

Duster76 · 11-24-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

According to Stephen Cox's book, the name of Al Lewis's New York restaurant
was (appropriately enough) Grampa's. It is located in Greenwich
Village, and Butch Patrick attended the opening. It must have been a success because, Cox states, "the business has led to plans for opening a few more Italian eateries around the Big Apple."

According to his Associated Press obituary, Lewis "was a regular presence
[at the restaurant} -- chatting with customers, posing for pictures, signing autographs."

Lewis was also a basketball scout and political candidate. He was truly one of
a kind.

Al Lewis had extensive knowledge of the amateur basketball scene, he was what is known in the scouting business as a bird dog.

Duster76 · 11-24-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethelmaepotter

I refuse to believe that Al Lewis, who was supposedly born in 1923, was only 41 when "The Munsters" premiered in 1964. I don't know why they are trying to pass him off as so young, but I have seen publicity photos of him sans makeup in 1964 and 1965, and no way is he a guy in his early 40s. I would say early 50s.

What do you think?

Al Lewis told a very funny story about his age, he asked to be considered for the part of Grandpa for the "Munsters Today" series back in the late 80's, he was turned down because he was too old for the part. Lewis was incredulous, replying, Grandpa is 375 years old!

tv star collector · 11-25-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

Al Lewis told a very funny story about his age, he asked to be considered for the part of Grandpa for the "Munsters Today" series back in the late 80's, he was turned down because he was too old for the part. Lewis was incredulous, replying, Grandpa is 375 years old!

gidgetgrape · 11-25-2009, 06:00 PM

I remember Julie showing her mother Grampa's on the first season (1992) of The Real World.

lucyandethel · 08-24-2010, 01:50 PM

I love The Munsters and I love Al Lewis, and not to be unkind, but there was simply no way that man was 41 in 1964. Absolutely not! True, some people can look older, but I just refuse to believe he was but a mere 41. If he wasn't born in 1910, it was close to it. Closer than 1923.

10-04-2007, 03:50 PM	#3
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	According to their obituaries in the newspapers, Al Lewis and Yvonne DeCarlo (who played his daughter Lily on THE MUNSTERS) were born in the same year. Dell's WHO'S WHO IN TELEVISION magazine #14 (1964) lists Yvonne's birthday as Sept. 1, 1925 and states that Al Lewis was then 37 years old, which places them about two years apart. But the Dart set of Munsters trading cards lists Lewis' birthdate as 1910, which would have made him about 54, in 1964! This concurs with Stephen Cox's book THE MUNSTERS: TELEVISION'S FIRST FAMILY OF FRIGHT (1989), which documents Lewis' birthday as Apr. 30, 1910. (It doesn't give the year Yvonne DeCarlo was born.) Many people think Lewis lied about his age, so who knows for sure? Oh, and lastly, according to the Official Munsters Website, Lewis was born on Apr. 30, 1923 while DeCarlo was born on Sept. 1, 1922 (which makes her nearly eight months older than her TV father!).
	Last edited by tv star collector; 10-04-2007 at 04:08 PM.

10-04-2007, 03:09 PM	#1
ethelmaepotter Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2005 Posts: 243	Al Lewis' REAL Age I refuse to believe that Al Lewis, who was supposedly born in 1923, was only 41 when "The Munsters" premiered in 1964. I don't know why they are trying to pass him off as so young, but I have seen publicity photos of him sans makeup in 1964 and 1965, and no way is he a guy in his early 40s. I would say early 50s. What do you think?

10-04-2007, 03:15 PM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Ive heard that Al Lewis indeed, used to lie about his age, but, no one says anything about it when a woman does it, so, why worry about it?.....besides, he's dead now, so, its a moot point

10-05-2007, 06:31 AM	#4
dirtprod Senior Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 02, 2004 Location: MN Posts: 534	Al Lewis was born on 30 April 1923. He sometimes gave his birth year as 1910, other times 1923. Ted Lewis, his son, said his father was born in 1923. As to why Lewis might have lied about his age, the theory is that in 1964 he might have been concerned about being a year younger than Yvonne DeCarlo, who was cast to play his daughter, Lily. Nobody knows for sure. Al passed away February 3, 2006. He was 82. My best, Dirt MunsterKoach.com

10-05-2007, 12:20 PM	#5
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	Thanks for clearing that up.

10-05-2007, 02:43 PM	#6
bingbangbaby I see you!! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,070	Yeah, thanks for clearing that up... 1910 would have put him at 96 at the time of his death, which seems unlikely, because I saw him a year or so before his death and he sure didn't look or act 96. If you look closely at some of the early Munster episodes I think Al's face looks younger than the character is supposed to be, but you have to look close under all that makeup. Keep in mind 40's looked a whole lot different in 1964 than they do now, too.

11-24-2009, 02:23 PM	#7
davidh Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 23, 2009 Location: baltimore Posts: 6	does anyone know the name of Mr Lewis restaurant in new york and if its still open? thanks in advance

11-25-2009, 06:00 PM	#12
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,508	I remember Julie showing her mother Grampa's on the first season (1992) of The Real World.

08-24-2010, 01:50 PM	#13
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I love The Munsters and I love Al Lewis, and not to be unkind, but there was simply no way that man was 41 in 1964. Absolutely not! True, some people can look older, but I just refuse to believe he was but a mere 41. If he wasn't born in 1910, it was close to it. Closer than 1923.