Comic, actor Howard Mann dies

[Brian Damage]

Comic and actor Howard Mann died Sept. 18 of cancer. He was 85.
Most recently, Mann appeared on shows including "Starter Wife" and "Pushing Daisies."

After graduating from City College of New York, Mann worked in the New York advertising business, then decided to become a standup comedian. He studied comedy with Zero Mostel and acting with Herbert Berghof and Bill Hickey.

As a comic, he appeared on the "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, "The Johnny Cash Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show."

During the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, Mann starred as George Washington in a one-man show that toured throughout the country. He appeared on Broadway with Edye Gorme and Steve Lawrence in "Golden Rainbow," and played Oscar in "The Odd Couple" and Sitting Bull in "Annie Get Your Gun" off Broadway.

In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared in such television shows as "The Jeffersons," "Barney Miller," "Murder She Wrote," "Moonlighting," and "Seinfeld."

More recent appearances included "Malcolm in the Middle," "Sabrina," "CSI: Miami" and "The West Wing." Mann also appeared in films including "The World of Henry Orient," "Mr. Saturday Night" and Mel Brooks' "History of the World: Part I." In the late '80s, he performed for senior citizens in the San Fernando Valley, doing a rap routine about aging.

For the last 12 years, Mann also taught comedy classes at Santa Monica College and mentored elementary schoolchildren.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Bea Mitz.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1