Robert Mandan (Chester Tate) 1932 - 2018 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-03-2018, 03:55 PM

Link

It was with great sadness that I heard my friend Bob Mandan had passed away. I don’t have the words to fully express yet another loss of a good friend, so I will just repost a birthday blog I wrote six years ago. Rest peacefully, Mandan.

Bonniegirl · 06-03-2018, 07:16 PM

May he rest in peace. He was funny in the role of Chester and the other roles he played!

Sad to hear of his passing!

Retro4Life · 06-03-2018, 07:56 PM

One of the best things about Soap (and there were many).

RIP Mr. Mandan.

Zoneboy · 06-03-2018, 09:40 PM

He played white-collar types on other shows including 'Three's Company,' 'Private Benjamin' and 'The Facts of Life.'

Link

Robert Mandan, the veteran television actor who starred as Chester Tate, the philandering husband of Katherine Helmond's character, on the ABC daytime-serial spoof Soap, has died. He was 86.

Mandan died April 29 in Los Angeles after a long illness, his friend, playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein, told The Hollywood Reporter. Mandan starred in Goldstein's first play, Just Men, at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood in 1996.

Mandan, who often played suits and white-collar types during his long career, also portrayed the wealthy investment banker James Bradford at the end of ABC's Three's Company and on its 1984-85 spinoff, Three's a Crowd.

Mandan also was the bombastic Col. Lawrence Fielding on the CBS adaptation of Private Benjamin, and his doctor character married Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) on NBC's The Facts of Life and whisked her away to the Peace Corps.

Mandan had worked on such soap operas as The Edge of Night, From These Roots and Search for Tomorrow when he was hired to play Chester, a conniving Wall Street stock broker, on Soap.

Susan Harris created the sitcom, which aired for four seasons, from 1977-81, and spawned the Robert Robert Guillaume-starring Benson. The show, always a critical darling, was a top 10 hit in its first season but suffered in the ratings as it was moved around the schedule.

Mandan and Helmond reunited for two episodes of her next series, Who's the Boss? and for a 2002 production of A Twilight Romance at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. He also returned to the soap opera world with gigs on Santa Barbara, Days of Our Lives and General Hospital.

His other notable TV work included playing an unctuous attorney on All in the Family and a homosexual friend of Bea Arthur's character on Maude, and he appeared on Sanford and Son, Barney Miller, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Married … With Children as well.

A native of Clever, Mo., Mandan grew up in Southern California and majored in theater at Pomona College. He got a big break when veteran actor Edward Arnold pushed for him to star alongside him in a production of All My Sons in Palm Springs.

Mandan made his Broadway debut in 1956 in Speaking of Murder, directed by Delbert Mann, and he worked with Lauren Bacall in the original 1970 production of the Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical Applause.

On the big screen, Mandan played a senator in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and appeared in other films including Hickey & Boggs (1972), MacArthur (1977) and, as a principal, in Zapped! (1982).

He did lots of local theater late in his career, Goldstein noted.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry.

Mr. Television · 06-03-2018, 09:52 PM

R.I.P. Robert.

So many great roles. Soap, TAC, Private Benjamin. I loved them all.

BigManMike · 06-03-2018, 10:02 PM

Sad to hear he passed. I just wonder why did it take so long to report his death? If he died April 29, why are we just now hearing about it a little over a month later?

king of comedy · 06-04-2018, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigcookie

Sad to hear he passed. I just wonder why did it take so long to report his death? If he died April 29, why are we just now hearing about it a little over a month later?

Good question. RIP Robert Mandan I wished we had heard about it earlier. He'll be missed.

Zoneboy · 06-05-2018, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigcookie

Sad to hear he passed. I just wonder why did it take so long to report his death? If he died April 29, why are we just now hearing about it a little over a month later?

It could've been a family decision or a request by Mr. Mandan to delay any announcement of his passing until his arrangements had been completed. The most likely reason is privacy concerns. Some have been known to have their death made public much later such as Beth Howland who died Dec 31, 2015, but her husband waited 5 months at her request before announcing it.

JR1 · 06-07-2018, 09:51 PM

RIP, RM- 86 is not a bad run at all. He'll always be Chester Tate- or is it Lester Plate? Or maybe Marlene Dietrich, Gunga Din or Gloria Swanson.

burtnmary · 06-10-2018, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Link

It was with great sadness that I heard my friend Bob Mandan had passed away. I don’t have the words to fully express yet another loss of a good friend, so I will just repost a birthday blog I wrote six years ago. Rest peacefully, Mandan.

NOOOOOOOO!!!! Well...I guess he and my mama are having a great time reliving old Soap memories. She loved Soap so much. RIP Robert (Lester Pate) Mandan

06-03-2018, 03:55 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,339	Robert Mandan (Chester Tate) 1932 - 2018 Link It was with great sadness that I heard my friend Bob Mandan had passed away. I don’t have the words to fully express yet another loss of a good friend, so I will just repost a birthday blog I wrote six years ago. Rest peacefully, Mandan.

06-03-2018, 07:56 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	One of the best things about Soap (and there were many). RIP Mr. Mandan.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

06-03-2018, 09:40 PM	#4
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,339	Robert Mandan, the Womanizing Chester Tate on 'Soap,' Dies at 86 He played white-collar types on other shows including 'Three's Company,' 'Private Benjamin' and 'The Facts of Life.' Link Robert Mandan, the veteran television actor who starred as Chester Tate, the philandering husband of Katherine Helmond's character, on the ABC daytime-serial spoof Soap, has died. He was 86. Mandan died April 29 in Los Angeles after a long illness, his friend, playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein, told The Hollywood Reporter. Mandan starred in Goldstein's first play, Just Men, at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood in 1996. Mandan, who often played suits and white-collar types during his long career, also portrayed the wealthy investment banker James Bradford at the end of ABC's Three's Company and on its 1984-85 spinoff, Three's a Crowd. Mandan also was the bombastic Col. Lawrence Fielding on the CBS adaptation of Private Benjamin, and his doctor character married Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) on NBC's The Facts of Life and whisked her away to the Peace Corps. Mandan had worked on such soap operas as The Edge of Night, From These Roots and Search for Tomorrow when he was hired to play Chester, a conniving Wall Street stock broker, on Soap. Susan Harris created the sitcom, which aired for four seasons, from 1977-81, and spawned the Robert Robert Guillaume-starring Benson. The show, always a critical darling, was a top 10 hit in its first season but suffered in the ratings as it was moved around the schedule. Mandan and Helmond reunited for two episodes of her next series, Who's the Boss? and for a 2002 production of A Twilight Romance at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. He also returned to the soap opera world with gigs on Santa Barbara, Days of Our Lives and General Hospital. His other notable TV work included playing an unctuous attorney on All in the Family and a homosexual friend of Bea Arthur's character on Maude, and he appeared on Sanford and Son, Barney Miller, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Married … With Children as well. A native of Clever, Mo., Mandan grew up in Southern California and majored in theater at Pomona College. He got a big break when veteran actor Edward Arnold pushed for him to star alongside him in a production of All My Sons in Palm Springs. Mandan made his Broadway debut in 1956 in Speaking of Murder, directed by Delbert Mann, and he worked with Lauren Bacall in the original 1970 production of the Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical Applause. On the big screen, Mandan played a senator in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and appeared in other films including Hickey & Boggs (1972), MacArthur (1977) and, as a principal, in Zapped! (1982). He did lots of local theater late in his career, Goldstein noted. Survivors include his wife, Sherry.

06-03-2018, 09:52 PM	#5
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	R.I.P. Robert. So many great roles. Soap, TAC, Private Benjamin. I loved them all.
	__________________ Sonny

06-03-2018, 07:16 PM	#2
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,457	May he rest in peace. He was funny in the role of Chester and the other roles he played! Sad to hear of his passing!

06-03-2018, 10:02 PM	#6
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,021	Sad to hear he passed. I just wonder why did it take so long to report his death? If he died April 29, why are we just now hearing about it a little over a month later?

06-07-2018, 09:51 PM	#9
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	RIP, RM- 86 is not a bad run at all. He'll always be Chester Tate- or is it Lester Plate? Or maybe Marlene Dietrich, Gunga Din or Gloria Swanson.