Harvey Atkin

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Harvey Atkin
HarveyAtkin.jpg
Born
Elliot Harvey Atkin

(1942-12-18)18 December 1942
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died18 July 2017(2017-07-18) (aged 74)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting placePardes Shalom Cemetery, Maple, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2017
Spouse
Celia Tessler
​
(m. 1963)​
Children2

Elliot Harvey Atkin [1] (18 December 1942 – 18 July 2017) was a Canadian actor best known for his roles as Morty Melnick in Meatballs , Sergeant Ronald Coleman in Cagney & Lacey , and for voicing King Koopa in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Sam in The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police .

Contents

Early life

Atkin was born 18 December 1942 in Toronto, Ontario to parents of Russian-Jewish descent. [1] He developed his interest in acting while a student at Northview Heights Secondary School [2] by performing in a high school production of Eugene O'Neill's one-act play The Rope, for which he won an award at the Simpson's Drama Festival. [3] Atkin initially worked at his father's construction company. He then became a real estate agent, eventually transitioning to acting in commercials. [4]

Career

Atkin played Morty Melnick in the comedy film Meatballs (1979), for which performance he earned a Genie nomination. [5]

Atkin had a role in William Fruet's horror film Funeral Home (1980), as well as the role of Sam in The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police , and also played Mario's and Luigi's archenemy King Koopa on DiC Entertainment's cartoon version of Super Mario Bros. (notably, he was the first English voice actor for the character). Playing Koopa in all three Mario animated series, he was one of the only voice actors to appear in all three series as the same character.

He voiced Mr. Mushnik on Little Shop , loosely based on the movie Little Shop of Horrors . He also played characters in other series such as Beetlejuice , Bad Dog and Ruby Gloom . Atkin appeared in more than 75 films and on many television series. He did voice-over work in approximately 3,000 television and radio commercials, notably for the Leon's Furniture chain, for which he won three Clio Awards. [6] [3]

He appeared in 95 episodes of Cagney & Lacey as Sergeant Ronald Coleman. [4] Atkin played Judge Alan Ridenour in a recurring role on the television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , a role he also played in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order , and was the voice-over in Leon's and "Buy Israel Bonds" commercials in Canada. He also made a cameo playing a bus driver in the classic film Atlantic City (1980) starring Burt Lancaster, and was the voice for Morty in the television series Jacob Two-Two . He made a guest appearance in 2010 as a rabbi on the CBC Television series 18 to Life .

He voiced Mario in the Kraft Macaroni and cheese commercial in

Personal life

Atkin married Celia Tessler in 1963. [3] Together they had two children, and went on to become grandparents to five. [1]

Death

Atkin died of a brain tumor on 18 July 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 74. [5] [3]

Legacy

A re-animated version of the Super Mario World episode "Mama Luigi", commissioned and directed by animation artist Andrew Dickman within a year with over 227 animators and artists participating, was dedicated to Atkin alongside Tony Rosato (Luigi) who died earlier that year on 10 January. The video was released on 29 August 2017. [7]

Filmography

Film performances [8]
YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Silver Streak Conventioneer
1977The War Between the TatesDr. Bernard M. KotelchukTelevision film
1978 High-Ballin' Buzz
1978 Power Play Anwar
1979 Meatballs Morty Melnick
1980 Atlantic City Bus Driver
1980 Funeral Home Harry Browning
1981 The Incubus Joe Prescott
1981 Improper Channels Sergeant
1981 The Last Chase Jud
1981 Heavy Metal Alien / HenchmanVoice
1981 Ticket to Heaven Mr. Stone
1982 If You Could See What I Hear Bert
1982Rubberface
1982 Visiting Hours Vinnie Bradshaw
1983 All in Good Taste
1984 Finders Keepers
1985Carried AwayVoice
1985 Joshua Then and Now Dr. Jonathan Cole
1986 Separate Vacations Henry Gilbert
1986 Every Dog's Guide to Complete Home Safety BernardVoice
1987 Mr. Nice Guy Jerry Reeman
1989 Speed Zone Gus Gold
1989Mindfield
1989 Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! Lew Eisen
1991 Snake Eater II: The Drug Buster
1991 The Lump Voice
1991 Every Dog's Guide to the Playground BernardVoice
1991 The Apprentice (L'Apprenti)Voice
1992Terror on Track 9Television film
1993 Guilty as Sin Judge Steinberg
1994 Seasons of the Heart Television film
1994Janek: The Silent BetrayalMedical ExaminerTelevision film
1995Between Love and HonorTelevision film
1995 Family of Cops Avrum WeissTelevision film
1996 The Stupids Deli Guy
1996Radiant CityTelevision film
1996 Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault Television film
1997 Love and Death on Long Island Lou
1997 Critical Care Judge Fatale
1998 One Tough Cop Rudy
1998Jo's Wedding
2000Out of SyncSidney GoldenTelevision film
2001Club LandMortyTelevision film
2006 Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy Television film
2010 Barney's Version Second father in-law
2013Let’s RapNeighborShort film
2014BastardsUncle LemShort film
2015Trailer Dangerous LessonsPrinciple WintersTelevision film
2017 A Change of Heart Cardiologist
2017Progress (and Unrelated Things)MaxFinal role
Television series performances [8]
YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 Down Home Country Chuck Wagon
1977–1980 King of Kensington Various4 episodes
1979–1985 The Littlest Hobo Various
1981–1988 Cagney & Lacey Sergeant Ronald Coleman95 episodes
1982Claim to Fame
1986Every Dog's Guide to Complete Home SafetyBernard
1986–1993 Under The Umbrella Tree The Great Goldberg
1987–1989 ALF: The Animated Series Additional voices13 episodes
1988–1989 AlfTales Additional voices
1988 Robocop: The Animated Series K.R.U.D. TV station manager, Zokastani shiekEpisodes "No News Is Good News" and "A Robot's Revenge" (Uncredited)
1989 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! King Koopa, Tryclyde, Koopa Troopas, Elvin Parsley, Flab Bro #1, Hercufleas, Hooded Robin, Mark Twang, Dealin' Delbert, Joilet's Father, Captain Clump, Murphy, Mushroom Mayor, Sergeant Kooperman, Snifit65 episodes
1989–1991 Beetlejuice Lipscum, Exorcist
1990 Piggsburg Pigs! Additional voices
1990 The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 King Koopa 26 episodes
1991 Swamp Thing Tomahawk Recurring role
1991 Little Shop Additional Voices13 episodes
1991 Wish Kid Additional Voices13 episodes
1991 Super Mario World King Koopa 12 episodes
1991–1994 Hello Kitty and Friends Guala, Mr. Jones, William3 episodes
1992 Stunt Dawgs Badyear, Half-A-Mind
1992 The Adventures of Tintin Additional voices13 episodes
1993 X-Men Sasquatch, Dr. Walter Langkowski
1993–1994Keroppi and FriendsMary and Johnny's Father, King Richard 2 episodes
1994 Tales from the Crypt Uncle Harry, Harold Klump2 episodes
1995 Sailor Moon Pox, Bumboo2 episodes
1995 The Neverending Story Mr. Rockchewer2 episodes
1996 Goosebumps Mr. MalikEpisode: "Bad Hare Day"
1997–1998 The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police Sam24 episodes
1998–2000 Bad Dog Mr. Potanski
1998–2001 Bob and Margaret Additional voices
2000–2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Alan Ridenour18 episodes
2001–2002 The Ripping Friends Crag, The Indigestible Wad, Cereal CEO, Pungent Puss Husband, Dad #1 Santa, Fish5 episodes
2003 Jacob Two-Two Morty5 episodes
2003 Braceface Mr. StoneEpisode: Ms. Spitz Goes to Warsch and Stone
2005 Time Warp Trio Beaner, Journalist
2006 Sons of Butcher 2 episodes
2006 Ruby Gloom Mr. White
2006–2008 6teen George Bickerson3 episodes
2010–2013 Scaredy Squirrel 7 episodes

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Elliot Harvey Atkin – Steeles Memorial Chapel" . Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Lucas, Ralph (15 February 2015). "Harvey Atkin Biography". Northern Stars. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Morrow, Martin (4 August 2017). "Canadian actor Harvey Atkin had a gift for comedy". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 TV Data (9 November 1986). "Harvey Wants To Work (And His Wish Is Granted)". Toledo Blade. p. TVT-5. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 Vlessing, Etan (18 July 2017). "Harvey Atkin, 'Cagney and Lacey' and 'Meatballs' Actor, Dies at 74". The Hollywood Reporter . ISSN   0018-3660.
  6. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (18 July 2017). "Harvey Atkin, 'Cagney & Lacey' and 'Meatballs' Actor, Dies at 74". Variety. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Harvey Atkin Filmography". Northern Stars. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
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