Actor Tom Poston Dead at 85

Tom Poston, perhaps best known to younger generations as the handyman “George” on Newhart, has passed away at 85. Poston was an accomplished character actor with great timing, with roles going back as far as The Steve Allen Show alongside other greats like Don Knotts.

Goof-up or not, Poston was a versatile actor who made his Broadway debut in 1947 playing five roles in Jose Ferrer’s “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

One role called for him to engage in a duel, fall 10 feet, roll across the stage and vanish into the orchestra pit. Other actors had auditioned and failed but Poston, who in his youth had been an acrobat with the Flying Zepleys, did the stunt perfectly.

Poston is survived by his wife Suzanne Pleshette, who happened to play Bob Newhart’s wife in the The Bob Newhart Show.

‘Newhart’ sidekick Tom Poston dies at 85 [Yahoo]