Jump to content

Bruce Solomon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bruce Solomon
Solomon as Rabbi David Small in Lanigan's Rabbi, with co-star Art Carney, 1977
Occupation(s)Film and television actor

Bruce Peter Solomon (born 12 August 1943), is an American film and television actor, best known for the roles of Sgt. Foley in the TV show Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Kenny Zuckerman in Beverly Hills, 90210.

Career

[edit]

Television and film

[edit]

Solomon starred as the title character in the short-lived 1977 television series Lanigan's Rabbi,[1] but is best known for his portrayal of Sgt. Foley on the TV show, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. His acting teacher, Joan Darling, one of the directors for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, chose him for that role, despite the fact that it was originally written as an older, middle-aged policeman.[2] When Solomon was cast in the role it was rewritten as a young, handsome, "ever-on-the-make" police officer.[2] He was also known for the role of Kenny Zuckerman in Beverly Hills, 90210.[2]

In addition to his role of Rabbi David Small in Lanigan's Rabbi, he would also play a rabbi in the 2000 film, Harrison's Flowers.[3][unreliable source?]

Solomon was part of the cast of the comedy series E/R, which included Elliott Gould, Jason Alexander, and Mary McDonnell.[1] His many guest star appearances in other series included Barney Miller and Resurrection Boulevard, and films including The Candidate and Foul Play.[1] One of his earliest movies was Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, in 1972.[4] He was also in the 1986 TV movie, Maricela, about the daughter of an affluent American family who resents the daughter of the live-in maid from El Salvador.[5][unreliable source?] The TV drama was produced for public television's WonderWorks series.[6]

In one of his most recent movie appearances, Solomon plays Edward Feldman, the Executive Producer of the television series Hogan's Heroes, in the 2002 film Auto Focus, the story of actor Bob Crane.[7] In that film, he has the well-known line to Crane, "Bob, don't try so hard. You're the hero of the show. It's named after you. Heroes don't try to be heroes. They simply are."[7] Another of his famous lines—from the film Foul Play with Goldie Hawn—was "The dwarf...beware the dwarf."[8]

Stage

[edit]

In addition to his roles in film and television, Solomon has appeared on stage in a number of plays in the Los Angeles area, including a number of productions of the Elephant Theatre Company. Among the productions in which he has appeared were Search and Destroy, Dearboy's War, and Greystone.[1] And, after playing a rabbi on television and film, he originated the role of Catholic priest Fr. Carney in the Hollywood Stella Adler Theatre world premiere of the play Friends of Frank, the story of the decision to cast Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront rather than Frank Sinatra.[9] The play was produced in 2005.[10][11]

Filmography

[edit]

Films

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1972 Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things Winns
1978 Foul Play Bob "Scotty" Scott
1986 Night of the Creeps Sgt. Raimi
2001 Hunger Mr. Christie
2002 Auto Focus Edward H. Feldman

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Streets of San Francisco Doctor Episode - "Winterkill"
1975 Harry O Official Episode - "Tender Killing Care"
1975 Barney Miller Flag Salesman Episode - "Horse Thief"
1976–77 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Sgt. Dennis Foley Main cast (104 episodes)
1977 Lanigan's Rabbi Rabbi David Small Main cast (4 episodes)
1978 The Love Boat Bill Edwards Episode - "Too Hot to Handle/Family Reunion/Cinderella Story"
1979 One Day at a Time Dr. Grayson Episode - "Between Mother and Daughter"
1979 Eight Is Enough Andre Episode - "Arrivals"
1983 The Fall Guy Charlie Bester Episode - "P.S. I Love You"
1984 The Facts of Life Bill Simpson Episode - "The Summer of '84"
1984–85 E/R Michael Alexander Recurring role (5 episodes)
1985 The A-Team Jorge Episode - "Uncle Buckle-Up"
1986 Fame Dr. Lindstrom Episode - "Choices"
1986 The Twilight Zone Mr. Michaels Episode - "Monsters!"
1986 Simon & Simon Mitch Lewis Episode - "For the People"
1986 Maricela Sam Gannett TV movie
1986 St. Elsewhere Ehrlich's Patient Episode - "Where There's Hope, There's Crosby"
1987 A Year in the Life Ben Episode - "Don't I Know You from Somewhere?"
1991 Knots Landing Tony Gerald Episodes - "1001 Nights of Anne Matheson", "Lost at Sea"
1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Kenny Zuckerman Episode - "Scared Very Straight"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d filmbug.com, accessed February 17, 2011. Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c TV.com, accessed February 17, 2011. Archived June 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ IMDB:Harrison's Flowers, accessed February 17, 2011.
  4. ^ "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things". RottenTomatoes. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  5. ^ IMDB.com:Maricela, accessed February 18, 2011.
  6. ^ Margulies, Lee (December 15, 1985). "Robert Hays, who starred in "Airplane!", has..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Synopsis". Auto Focus. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Foul Play". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Goldstar.com, accessed February 18, 2011.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Friends of Frank". Theatermania. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Hirschhorn, Joel (April 18, 2005). "Friends of Frank". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
[edit]