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Al Lewis was born on April 30, 1910, in Brooklyn,
New York, to parents of Polish and German descent.
Lewis attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Not quite sure what he
wanted to do with his life, he tried a Number of professions
including salesman, waiter, owner of a poolroom, and store
detective.
In the late 1920s, he worked as a circus clown, riding a unicycle
and performing stunts on the trapeze bar. Later, Lewis taught school
and wrote two children's books.
Lewis received a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia University
at age thirty-one. He has read almost a book a day since he was
eleven, he says.
In 1949, at the suggestion of a friend, Lewis turned to acting and
joined the Paul Mann Actor's Workshop in New York. There, with
classmates Sidney Poitier and Vic Morrow, he developed a comedic
style and a showcase for his commendable dramatic talent.
Lewis worked in burlesque and vaudeville theaters across the
country, which led to other theater endeavors and eventually to
Broadway. He made New York his home base but traveled extensively
and settled in Italy for a short period. By the 1950's television
was booming, and Lewis took advantage of the medium. He was seen, if
not heard, on almost every live show out of New York.
He landed the role of Officer Leo Schnauser on "Car 54, Where Are
You?-the successful Nat Hiken series that also starred Fred Gwynne.
The series ran from 1961 to 1963.
While finishing up a Broadway run of Do Re Mi with Phil Silvers and
Nancy Walker, he was summoned along with Fred Gwynne to test for"The
Munsters."
In early 1964, when Lewis began playing Grandpa Munster, he probably
did not realize that he would be remembered forever for his
portrayal of the petulant third-rate wizard of the Munster clan.
"Fans treat me like an icon," he says.
He enjoys the smiles he gives people as Grandpa, but for all the
recognition he receives, there is one particular actor he reveres:
"In my humble opinion, and nothing about me is humble," he says,
"Chaplin was the only genius who ever worked in Hollywood. No
question about it. In fact, I got to meet him at John Garfield's
house once."
After "The Munsters," Lewis made countless appearances in television
and motion pictures, performed on the dinner theater circuit around
the country and even owned a brokerage firm in Los Angeles for a
time. Lewis, a closet intellectual, is also an avid college
basketball fanatic, has scouted for several basketball teams, and
has been featured in Sports Illustrated. His eye for athletes is
great and is trusted by many coaches.
Lewis pulled up stakes and moved to New York shortly after his
divorce from his wife, Marge. He opened a restaurant, appropriately
called Grampa's, in Greenwich Village, and the business has led to
plans for opening a few more Italian eateries around the Big Apple.
Lewis appears around the country donning the familiar tuxedo that
made him famous and continues to act in television and motion
pictures. Despite the passage of time, he looks well and boasts of
fantastic health. He has a home video out for children and appears
on WTBS cable in a series of Saturday morning programs for children.
When asked what accomplishment he is proudest of he firmly replies,
"My three sons."
 
Al Lewis (April 30, 1923
– February 3, 2006)
Later in life, he was also a restaurant owner, political candidate, and
radio broadcaster....God Bless you Al |
