David Smyrl
David Langston Smyrl, sometimes credited professionally as David L. Smyrl, was an American actor and television writer. He was best known for his role of Mr. Handford, the fictional retired firefighter who ran Hooper's Store on Sesame Street from 1990 to 1998. Smyrl won eight Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street during his time on the show. David Smyrl also Co-starred on The Cosby Show 1984-1992.
Early life
Smyrl was born on September 13, 1935, in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was raised in the neighborhood. He began his career as a coffeehouse poet in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, during the 1960s. Smyrl was hired for his television acting job on a short-lived show, Express Yourself, during the 1970s. He appeared in the 1978 Broadway musical, Working.Smyrl next moved to California, where he was hired as a writer for the ABC television sitcom, Benson, for which he won a People's Choice Award. Smyrl then joined The Cosby Show, both as a gag writer and actor, playing a general contractor named Sam Lucas for a five-episode recurring role.
Career
Smyrl was best known for his role on the PBS children's show, Sesame Street. In 1982, actor Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, the original owner of Sesame Street's fictional Hooper's Store, died during production. Mr. Hooper's death was included on the show in a 1983 episode. Northern Calloway, who played David, then took over the store, but he left the show in 1989 with psychiatric issues, and later died the following year. In 1990, Smyrl was hired by Sesame Street as Mr. Hanford, the owner of Hooper's Store. Smyrl replaced Leonard Jackson, who had played a grumpier version of Mr. Hanford during the preceding Season 21. By contrast, Smyrl played Mr. Hanford as a store owner who smiled and sang to the residents of Sesame Street. Smyrl remained on Sesame Street from 1990 until 1998.An accomplished voice actor, Smyrl narrated commercials for Canada Dry, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Levi Strauss & Co. 501 jeans, GMC, McDonald's, Pepsi, and Texaco. His film credits included The Preacher's Wife, in 1996, opposite Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. He also starred as Jesse B. Simple in a documentary on the life of Langston Hughes called The Dream Keeper.