Howard Morton


Howard Leroy Morton was an American actor.

Career

Morton is possibly best known for playing dim-witted police officer Ralph Waldo Simpson on Gimme a Break! for five seasons. He appears in many TV supporting roles on sitcoms, including The Bill Cosby Show, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, I Dream of Jeannie, Good Times, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and as Brian Henley in My Favorite Martian. He also plays Grandpa in The Munsters Today from 1988 to 1991.
Morton made a number of appearances on game shows, including Super Password and Pyramid. He also appears in many feature films, making his debut in The Mechanic, and he appeared in stage productions of Auntie Mame, Morning's at Seven and Fancy Meeting You Again.

Personal life

Morton never married nor had any children.
Born in New York City, Morton moved to Hollywood in 1960 to pursue an acting career.
He died of complications of a stroke on May 11, 1997, at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, four days shy of his 72nd birthday. A memorial service was held at the North Hollywood Church of Religious Science.

Partial filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969The Bill Cosby ShowLou WelkEpisode: "Lullaby and Goodnight"
1972The MechanicCar Polish Man
1972The Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanPhotographist
1973ScorpioHeck Thomas
1974RhinocerosDoctor
1976One Day at a Time Hal ButterfieldEpisodes: "The Runaways "
1978Diff'rent StrokesHeadmasterEpisode: "The Prep School"
1981-1986Gimme a Break!Officer Ralph Waldo Simpson-
1988-1991The Munsters Today"Grandpa" Vladimir Dracula-