Actor Marvin Kaplan, a diner patron on ‘Alice,’ dead at 89

NEW YORK – Veteran actor Marvin Kaplan has died at 89.

Best known for his recurring role on the long-running sitcom “Alice,” Kaplan died Friday in Burbank, California, where he resided, said John Gallogly, executive director of Theatre West, with which Kaplan was associated.

Besides his portrayal on “Alice” of Henry, a telephone linesman and frequent patron of Mel’s Diner, Kaplan voiced the character Choo-Choo in the 1960s cartoon series “Top Cat.”

More recently, he made several appearances on the Ted Danson comedy “Becker.”

Other credits include the 1963 film “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and the 1965 Blake Edwards comedy “The Great Race.”

The New York native also was a regular on the sitcom “Meet Millie,” which first aired on radio and was also seen on television from 1952-55.