Louis Nye

Louis Nye

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1913-05-01
Deathday: 2005-10-09 (92 years old)

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Biography

Louis Nye, born Louis Neistat, was an American comedic actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is best known for his work on countless television, film and radio programs.


Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio, playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties."


Nye served in the United States Army during World War II, and because he earned laughs by mimicking other soldiers, he was assigned to run the recreation hall. Following his discharge, he returned to New York and began working in live television. He also appeared in several plays on Broadway, and made many appearances on television variety shows such as The Jack Benny Program (including one memorable turn as a crying cab driver), The Jimmy Durante Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and The Victor Borge Show.


He earned his greatest fame as a regular on The Steve Allen Show, performing with Allen, Don Knotts, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington Jr., Dayton Allen, Gabriel Dell and Bill Dana. He primarily played urbane, wealthy, and often fey bon vivants; as part of the weekly "Man on the Street" sketches, his characterization of the pretentious country-club braggart Gordon Hathaway, with his catchphrase, "Hi-ho, Steverino," plus Allen's inability to resist bursting into hysterical laughter at his ad-libs, made Nye one of the favorites on Allen's show. When production moved to Los Angeles, Nye went too and became a character actor in Hollywood.


Nye was cast as a guest star on many television series, including Make Room for Daddy; Guestward, Ho!; Burke's Law; The Munsters; Love, American Style; Laverne & Shirley; Starsky and Hutch; Police Woman; Fantasy Island; St. Elsewhere; and The Cosby Show.


Nye played dentist Delbert Gray on several episodes of The Ann Sothern Show from 1960 to 1961, the romantic interest of Olive Smith, played by Ann Tyrrell. Nye also played Sonny Drysdale, the spoiled rich stepson of Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies during the 1962 season. He did six episodes, and received more mail than from anything else he had ever done on television, but the character was dropped. It was rumored that someone in the CBS network, or a sponsor, thought Sonny was too "sissified". However, Nye revived the character briefly during the 1966 season. During this period, Nye appeared in several television commercials for various products, including Rath brand lunch meats and the Better Business Bureau.


Nye appeared as a celebrity judge on The Gong Show during the late 1970s. He also recorded a few comedy LPs, doing a variety of characterizations. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to reach his potential in movies. Many of his character roles were little more than cameos. Nevertheless, he performed with Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Robert Mitchum, Jack Webb and Joanne Woodward, and others. Nye also appeared on the lecture circuit, in concerts and in nightclubs, and did voice work in animation, such as Inspector Gadget with Don Adams.

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Filmography

all 61

TV Shows 36

Movies 25

self 21

Voice 2

Self (archive footage)
The Adventures of Errol Flynn

The Adventures of Errol Flynn (2005)

Movie
Jeff's Dad
Curb Your Enthusiasm

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)

TV
6.07
Shower Guest
The Steven Banks Show

The Steven Banks Show (1994)

TV
(voice)
Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter

Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter (1988)

Movie
The Great Wambini (segments "The Great Wambini's Seance" & "Magic Gadget")
The Amazing Adventures of Inspector Gadget

The Amazing Adventures of Inspector Gadget (1986)

Movie
The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show (1984)

TV
6.2
Fisherman #3
Cannonball Run II

Cannonball Run II (1984)

Movie
5.14
Dracula
The Great Bear Scare

The Great Bear Scare (1983)

Movie
St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere (1982)

TV
St. George
The Reluctant Dragon

The Reluctant Dragon (1981)

Movie
Reverend
Full Moon High

Full Moon High (1981)

Movie
Actor
Aloha Paradise

Aloha Paradise (1981)

TV
Self
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special

All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special (1980)

Movie
Laundry Customer
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty

Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (1980)

Movie
Self / Judge
The $1.98 Beauty Show

The $1.98 Beauty Show (1978)

TV
Kirby Baker
Harper Valley P.T.A.

Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978)

Movie
Fred Smith
Charge of the Model T's

Charge of the Model T's (1977)

Movie
Barney Briscoe / Glenn Dobson / Louis Nye
The Love Boat

The Love Boat (1977)

TV
6.85
Radio Interviewer
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)

Movie
Laverne & Shirley

Laverne & Shirley (1976)

TV
5
Jerry
Starsky & Hutch

Starsky & Hutch (1975)

TV
10
Self
Mitzi & 100 Guys

Mitzi & 100 Guys (1975)

Movie
Lee Fong (voice)
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1974)

Movie
Henchman
The City That Forgot About Christmas

The City That Forgot About Christmas (1974)

Movie
Police Woman

Police Woman (1974)

TV
5.55
Harry Karp
Needles and Pins

Needles and Pins (1973)

TV
Self
The Don Knotts Show

The Don Knotts Show (1970)

TV
Self - Guest
The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show (1968)

TV
Guest Performer (uncredited)
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)

TV
5
Technical Adviser (Irving, House Buyer)
A Guide for the Married Man

A Guide for the Married Man (1967)

Movie
3.5
The Pruitts of Southampton

The Pruitts of Southampton (1966)

TV
Self
Salute to Stan Laurel

Salute to Stan Laurel (1965)

Movie
The Munsters

The Munsters (1964)

TV
6.11
Reinhold Shiffner
Good Neighbor Sam

Good Neighbor Sam (1964)

Movie
Self - Comedian
The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace (1964)

TV
Harry Tobler
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963)

Movie
Himself
The Judy Garland Show

The Judy Garland Show (1963)

TV
Stanislas
The Wheeler Dealers

The Wheeler Dealers (1963)

Movie
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

TV
Hooper / James Stock
Burke's Law

Burke's Law (1963)

TV
6
The Lieutenant

The Lieutenant (1963)

TV
Ronnie Cavendish
The Stripper

The Stripper (1963)

Movie
Hugh Fundy
Zotz!

Zotz! (1962)

Movie
6
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

TV
6
Sonny Drysdale
The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)

TV
6
Self - Co-Host / Self
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

TV
Self / Self - Comedian / Gordon Hathaway
The New Steve Allen Show

The New Steve Allen Show (1961)

TV
Pvt. Sam Beacham
The Last Time I Saw Archie

The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961)

Movie
Hamilton Busbee
The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life (1960)

Movie
Guestward, Ho!

Guestward, Ho! (1960)

TV
Dr. Zorch
Sex Kittens Go to College

Sex Kittens Go to College (1960)

Movie
Self
Kraft Music Hall

Kraft Music Hall (1958)

TV
The Drunk
Naked City

Naked City (1958)

TV
Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957)

TV
Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956)

TV
Self
The Steve Allen Show

The Steve Allen Show (1956)

TV
Self
This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life (1952)

TV
Harvey Hollis Pickering / The Crying Cab Driver
The Jack Benny Program

The Jack Benny Program (1950)

TV
Self
The Bob Hope Show

The Bob Hope Show (1950)

TV
Self
Make Me Laugh (original)

Make Me Laugh (original)

TV
Self
Here's Edie

Here's Edie

TV

Ratings

Average 6.18
Based on 302 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1950
1962
1967
1963
2005
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Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1913-05-01

Deathday
2005-10-09 (92 years old)

Birth Name
Louis Neistadt

Birth Place
Hartford, United States of America

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
Louis & Anita, Louis Neistat


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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