Cause of death Pneumonia Role Character actor Name Phil Leeds | Years active 1949–1998 Occupation Actor Spouse Toby Brandt (m. ?–1987) | |
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Movies Ghost, Rosemary's Baby, Beaches, Cat Chaser, Krippendorf's Tribe Similar People Vincent Schiavelli, Rick Kleber, Jerry Zucker, Todd Holland, Paul Mazursky | ||
Phil Leeds (April 6, 1916 – August 16, 1998) was an American character actor.
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Career
Leeds was born on April 6, 1916, in New York City, the son of a post office clerk. He started his career as a standup comedian and then went on to appear in several films and sitcoms including Rosemary's Baby, Beaches, All In The Family, Three's Company, Night Court, Wings, Ally McBeal, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Larry Sanders Show, and almost yearly appearances on Barney Miller; as well as making guest appearances on Car 54, Where Are You?, The Patty Duke Show, The Monkees, The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Friends, Mad About You, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Golden Girls. At age 80, he appeared on an episode of Roseanne in which Roseanne finds herself drawn into a creepy '90s version of Rosemary's Baby (Leeds played the role of "Dr. Shand" in the original 1968 film). Leeds also memorably appeared as a friendly spirit in the 1990 film Ghost. His final role was a brief scene in Lost & Found (1999).
Leeds was blacklisted during the McCarthy era after pleading the fifth when examined by the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Death
Leeds died of pneumonia on August 16, 1998, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at age 82. The November 9, 1998, episode of Ally McBeal, "Happy Trails," featured footage of his prior appearances on the show, eulogizing his character.