Tom Poston, 1921-2007

May 02, 2007

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As big fans of the lazy-eyed, sharp-witted Bob Newhart -- we were very saddened to hear of the death of Tom Poston, the tall, pasty-faced comic who found fame and fortune playing a clueless everyman on such hit television shows as ''Newhart'' and ''Mork and Mindy.'' He was 85.

The actor made numerous appearances in variety shows, sitcoms, and films. On ''Mork and Mindy,'' Poston was Franklin Delano Bickley, the mindless boozer with the annoying dog. On ''Newhart,'' he was George Utley, the handyman who couldn't fix anything at the New England inn . Previously, he had appeared on another Bob Newhart vehicle ''Bob,'' where he played the star's dim-bulb former college roommate.

''In ways I don't like to admit, I'm a goof-up myself,'' Poston continued. ''It's an essential part of my character. When these guys screw up it reminds me of my own incompetence with the small frustrations of life.''

Bob Newhart remembered Poston as a ''versatile and veteran performer and a kindhearted individual.''

''Tom was always the 'go-to guy' on 'Newhart' in addition to being a good and longtime friend,'' Newhart said in a statement Tuesday.

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