Friday, November 7, 2014

ROCKFORD FILES - Episode: Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune! (6 Dec. 1974) Chicago Actor Richard Schaal who played Leonard Blair on the Rockford Files dies at age 86 - Was former husband to actress Valerie Harper

'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Actor Richard Schaal Dead At 86

Actor and comedian Richard Schaal, a member of Chicago's legendary Second City improv group in the 1960s, died Tuesday 11/04/2014 at the age of 86.

Schaal was best known for his work in many classic sitcoms including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Rhoda," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Phyllis", Rockford Files and "Just My Luck."

Schaal was married to actress Valerie Harper in 1964, however the couple later divorced in 1978. "American Dad" voice actress Wendy Schaal is Richard's daughter from his previous marriage to Lois Treacy.

Aside from his frequent work in television, Schaal also appeared in films such as "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming," among others.

Schaal delivered one of his most interesting and intense performances in the made-for-TV movie "The Cube" -- Jim Henson's experimental, live-action, psychedelic drama about a man stuck in a small white room that others can enter and exit but he can never escape, and therefore, slowly goes crazy.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Schaal died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund retirement home in Woodland Hills, Calif. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Schaal is survived by his actress daughter, Wendy Schaal.