Trivia

Appeared in dozens of TV shows but is best known for four recurring roles:" Cpl. Henshaw in The Phil Silvers Show (1955), Sgt. Charlie Hacker on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964), Alice's boyfriend Sam on La tribu Brady (1969) and Archie Bunker's best friend Barney Hefner on All in the Family (1971).

Often played bullies in his TV work, but after that dried up he found work playing just the opposite, doing voices for gentle, simple-minded cartoon characters.

He was born in Kansas City, MO, but his family moved to New York City when he was a young boy. His father was a film salesman for Fox Film Corp.

Appeared in only one movie in his five-decade career--With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) starring Doris Day--in which he had a minor part as a desk sergeant.

Retired from acting in the late 1990s.

A prolific voice artist, he was a great mimic of voices.

Got a job in radio sound effects with NBC Radio at the onset of his career. He also did a nightclub act using his talent with voices and appeared on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" radio show and won.

Archie Bunker's Place (1979) was the last live action acting (distinct from voice acting in animation) that Melvin did.

Attended Columbia University and earned his degree in journalism before serving a hitch in the Navy during WW II.

Often guest-starred on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and featured as a bully, to Barney Fife (Don Knotts) or Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson, who had to be taught a lesson.

In addition to other cast members of The Phil Silvers Show (1955) show, his name was used as that of a character in both Richard Condon's novel "The Manchurian Candidate" and the movie made from it, El embajador del miedo (1962).

Blond, block-faced and brawny support actor with the trademark sagging jowls best known for his blue-collar buddies and military cohorts on TV comedy--could play bruising or dim-witted.

His daughter Mya died in 1970.

His surviving daughter, Jennifer, is the mother of his grandson, Jon Hanson Jr.