Popular character actor Allan Melvin, most famous for playing Sam the Butcher on The Brady Bunch and Archie Bunker’s neighbor on All in the Family, has died. He was 84-years-old. He died in his Brentwood home, from cancer, on Thursday, according to Amalia, his wife of 64 years.
During his five-decade career, Melvin made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, including playing different roles on at least eight episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show” and playing Dick Van Dyke’s old Army buddy on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
He also played Sgt. Charlie Hacker on “Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.”; portrayed butcher Sam Franklin — Alice the housekeeper’s boyfriend — on “The Brady Bunch”; and continued playing Barney when the hit “All in the Family” became “Archie Bunker’s Place.”
Melvin was popular for many of his roles but should probably be remembered most for being a successful actor that was married for 64 years. That is just amazing! In Hollywood that is the equivalent of 640 years.
Marriages in Hollywood are counted like dog years with 1 Hollywood year equaling 10 years anywhere else.
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