Roger Charles Carmel (September 27, 1932 – November 11, 1986) was an American actor.[1] He originated several roles on Broadway, played scores of guest roles in television series, was a lead in the sitcom The Mothers-in-Law and appeared in motion pictures. He is most famous for his three appearances as the conniving Harry Mudd in Star Trek.
Career
Carmel worked on Broadway from the late 1950s into the mid-1960s. He played multiple parts in The Power and the Glory (1958). He originated the roles of the 3rd Poet in Caligula (1960), Pasha in Once There Was a Russian (1961), The Deputy in Purlie Victorious (1961), and Mr. Andrikos in The Irregular Verb to Love (1963). He replaced Jack Creley in the role of Cardinal Wolsey in A Man for All Seasons (in 1962) and also replaced James Grout in Half a Sixpence (in 1966).[2]
On television Carmel starred as the henpecked husband Roger Buell in the 1967 first season of the NBC sitcom The Mothers-in-Law, but was replaced by Richard Deacon in season two. When the first season ended, creator and producer Desi Arnaz told the entire cast that the show had a five-year guarantee but there was no money to give the contractual raises for the second season. While the other cast members agreed to forgo their salary increases, Carmel refused to forgo his. Carmel believed that Arnaz was illegally taking four salaries from the series—producer, creator, writer, and director—and this led him to quit the show (incidentally, the series was canceled the following year).[3]
Later in his career, Carmel was a frequent voice actor. He voiced Smokey Bear in fire safety advertisements and Decepticon deputy leader Cyclonus in the third season of the Transformers animated series (having originated the role in 1986's The Transformers: The Movie and voicing other characters in the series' second season). In the television commercials for the Naugles chain of Mexican fast-food restaurants, he played the character of Señor Naugles.
Carmel was found dead in his Hollywood apartment on November 11, 1986.[5] His death certificate listed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the cause.[6] Prior to his autopsy, police had speculated a "narcotics overdose."[5] He was interred in New Mount Carmel Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, New York City.[6] His plot is in the section dedicated to his parents' synagogue, Temple Beth Emeth.
Television
Route 66 (1960) – episode: "The Man on the Monkey Board" as Man in the Shower
The Defenders (1961) – episode: "The Hundred Lives of Harry Simms" as Mr. Dinsmore