Sandy Helberg

Sandy Helberg
Sandy Helberg on January 2, 2014
Born (1949-05-28) May 28, 1949 (age 75)
Frankfurt, West Germany
Years active1972–2012
Spouse
Harriet Birnbaum
​
(m. 1975)​
Children2, including Simon Helberg

Sandy Helberg (born May 28, 1949) is an American actor.

Early life

Helberg was born in Frankfurt, Germany, the son of Tonia (née Altman) and Sam Helberg. His parents were both Holocaust survivors from German-occupied Poland, who met in a concentration camp.[1][2] They emigrated to the United States in 1950,[1] where his father, originally a barber, eventually became a real estate developer in Toledo, Ohio, where Sandy and his brothers Ted and Tom were raised.[2]

Career

Helberg relocated to New York City and studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He performed stand-up comedy and was part of an improv group that appeared in clubs in Greenwich Village. He later moved to Los Angeles, becoming an original member of the Los Angeles improv group, The Groundlings. Acting in several comedy films, in particular three Mel Brooks films High Anxiety, History of the World, Part I, and Spaceballs, he starred in the comedy films The Hollywood Knights and Up the Creek.

Helberg wrote and starred in the short-lived 1977 syndicated TV series The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show and the 1979 CBS TV series Flatbush. He has made numerous guest appearances on TV shows, including Trapper John, M.D., Remington Steele, Newhart, The Jeffersons, M*A*S*H, Married... with Children, The Wonder Years, Night Court, Fernwood 2 Night, Knight Rider, Too Close for Comfort, Get a Life, House Calls, Cybill, and Days of Our Lives among others.

Helberg co-starred in the NBC miniseries, 79 Park Avenue, and a CBS movie of the week, More Wild Wild West. He played Yeoman Purser Burl "Gopher" Smith in The Love Boat pilot;[which?] however, when it became an ABC television series, Fred Grandy took over the role.

Helberg and his wife Harriet wrote episodes for such television series as The Golden Girls, Perfect Strangers, Dear John, and Harry and the Hendersons. He also co-produced USO Salute to the Troops for HBO/TBS.

Personal life

Helberg has been married to Harriet Birnbaum,[3] a casting director, since 1975 and has two sons, Mason and actor Simon. Sandy and Harriet adopted their granddaughter, Lily Rose Helberg, at four months old. Lily was born May 12, 2016.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1973 Terror in the Wax Museum Newsboy Uncredited
1975 Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York Artist
1976 A Star Is Born Kevin Uncredited
1977 High Anxiety Airport Attendant
1977 American Raspberry Mailman
1978 Loose Shoes Biker Eulogist
1980 The Hollywood Knights Officer Clark
1980 The Jazz Singer Sound Engineer
1981 History of the World: Part 1 Disciple (The Roman Empire)
1981 Modern Problems Pete
1984 This Is Spinal Tap Angelo DiMentibelio
1984 Up the Creek Irwin
1987 Spaceballs Dr. Schlotkin
1994 I'll Do Anything Theater Critic Uncredited
1995 The Granny Albert
1995 Mortal Kombat Director
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Commercial Director
2006 School for Scoundrels Rabbi

References

  1. ^ a b "Nazi camp survivor was active in Jewish groups". Toledo Blade. April 11, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Holocaust survivor developed real estate". Toledo Blade. September 9, 2003.
  3. ^ "Birnbaum, et al v. G.D. Searle Company, et al". Maryland District Court Case No. 1:90-cv-01715-WEB. June 26, 1990. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013.