A great (almost) unknown

So many faces on our TV screens aren't the big stars. They're the second bananas and character actors whose roles fill out the shows we watch, sometimes adding more than just a face and a voice.
One of those people was Allan Melvin, who died of cancer Thursday at 84. The Associated Press obituary calls his most memorable role that of Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch."
But Melvin's career was far more extensive. According to imdb.com, his career began in 1955 with the role of Cpl. Steve Henshaw on "The Phil Silvers Show."
He also was well known as Barney Hepner on over two dozen episodes of "All in the Family" and its successor, "Archie Bunker's Place." He also acted in several episodes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C" and "The Andy Griffith Show."
His list of one-shot sitcom credits reads like a television encyclopedia: "Grindl," "Dr. Kildare," "McHale's Navy," "Make Room For Daddy," "The Bill Dana Show," "Ben Casey," "Slattery's People," "Perry Mason", "Lost in Space," "The Mod Squad," "Green Acres" and "Love American Style."
Young viewers heard his voice on many cartoons, including "Chattanooga Cats," "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," "The Flintstones" and "The Magilla Gorilla Show."
What a list.
So here's to Allan Melvin. Thanks for the memories.