Al ‘Grandpa Munster’ Lewis Dies
Al Lewis, best known as the vampish vampire Grandpa on the 1960s sitcom “The Munsters” — but also a restaurant owner, radio host, basketball scout and quixotic political candidate — has died.
The 95-year-old Lewis died Friday night (Feb. 3) at his home in New York. He had been in failing health for the past couple years. His death was announced Saturday on WBAI-FM, during the time he normally hosted his radio show.
Born in April 1910, Lewis grew up in Brooklyn and played basketball at Jefferson High School. As an adult, he sometimes worked as a scout. He broke into acting in the dying days of vaudeville and also worked as a circus performer before making his television debut in the late ’50s.
Following a few guest appearances and a role in the 1960 gangster movie “Pretty Boy Floyd,” Lewis landed the role of Officer Leo Schnauzer in the NBC sitcom “Car 54, Where Are You?,” co-starring with Fred Gwynne.
Following “Car 54’s” cancellation, Gwynne and Lewis reteamed on “The Munsters,” which ran from 1964-66. The role forever branded Lewis as “Grandpa,” but he never seemed to mind. In fact, when he ran for governor of New York in 2000 as a Green Party candidate, he unsuccessfully fought to be listed as “Grandpa Al Lewis” on the ballot.
He continued acting well into his 80s, racking up credits ranging from 1969’s “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” to a guest spot on “Taxi” to a big-screen remake of “Car 54” in 1994.
He also owned a restaurant, Grandpa’s, in New York, and did his radio show.
Lewis survived by his wife, Karen, three sons from a previous marriage and four grandchildren.
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