Thomas Gordon Poston (October 17, 1921 – April 30, 2007) was an American comedic actor, best known for his regular appearances on The Steve Allen Show (1956–60) and his roles in the sitcoms Mork & Mindy (1979–81) and Newhart (1982–90) and such films as The Old Dark House (1963) and Christmas with the Kranks (2004).
He was married to Jean Sullivan, Kay Hudson, and Suzanne Pleshette and had three children.
Poston died in 2007 at the age of 85 from respiratory failure.
Filmography
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Film Roles
- Skirts Ahoy (1952) as Walk-On (uncredited)
- City That Never Sleeps (1953) as Detective
- The Tempest (1960) as Trinculo
- Zotz (1962) as Prof. Jonathan Jones
- The Old Dark House (1962) as Tom Penderel
- Soldier In The Rain (1963) as Lt. Magee
- Cold Turkey (1971) as Edgar Stopworth
- The Happy Hooker (1975) as J. Arthur Conrad
- Rabbit Test (1978) as Minister
- A Guide For The Married Woman (1978) as Marty Gibson
- Up the Academy (1980) as Sisson
- The Girl The Gold Watch And Dynamite (1981) as Omar Krepps
- Carbon Copy (1981) as Rev. Hayworth
- A Quiet Little Neighborhood A Perfect Little Murder (1990) as Don Corman
- Krippendorf's Tribe (1998) as Gordon Hargrove
- The Story Of Us (1999) as Harry
- Beethovens Fifth (2003) as John Giles/Selig
- The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) as Lord Palimore
- Christmas with the Kranks (2004) as Father Zabriskie
Television Roles
- Tom Corbett Space Cadet (1 episode, 1950) as The Alkarian (uncredited)
- Lights Out (2 episodes, 1950–51) as Col. Killigew (young)/Sir John
- Hawkins Falls A Television Novel (1950–55) as Toby Winfield
- Studio One (2 episodes, 1951) as Sentry/Alec Gordon
- The Phil Silvers Show (2 episodes, 1956–57) as Lt. Franklin/Guard House Lieutenant
- The Steve Allen Show (1956–60) as Himself/Cast Member
- The United States Steel Hour (1 episode, 1957) as Chester Brown
- Play Of The Week (1 episode, 1960) as Supervisor
- Thriller (1 episode, 1961) as Charlie Denham
- The Defenders (2 episodes, 1964) as Sheldon Lowell
- Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre (1 episode, 1965) as Janitor/Lt. Courtney
- Gentle Ben (1 episode, 1968) as Joe Cardigan
- The Good Guys (1 episode, 1969) as Julian Brent
- Get Smart (1 episode, 1969) as Dr. Zharko
- On The Rocks (1975–76) as Mr. Sullivan
- The Bob Newhart Show (5 episodes, 1975–77) as Cliff 'The Peeper' Murdock
- Alice (1 episode, 1976) as Jerry Dittmeyer
- Alls Fair (1 episode, 1977) as Harold Banks
- Weve Got Each Other (1977–78) as Damon Jerome
- The Love Boat (3 episodes, 1977–87) as Mickey O'Day/Daniel Baker/Tom Poston
- Flying High (1 episode, 1978) as Zarky
- Sweepstakes (1 episode, 1979) as Leeds
- CHiPs (1 episode, 1979) as Bill Conner
- Beanes Of Boston (pilot, 1979) as Frank Beane
- Mork & Mindy (1979–81) as Mr. Bickley
- Good Time Harry (1 episode, 1980) as Ben Younger
- Kings Crossing (1 episode, 1982) as Brian Gunshore
- Newhart (1982–90) as George Utley
- Hotel (1 episode, 1985) as Tommy Rooney
- Crazy Like a Fox (1 episode, 1986) as Fiedler
- Fresno (miniseries, 1986) as Doc Paresghian
- D.C. Follies (1 episode, 1987) as Tom Poston
- St. Elsewhere (1 episode, 1988) as Jim Morrison
- The Simpsons (1 episode, 1990) as Capital City Goofball (voice)
- Good Grief (1990–91) as Ringo Prowley
- Coach (4 episodes, 1990–95) as Dr. Art Hibke
- Bob (4 episodes, 1992–93) as Jerry Fleisher
- Dream On (1 episode, 1993) as Sidney 'Uncle Bouncy' Barish
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1 episode, 1993) as Mysterious 'Dead Man'
- Family Matters (3 episodes, 1994–95) as Mr. Looney
- Murphy Brown (2 episodes, 1994–96) as 'Old Man' Phineas T. Sweson
- Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1 episode, 1995) as Ralph/Burly Man (voice)
- Home Improvement (3 episodes, 1995–97) as The Clerk/Ned/Ted
- Grace Under Fire (1995–98) as Floyd Norton
- The Larry Sanders Show (1 episode, 1996) as Tom Poston
- George & Leo (1 episode, 1997) as Traffic Cop
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1 episode, 1997) as Mortgage Banker
- Just Shoot Me! (1 episode, 1998) as Herb
- Touched by an Angel (1 episode, 1998) as Ed Yablonsky
- Suddenly Susan (1 episode, 1998) as Mr. Vance
- Maggie Winters (1 episode, 1998) as Lester Mulford
- Rugrats (1 episode, 1998) as Roy (voice)
- Contempt Of Court (TV movie, 1998) as Coroner
- Cosby (2 episodes, 1999) as Tim
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1 episode, 1999) as Uncle Cosmo
- Diagnosis: Murder (1 episode, 1999) as Tom Porter
- Malcolm & Eddie (2 episodes, 1999–2000) as Garth Dubin
- Dharma & Greg (1 episode, 2000) as Dr. Gillespie
- Normal Ohio (1 episode, 2000) as Stanley
- The Drew Carey Show (1 episode, 2001) as Roscoe Harvey
- King of the Hill (1 episode, 2001) as Mr. Popper (voice)
- ER (2 episodes, 2001) as Earl
- The Lone Gunmen (1 episode, 2001) as Captain Toby/Fred Tabalowski
- The Ellen Show (1 episode, 2001) as Joe
- Apple Valley Knights (pilot, 2002) as Justice Knight Sr.
- Becker (1 episode, 2002) as Joe Willakie
- Will & Grace (1 episode, 2002) as Norman
- That '70s Show (3 episodes, 2002–03) as Burt Sigurdson
- Good Morning Miami (2 episodes, 2003) as Lenny
- 8 Simple Rules (1 episode, 2003) as Jake
- Committed as Clown
- The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (1 episode, 2006) as Merle
