Harvey Lembeck was a popular American comedic actor who starred in many films and TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show (a.k.a. Sgt. Bilko) and as the bumbling biker leader Eric Von Zipper in the beach party movies. But his life was cut short by a sudden heart attack in 1982, leaving behind his wife, two children, and many fans. How did harvey lembeck cause of death happen and what was his legacy in the entertainment industry? Here is a brief overview of his life and career.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Harvey Lembeck was born on April 15, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. He attended New Utrecht High School, where he met his future wife, Caroline Dubs, who was also a dancer. They formed a dance duo called The Dancing Carrolls and performed at the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Lembeck enrolled at New York University, where he earned a degree in radio arts in 1947. He wanted to be a sports announcer, but his professor, Robert Emerson, encouraged him to pursue an acting career instead. He followed his advice and landed his first Broadway role in Mister Roberts, which he played for nearly three years. He also made his film debut in 1951, appearing in three movies for 20th Century Fox: You’re in the Navy Now, Fourteen Hours, and The Frogmen. He then returned to Broadway as Sgt. Harry Shapiro in Stalag 17, a role he reprised in the 1953 film adaptation directed by Billy Wilder. He won the Theater Owners of America’s Laurel Award for outstanding comedy performance and best possibility for stardom. He continued to play mostly military roles in films and TV shows, such as The Wackiest Ship in the Army, The Caine Mutiny, and The War Lover.
The Phil Silvers Show and Beach Party Movies
In 1955, Lembeck got his big break when he was cast as Cpl. Rocco Barbella, the sidekick of Master Sgt. Ernest G. Bilko, played by Phil Silvers, in the hit sitcom The Phil Silvers Show (also known as Sgt. Bilko or You’ll Never Get Rich). The show was a comedy about the schemes and antics of Bilko and his men at a fictional U.S. Army base. Lembeck played Barbella as a loyal, but dim-witted, follower of Bilko, who often got into trouble because of his boss’s plans. The show ran for four seasons and won several Emmy Awards, including three for Outstanding Comedy Series. Lembeck also appeared in other TV shows, such as The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, and The Munsters. In 1963, Lembeck switched gears and took on a different kind of role: that of Eric Von Zipper, the leader of a gang of inept bikers who antagonized the teenage protagonists of the beach party movies. The beach party movies were a series of low-budget musical comedies produced by American International Pictures, starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as the main couple. Lembeck played Von Zipper in seven of the movies, starting with Beach Party and ending with The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini. He portrayed Von Zipper as a parody of Marlon Brando’s character in The Wild One, with a thick German accent, a leather jacket, and a monocle. He also had a trademark gesture of snapping his fingers and saying “You stupid!” to his henchmen. He often tried to kidnap or woo the female characters, but was always foiled by the male heroes or his own incompetence. He also had a weakness for Annette Funicello’s character, Dee Dee, whom he called “my little gypsy”. Lembeck’s performance as Von Zipper was widely praised by critics and audiences, who found him hilarious and endearing. He became one of the most popular and memorable characters of the beach party movies, and even had his own spin-off film, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, in 1965.
Later Years and Death
After the beach party movies ended, Lembeck continued to work in films and TV shows, such as The Love Bug, The Doris Day Show, and Mork & Mindy. He also became a respected acting teacher, founding the Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop in 1964. He taught many aspiring comedians and actors, such as John Ritter, Penny Marshall, Robin Williams, and John Travolta. He also directed some episodes of TV shows, such as Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. He was a devoted family man, married to his wife Caroline for 40 years, and father of two children, Michael and Helaine, who also became actors and directors. On January 5, 1982, Lembeck suffered a fatal heart attack while rehearsing for a guest appearance on the sitcom Happy Days. He was 58 years old. He was buried at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills, California. His death shocked and saddened his fans, friends, and colleagues, who remembered him as a talented, funny, and generous person. According to Wikipedia, Phil Silvers said of him: “He was one of the most creative actors I ever worked with. He was a joy to work with. He was a genius at improvisation. He was a very warm human being.” According to IMDb, Annette Funicello said of him: “He was a wonderful man and a terrific actor. He was always so funny and made us laugh all the time. He was like a big brother to me.”
Conclusion
Harvey Lembeck was a versatile and prolific actor who made his mark in comedy, both on stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show and Eric Von Zipper in the beach party movies, but he also had many other memorable performances in films and TV shows. He was also a respected acting teacher and mentor to many stars. He died of a heart attack in 1982, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and entertainment. He is still remembered and admired by his fans and peers, who consider him one of the funniest and most lovable actors of his generation.
