Actor Marvin Kaplan Dies at 89

Marvin Kaplan, the voice of Choo-Choo on animated series “Top Cat” and a recurring player on sitcom “Alice,” died Wednesday at his home in Burbank, California. He was 89.

Born Jan. 24, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, Kaplan made his film debut in 1949’s “Adam’s Rib” starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. He was a regular on 1952-56 sitcom “Meet Millie,” and appeared on dozens of series as a guest star through the course of his career. Included were “Gidget,” “Gomer Pyle, USMC,” “My Three Sons,” “Petticoat Junction,” “The Mod Squad” and “I Dream of Jeannie.” Kaplan also appeared in small roles in films such as “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “The Great Race” and “A New Kind of Love.” More recently, he made multiple appearances on Ted Danson sitcom “Becker.”

In addition to acting, Kaplan served as AFTRA Los Angeles local president for eight years and Performers’ Governor on the Television Academy. He was also a member of the California Artists Radio Theatre, Motion Picture Academy and the Academy of New Musical Theatre.

A memorial service has been planned at Theatre West in Los Angeles. A date and time has yet to be announced.