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Herbie Faye
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Herbie Faye (February 2, 1899 – June 28, 1980) was an American actor and vaudeville comedian who appeared in both of Phil Silvers' CBS television series, The Phil Silvers Show (1955–1959) and The New Phil Silvers Show (1963–1964). Faye died June 28, 1980, from heart failure.[1]
Key Information
Career
[edit]Faye worked with Mildred Harris in vaudeville, with Silvers as one of the supporting cast.[2] His relationship with Silvers began in 1928 when Silvers was the straight man in Faye's act.[3]
On Broadway, Faye appeared in Top Banana (1951)[4] and Wine, Women and Song (1942).[5]
In movies, Faye appeared in 1956 as Max in The Harder They Fall, a boxing story starring Humphrey Bogart in his last role. In 1961, he appeared as a cook in the comedy film Snow White and the Three Stooges. In 1962, he portrayed Charlie the bartender, in another boxing film Requiem for a Heavyweight, starring Anthony Quinn.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Top Banana | Moe | |
| 1955 | The Shrike | Tager | |
| 1956 | The Harder They Fall | Max | |
| 1959 | Never Steal Anything Small | Hymie | |
| 1961 | Snow White and the Three Stooges | Head Cook | Uncredited |
| 1962 | Requiem for a Heavyweight | Charlie, the Bartender | |
| 1963 | Come Blow Your Horn | Waiter | Uncredited |
| 1963 | The Thrill of It All | Irving | |
| 1964 | The Patsy | Tailor | Uncredited |
| 1964 | The Disorderly Orderly | Mr. Welles, Patient | Uncredited |
| 1965 | The Family Jewels | Joe | |
| 1966 | The Ghost and Mr. Chicken | Man in Diner | Uncredited |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie | Maury, the Equipment Man | |
| 1967 | Enter Laughing | Mr. Schoenbaum | |
| 1967 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Taxi Driver | |
| 1968 | Blackbeard's Ghost | Croupier | |
| 1968 | The Night They Raided Minsky's | Waiter | Uncredited |
| 1969 | Angel in My Pocket | Mr. Welch | |
| 1969 | The Love God? | Lester Timkin | |
| 1971 | Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? | Divorcee | |
| 1980 | Melvin and Howard | Man Witness | (final film role) |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955–1959 | The Phil Silvers Show | Corporal Sam Fender | Series regular |
| 1961 | The Tom Ewell Show | Whitey | Episode "Mr. Shrewd" (Season 1, Episode 15) |
| 1961 | The Tom Ewell Show | Rudy | Episode "Handy Man" (Season 1, Episode 28) |
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone | Joe Palucci, the bartender | Season 5 Episode 4: "A Kind of a Stopwatch" |
| 1964 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Harry Keen | Episode "Brother Can You Spare $2,500" (Season 4, Episode 15 |
| 1963–1964 | The New Phil Silvers Show | Waluska | Series regular |
| 1965 | My Favorite Martian | Andy Fuller | Episode "Magnetic Personality" (Season 2, Episode 25) |
| 1965 | The Munsters | Rod | Episode "Herman Munster, Shutterbug" |
| 1966 | Bewitched | Kovacks' Manager | Season 2 Episode 21: "Fastest Gun on Madison Avenue" |
| 1966 | Bewitched | William Dunn | Season 2 Episode 32: "A Bum Raps" |
| 1967 | Rango | Storekeeper | Episode "Rango the Outlaw" |
| 1967 | The Andy Griffith Show | Eddie Blake | Season 8 Episode 8: “The Tape Recorder” |
| 1974 | Happy Days | POP | Episode "Knock Around the Block" (Season 1, Episode 15) |
References
[edit]
- ^ Alex McNeil, Total Television, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 4th ed., pp. 598, 658
- ^ Barron, Mark (February 18, 1952). "'Fabulous Invalid' Shows Gross About 50 Billion Dollars Annually". Denton Record-Chronicle. Texas, Denton. p. 3. Retrieved January 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Herbie Faye Was Teacher of Silvers". Biddeford-Saco Journal. Maine, Biddeford. April 11, 1964. p. 11. Retrieved January 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Top Banana - Cast". Playbill Vault. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ "("Herbie Faye" search results". Playbill Vault. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
External links
[edit]- Herbie Faye at IMDb
- Herbie Faye at the Internet Broadway Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Herbie Faye
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Early life
Birth and background
Herbie Faye was born on February 2, 1899, in the Bronx, New York City.[4][1] Details on Faye's early family life are sparse, but he had a brother, Isadore (later known as the vaudevillian comedian Bobby Faye).[4][3] The family was part of the Jewish immigrant community in early 20th-century New York, navigating urban poverty and cultural adaptation.[4] Faye's childhood unfolded in this immigrant-influenced environment, where the bustling streets of New York City provided exposure to a melting pot of languages, trades, and performing arts traditions, including Yiddish theater and early vaudeville acts that dotted the city's entertainment landscape.[4] Specific anecdotes from his youth remain undocumented.Entry into vaudeville
Herbie Faye, born in New York City in 1899, entered the world of vaudeville and burlesque in the mid-1920s, leveraging his local roots to secure early opportunities in the city's thriving theater scene. By 1926, he had formed his own troupe called "Laughology," which included Bobbie Caputo, and began touring major venues such as the Earle Theatre and the Palace Theatre in New York.[3] These performances marked his initial foray as a comedian and actor, establishing him in the competitive circuits where timing and quick-witted delivery were essential for success.[5] Faye's early acts emphasized his style as a character comedian, relying on physical humor, exaggerated facial expressions, and masterful slow-burn techniques, including double-takes and triple-takes that built comedic tension through deliberate pacing. In 1928, he expanded his act by partnering with former silent film star Mildred Harris for a vaudeville routine, hiring an unknown Phil Silvers as a supporting straight man, which honed Faye's role as the lead comic.[3] This collaboration highlighted his knack for ensemble dynamics, with routines often centered on everyday mishaps and verbal sparring that showcased his impeccable timing. By the early 1930s, Faye had progressed to more prominent spots, including the 1930 production "Paris to Long Beach" and a 1933 burlesque sketch "Chow Chow" alongside Joe Mandel and Ethel Parker, solidifying his reputation on New York stages and regional tours.[3][6] As vaudeville faced mounting challenges in the late 1920s and early 1930s with the advent of talking pictures, Faye's career navigated the industry's decline, where live acts competed against the allure of cinema. A notable setback came in 1931 with his act "Charlie Chaplin's First Wife," again featuring Harris and Silvers, which toured but abruptly disbanded after a performance in Chicago drew complaints of indecency, reflecting broader tensions as vaudevillians adapted—or failed to adapt—to shifting audience tastes and censorship pressures.[3] Undeterred, Faye returned to traditional burlesque sketches like "She Won't Take It" with Silvers, where he assumed the role of First Banana, the top comic, demonstrating resilience amid the era's economic and cultural upheavals that ultimately diminished vaudeville's prominence.[3]Career
Comedy and stage work
Herbie Faye's career as a comedian originated in vaudeville during the late 1920s, where he developed his foundational skills through ensemble performances that emphasized timing and character-driven humor.[5] In 1928, he joined an act led by actress Mildred Harris, incorporating emerging talents like Phil Silvers into the troupe, which allowed Faye to refine his role as a supportive comic foil.[6] This early exposure to vaudeville's fast-paced routines laid the groundwork for his evolution toward more nuanced character portrayals, blending physical comedy with verbal interplay. As vaudeville waned amid the Great Depression in the early 1930s, Faye shifted to burlesque circuits, where he solidified his reputation as an expert in stage comedy fundamentals, including ad-libbed responses and exaggerated character archetypes that kept audiences engaged in live settings. His collaborations during this period, particularly with Silvers in burlesque acts, highlighted Faye's ability to improvise within structured sketches, teaching younger comedians techniques for spontaneous humor that bridged traditional vaudeville energy with more theatrical depth.[7] This adaptation proved crucial, as burlesque's decline further propelled him toward legitimate stage work, transforming his vaudeville-honed style into versatile supporting roles on Broadway. Faye's Broadway contributions peaked in the 1940s and 1950s, beginning with the 1942 revue Wine, Women and Song, a musical comedy where he performed alongside Jimmy Savo, Pinky Lee, and Florence Moore, showcasing his knack for ensemble comedy in a revue format that echoed burlesque's variety.[8] His most prominent stage role arrived in the 1951 musical Top Banana, starring Silvers, in which Faye played Moe, a sly agent character whose interactions amplified the lead's antics during the show's 356-performance run at the Winter Garden Theatre.[9] These appearances underscored Faye's growth from vaudeville's improvisational roots to Broadway's scripted yet dynamic character work, where his ad-libbing talents enhanced live audience rapport without overshadowing principal performers.[10]Television roles
Faye achieved his breakthrough in television as Corporal Sam Fender, a bumbling member of Sergeant Bilko's motor pool platoon, on the CBS sitcom The Phil Silvers Show (also known as You'll Never Get Rich), which ran from 1955 to 1959.[11] In this role, he appeared in over 100 episodes, providing comic relief as the everyman sidekick to Phil Silvers' scheming sergeant, drawing on his vaudeville timing to enhance the ensemble dynamics.[6] His portrayal of Fender exemplified Faye's specialty for hapless, relatable characters that grounded the show's chaotic humor.[12] Faye reunited with Silvers in The New Phil Silvers Show (1963–1964), where he played Waluska, a factory worker under Silvers' character Harry Grafton, appearing in 24 episodes of the short-lived CBS series.[13] This role continued his tradition of supporting Silvers in workplace comedy settings, again as a dim-witted but endearing colleague. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Faye made guest appearances on various sitcoms, often as bumbling or opportunistic everyman figures that complemented ensemble casts. Notable spots included two episodes of Bewitched in 1966, where he played Kovack's manager and William Dunn, adding flustered energy to the magical scenarios.[14] He also appeared on The Andy Griffith Show in 1967 as con artist Eddie Blake in the episode "The Tape Recorder," and later on its spin-off Mayberry R.F.D. in 1969 as Marty, bringing his vaudeville-honed schtick to small-town antics.[15] These roles highlighted Faye's versatility in portraying lovable dupes within established TV ensembles.[16]Film appearances
Herbie Faye made his film debut in the 1950s, transitioning from his stage background to screen roles, beginning with the musical comedy Top Banana (1954), where he portrayed Moe in the adaptation of the Broadway hit that starred Phil Silvers.[12] This marked his entry into cinema, leveraging his vaudeville-honed comedic timing in a supporting capacity. Throughout the decade, Faye secured notable supporting parts that provided comic relief amid dramatic narratives, including Tager in the psychological drama The Shrike (1955), directed by Jose Ferrer, and Max, a boxing promoter's associate, in Humphrey Bogart's final film The Harder They Fall (1956).[12][17] His television success on shows like The Phil Silvers Show opened doors to these film opportunities, allowing him to infuse humor into tense storylines. By 1962, he appeared as Charlie, the bartender, in the film adaptation of Requiem for a Heavyweight, delivering wry commentary that lightened the boxing drama's heavy themes.[18][19] In the 1960s, Faye continued with small but distinctive roles in comedies and dramedies, such as Maury, the equipment man, in Billy Wilder's The Fortune Cookie (1966), and the taxi driver in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967).[12][17] These appearances exemplified his pattern of embodying everyman characters—often cab drivers, bartenders, or minor functionaries—who added levity through understated wit, frequently in uncredited or brief scenes across both genres. His film career culminated in 1980 with an uncredited role as a man witness in Melvin and Howard, a dramedy directed by Jonathan Demme.Personal life
Marriage and family
Herbie Faye married Mary Lou Johnson on June 21, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, when he was 65 years old and she was 37.[20] The wedding took place at the home of his longtime friend and collaborator Phil Silvers, with Silvers serving as best man.[3] The couple remained together until Faye's death in 1980, a union that lasted 16 years and provided stability during the later stages of his entertainment career.[21] No children are documented from the marriage.[20] Faye and his wife shared residences that reflected his peripatetic career, beginning in New York during his vaudeville and early television years before relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada, in later life, where they lived at the time of his passing.[21] Their family life remained largely private, with few public anecdotes available beyond Mary Lou's organization of a 1980 birthday gathering with former castmates at their Nevada home, despite his failing health.[3]Death
Herbie Faye died on June 28, 1980, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 81.[1][22] The cause of death was heart failure.[23] Faye had relocated to Las Vegas in his later years, likely for retirement.[4] His death occurred several months after his final film appearance as an unnamed witness in Melvin and Howard, released earlier that year.[22] Faye was survived by his wife of 16 years, Mary Lou.[1] He was cremated, with no specific burial site recorded, reflecting the modest end to a career as a supporting actor without widespread public fanfare or major tributes upon his passing.[22]Filmography
Film
Herbie Faye appeared in approximately 17 feature films between 1954 and 1980, often in supporting comedic roles as cab drivers, managers, or minor characters.[12][1]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Top Banana | Moe[12] |
| 1955 | The Shrike | Tager[12] |
| 1956 | The Harder They Fall | Max[1] |
| 1959 | Never Steal Anything Small | Hymie[12] |
| 1962 | Requiem for a Heavyweight | Charlie[12] |
| 1963 | Come Blow Your Horn | Waiter (uncredited)[24] |
| 1963 | The Thrill of It All | Irving[12][25] |
| 1965 | The Family Jewels | Joe[12] |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie | Maury - Equipment Man[26][27] |
| 1967 | Enter Laughing | Mr. Schoenbaum (uncredited)[12][28] |
| 1967 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Taxi Driver |
| 1968 | Angel in My Pocket | Mr. Welch (uncredited)[12][29] |
| 1968 | Blackbeard's Ghost | Croupier |
| 1968 | The Night They Raided Minsky's | Waiter (uncredited)[12][30] |
| 1969 | The Love God? | Lester Timkin (uncredited)[12][31] |
| 1971 | Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? | Divorcee (uncredited)[12][32] |
| 1980 | Melvin and Howard | Witness |
Television
Herbie Faye appeared in over 100 television episodes across sitcoms, variety shows, and dramas from the 1950s through the 1970s, often in supporting or guest roles that showcased his comedic timing as a character actor. His most prominent work came in recurring capacities on two Phil Silvers-led series, where he played loyal sidekicks, alongside numerous one-off guest spots on popular programs of the era.[1][26] The following table catalogs his key television appearances chronologically, highlighting recurring roles (with episode counts where documented) and selected guest spots. Recurring roles typically involved ongoing characters integral to ensemble casts, while one-off appearances were brief comedic cameos.| Year(s) | Series | Role | Episodes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955–1959 | The Phil Silvers Show | Cpl. Sam Fender | 139 episodes (recurring; loyal platoon member in army comedy sitcom)[33] |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone | Joe the Bartender | 1 episode ("A Stop at Willoughby"; guest spot in anthology series) |
| 1961 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Cabby Man Juror | 1 episode ("One Angry Man"; guest spot as juror in sitcom) |
| 1963–1964 | The New Phil Silvers Show | Waluska | 24 episodes (recurring; factory worker and friend in workplace sitcom)[13] |
| 1964 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Deli Man / Willie | 2 episodes (recurring guest; deli owner in multiple comedic bits)[34] |
| 1965 | The Andy Griffith Show | Luke | 1 episode ("The Arrest of the Mayberry Chief"; guest spot as local character) |
| 1965 | Bewitched | William Dunn | 1 episode ("Abner Kadabra"; guest spot as manager in fantasy sitcom) |
| 1966 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | Mechanic | 1 episode ("The Borrowed Car"; guest spot in military comedy)[35] |
| 1966 | That Girl | Mr. Cooper | 1 episode ("Rich Little Rich Girl?"; guest spot in romantic sitcom) |
| 1967 | Accidental Family | Irv | 1 episode (recurring guest; family friend in sitcom) |
| 1967 | The Flying Nun | Mr. Macklin | 1 episode ("A Nose by Any Other Name"; guest spot in comedy) |
| 1967 | Mannix | Hustler | 1 episode ("Skid Marks on a Dry Run"; guest spot in detective series)[36] |
| 1968 | The Andy Griffith Show | Luke | 1 episode ("A Trip to the Dentist"; guest spot reprising character) |
| 1971 | All in the Family | Deliveryman | 1 episode ("The Draft Dodger"; guest spot in groundbreaking sitcom)[37] |
| 1971 | Here's Lucy | Harry | 1 episode ("Lucy's Houseguest, Harry"; guest spot in variety-sitcom) |
| 1972 | The Bob Newhart Show | Building Superintendent | 1 episode (guest spot in sitcom)[38] |
| 1973 | The Odd Couple | Waiter | 1 episode (guest spot in buddy comedy) |
| 1974 | Chico and the Man | 1 episode (guest spot in sitcom)[38] | |
| 1974 | Happy Days | 1 episode (guest spot in nostalgic sitcom)[38] | |
| 1975 | Barney Miller | Nathan Levine | 1 episode ("The Social Worker"; guest spot in police sitcom)[38] |
| 1975 | Ellery Queen | Moe Fletcher | 1 episode (guest spot in mystery series)[16] |
| 1979 | Quincy, M.E. | 1 episode (guest spot in medical drama) |