Bruce Solomon
Encyclopedia
Bruce Peter Solomon is an American television and film star, best known for the roles of Sgt. Foley in the TV show "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
" and Kenny Zuckerman in Beverly Hills, 90210
.
", but is best known for his portrayal of Sgt. Foley on the TV show, "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
." His acting teacher, Joan Darling
, one of the directors for "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," chose him for that role, despite the fact that it was originally written as an older, middle-aged policeman. When Solomon was cast in the role it was rewritten as a young, handsome, "ever-on-the-make" police officer. He was also known for the role of Kenny Zuckerman in "Beverly Hills, 90210."
In addition to his role of Rabbi David Small in "Lanigan's Rabbi," he would also play a rabbi in the 2000 film, "Harrison's Flowers
."
Solomon was part of the cast of the comedy series "E/R
", which included Elliot Gould, Jason Alexander
, and Mary McDonnell
. His many guest star appearances in other series included Barney Miller
and Resurrection Boulevard, and films including The Candidate
and Foul Play
One of his earliest movies was "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
," in 1972. He was also in the 1986 TV movie, "Maricela," about the daughter of an affluent American family who resents the daughter of the live-in maid from El Salvador
. The TV drama was produced for public television
's "WonderWorks
" series.
In one of his most recent movie appearances, Solomon plays Edward Feldman, the Executive Producer of the television series "Hogan's Heroes
," in the 2002 film "Auto Focus
," the story of actor Bob Crane
. In that film, he has the well-known line to Crane, "Bob, don't try so hard. You're the hero of the show. It's named after you. Heroes don't try to be heroes. They simply are." Another of his famous lines—from the film Foul Play
with Goldie Hawn
-- was "The dwarf...beware the dwarf."
area, including a number of productions of the Elephant Theatre Company
. Among the productions in which he has appeared were "Search and Destroy," "Dearboy's War," and "Greystone." And, after playing a rabbi on television and film, he originated the role of Catholic priest Fr. Carney in the Hollywood Stella Adler Theatre world premiere of the play "Friends of Frank," the story of the decision to cast Marlon Brando
in "On the Waterfront
" rather than Frank Sinatra
. The play was produced in 2005.
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman is an American soap opera parody that aired in daily syndication from January 1976 to May 1977. The series was produced by Norman Lear, directed by Joan Darling and starred Louise Lasser...
" and Kenny Zuckerman in Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
.
Television and film
Solomon starred as the title character in the short-lived 1977 television series "Lanigan's RabbiLanigan's Rabbi
Lanigan's Rabbi is a short-lived American crime drama series that aired on NBC during the first half of 1977.-Synopsis:Based upon a series of novels by Harry Kemelman, the series starred Art Carney as Police Chief Paul Lanigan, who fights crime in a small California town with the help of his best...
", but is best known for his portrayal of Sgt. Foley on the TV show, "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman is an American soap opera parody that aired in daily syndication from January 1976 to May 1977. The series was produced by Norman Lear, directed by Joan Darling and starred Louise Lasser...
." His acting teacher, Joan Darling
Joan Darling
Joan Darling is an actress, film and television director and a dramatic arts instructor.Joan "Joni" Kugell began her career with the New York improvisational theater troupe "Premise Players", and soon graduated to off-Broadway and Broadway productions. She gravitated to feature films and...
, one of the directors for "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," chose him for that role, despite the fact that it was originally written as an older, middle-aged policeman. When Solomon was cast in the role it was rewritten as a young, handsome, "ever-on-the-make" police officer. He was also known for the role of Kenny Zuckerman in "Beverly Hills, 90210."
In addition to his role of Rabbi David Small in "Lanigan's Rabbi," he would also play a rabbi in the 2000 film, "Harrison's Flowers
Harrison's Flowers
Harrison's Flowers is a 2000 French film by Elie Chouraqui. It stars, among others, Andie MacDowell, Elias Koteas, Brendan Gleeson, Adrien Brody, Marie Trintignant, Gerard Butler and David Strathairn....
."
Solomon was part of the cast of the comedy series "E/R
E/R
E/R is an American television sitcom that aired in 1984 and 1985. Developed from a successful play of the same name, the series was produced by Embassy Television and lasted a single season.-Synopsis:...
", which included Elliot Gould, Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Jay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
, and Mary McDonnell
Mary McDonnell
Mary Eileen McDonnell is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received an Academy Award nomination for her role as Stands With A Fist in Dances with Wolves, and she is also very well known for her performance as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, the President's wife...
. His many guest star appearances in other series included Barney Miller
Barney Miller
Barney Miller is a situation comedy television series set in a New York City police station in Greenwich Village. The series originally was broadcast from January 23, 1975 to May 20, 1982 on ABC. It was created by Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker...
and Resurrection Boulevard, and films including The Candidate
The Candidate (1972 film)
The Candidate is a 1972 American film starring Robert Redford. Its themes include how the political machine corrupts. There are many parallels between the then-recent 1970 California Senate election between John V. Tunney and George Murphy; however, Redford's character Bill McKay is a political...
and Foul Play
Foul Play
Foul Play is a 1978 American comic mystery/thriller film written and directed by Colin Higgins. In it, a recently divorced librarian is drawn into a mystery when a stranger hides a roll of film in a pack of cigarettes and gives it to her for safekeeping....
One of his earliest movies was "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a 1972 comedic horror film directed by Bob Clark...
," in 1972. He was also in the 1986 TV movie, "Maricela," about the daughter of an affluent American family who resents the daughter of the live-in maid from El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. The TV drama was produced for public television
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
's "WonderWorks
WonderWorks
WonderWorks was a project jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and PBS that made short, made for TV movies out of acclaimed children's books...
" series.
In one of his most recent movie appearances, Solomon plays Edward Feldman, the Executive Producer of the television series "Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes is an American television sitcom that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to March 28, 1971, on the CBS network. The show was set in a German prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Bob Crane had the starring role as Colonel Robert E...
," in the 2002 film "Auto Focus
Auto Focus
Auto Focus is a 2002 American biographical film directed by Paul Schrader that stars Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe. The screenplay by Michael Gerbosi is based on the book The Murder of Bob Crane by Robert Graysmith....
," the story of actor Bob Crane
Bob Crane
Robert Edward "Bob" Crane was an American actor and disc jockey, best known for his performance as Colonel Robert E...
. In that film, he has the well-known line to Crane, "Bob, don't try so hard. You're the hero of the show. It's named after you. Heroes don't try to be heroes. They simply are." Another of his famous lines—from the film Foul Play
Foul Play
Foul Play is a 1978 American comic mystery/thriller film written and directed by Colin Higgins. In it, a recently divorced librarian is drawn into a mystery when a stranger hides a roll of film in a pack of cigarettes and gives it to her for safekeeping....
with Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
-- was "The dwarf...beware the dwarf."
Stage
In addition to his roles in film and television, Solomon has appeared on stage in a number of plays in the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, including a number of productions of the Elephant Theatre Company
Elephant Theatre Company
The is a 5013 Non-Profit Theatre located in Los Angeles' Theatre Row District. It has over 75 members including actors, designers, directors, and stage managers....
. Among the productions in which he has appeared were "Search and Destroy," "Dearboy's War," and "Greystone." And, after playing a rabbi on television and film, he originated the role of Catholic priest Fr. Carney in the Hollywood Stella Adler Theatre world premiere of the play "Friends of Frank," the story of the decision to cast Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
in "On the Waterfront
On the Waterfront
On the Waterfront is a 1954 American drama film about union violence and corruption among longshoremen. The film was directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. It stars Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb and Karl Malden. The soundtrack score was composed by Leonard...
" rather than Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. The play was produced in 2005.
External links
- List of films and television appearances.
- http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_love_boat/video/index.php?pid=ZwcEgYnr0mfKu5ZL3NfvcjQ1_1ex3nEKVideo: The Love BoatThe Love BoatThe Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
episode, with Bruce Solomon guest star appearance.] - http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=273007Video clip from film Foul PlayFoul PlayFoul Play is a 1978 American comic mystery/thriller film written and directed by Colin Higgins. In it, a recently divorced librarian is drawn into a mystery when a stranger hides a roll of film in a pack of cigarettes and gives it to her for safekeeping....
, featuring Solomon's famous "Beware the Dwarf" line.]