Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen

 

We learned today of the death of actor Allan Arbus, who was 95 when he passed away this past Friday. 

Back in the day, Arbus was one of those guys who just popped up in television series all over the dial.  In the 70s and 80s, he was a pretty popular guest star.  He even made it to my cherished Hardcastle and McCormick, in a 3rd season episode that remains a fan favorite to this day.

And though his television appearances dwindled in number as the years marched on, Arbus still showed up here and there on the small screen through the 90s, making his final guest appearance in 2000 in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

But to most people (even me, Hardcastle connection notwithstanding), he would forever be psychiatrist Sidney Freedman, a role he brought to life multiple times on the show M*A*S*H.  Dr. Freeman showed up early in the second season of the show in 1973, and he continued to pop into the 4077th all the way until the final episode in 1983.  He was the perfect mind doc—wise, caring, realistic, and witty.  Who could ever want more than that in a psychiatrist?  And, for those of you who are not as well-versed in your Hardcastle and McCormick history, I’ll tell you that in that role he played yet another doctor, though not a psychiatrist, and this doctor’s name was Dr. Friedman.  Coincidence?  I doubt it.  More likely an homage to a wonderful recurring character made real and memorable by a wonderful character actor.

So RIP, Mr. Arbus, and thanks for the memories. 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net