August 06, 2012

Norman Alden, Mary Hartman's Coach Fedders, Much More

In addition to numerous film and television roles, Alden was a familiar face in TV commercials.

Michael Levin

Norman Alden, a prolific character actor who carved out a 50-year career in television and film, died July 27, 2012. Alden, who was also known for his work in commercials, was 87.

Alden’s family said he appeared in 2,500 television episodes, commercials and films. He was perhaps best known for playing Lou the mechanic in a series of TV spots for AC Delco.

Alden rarely had a regular television role, the story notes. Instead, he usually played one show and one character at a time.

In the mid-1970s, he played Coach Leroy Fedders on seven episodes of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, ending his role when the character drowned face-first in a bowl of Mary’s chicken soup, the story notes.

He provided the voice of Aquaman in two Super Friends animated shows in the 1970s, and appeared in TV shows ranging from Electra Woman and Dyna Girl to My Three Sons and Charlie's Angels.

Other TV appearances included Gunsmoke, Ironside, Murder, She Wrote, Dynasty, The Mod Squad, Hill Street Blues and JAG. He worked consistently from the 1950s through his retirement in 2006.

On the big screen, Alden was seen in Semi-Tough, Kansas City Bomber, Back to the Future, Ed Wood and many other films.

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