Philip Bruns, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Co-Star and Frequent Guest Star
In addition to his regular role as Louise Lasser's father on the ’70s comedy, Bruns appeared in episodes of dozens of other series.
Philip Bruns, an actor best known for playing Louise Lasser’s father on the 1970s television comedy Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, died February 8, 2012, in Los Angeles. He was 80.
According to news reports, Bruns died of natural causes.
On two seasons of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Bruns played George Shumway, father of the title character, played by Louise Lasser. He also spent three years as a cast member of the comedy-variety series Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine in the mid-1960s.
Born May 2, 1931, in Pipestone, Minnesota, Bruns attended Yale University’s drama school. He began his career on the New York stage and went on to work extensively in television, in both commercials and episodic series.
Shows he appeared on included Route 66, The Wild, Wild West, Here Come the Brides, Maude, Sanford and Son, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rookies, Kojak, M*A*S*H, Barney Miller, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Cagney & Lacey, Seinfeld, Just Shoot Me and many others.
Bruns also had roles in numerous feature films, including Harry and Tonto, The Great Waldo Pepper, Flashdance,The Stunt Man and My Favorite Year.
He is survived by his wife, actress Laurie Franks.