Florence Halop
| Florence Halop | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 23, 1923 Jamaica, Queens, New York |
| Died |
July 15, 1986 (aged 63) Los Angeles, California |
| Other names | Flo Halop |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse(s) | George Gruskin (19??-1976; his death); 2 daughters |
Florence Halop (January 23, 1923 – July 15, 1986) was an American actress. Best known for her roles as surly patient Mrs. Hufnagel on the drama St. Elsewhere and the raspy-voiced bailiff Florence Kleiner on the sitcom Night Court,[1] Halop was the sister of Billy Halop, one of the original Dead End/East Side Kids.
Early years
Halop was born in Jamaica, New York from a theatrical family. Her mother was a dancer, and her brother, Billy Halop was an actor who worked on radio, in films, and television.[2]
Radio
An item in a 1931 newspaper reported that Halop was "the youngest star of the National Broadcasting Company -- only 7 and broadcasting for the last three years."[3] She first appeared on Coast-to-Coast on a Bus.[2]
Later, she was heard on Wheatenaville.[4]
Television
Halop transitioned to television in the early 1950s with a role in the series Meet Millie. After the series ended in 1956, Halop guest starred on various television series during the late 1950s and 1960s including roles in Playhouse 90, Going My Way, and I Spy.
Between 1976 and 1982, she played six different characters on the TV series Barney Miller. In 1984, she had a guest stint on St. Elsewhere. Halop’s character, Mrs. Hufnagel, was originally intended to be a one-episode spot,[1] but her role was so well received the writers found a way to get her into 17 more episodes over the course of the season.[1]The name selected came from Dr. Vicki Hufnagel aka Vikki who was a well known surgeon at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Hufnagel had been set up to date Mark Harmon by talent attorney Scott Swartzman. She was unable to comply and this was a personal tease.
In 1985, Halop succeeded Selma Diamond as a bailiff on Night Court after Diamond's death from lung cancer. Halop herself also developed lung cancer and died during the series run.[1] She was replaced on Night Court by Marsha Warfield, who played Roz Russell until the series ended in 1992.[5]
Family
Halop was married to George Gruskin, who died in 1976. They were the parents of two daughters, Georgeanna and Benita. She is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1939 | Nancy Drew... Reporter | Phyllis Gimble, Journalism Student | Uncredited |
| 1940 | Junior G-Men | Mary | |
| 1966 | The Glass Bottom Boat | Lady on Telephone | Uncredited Alternative title: The Spy in Lace Panties |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | 1 episode | |
| Holiday Hotel | Unknown episodes | ||
| 1952 | I Love Lucy | Woman on Phone | 1 episode |
| 1952–1956 | Meet Millie | Mrs. Bronson | 78 episodes |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Mrs. Laurie | 1 episode |
| 1959 | The Untouchables | Flora Weinberg | 1 episode |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners | Ruth Melton Foss | 1 episode |
| 1963 | Going My Way | Mrs. Kravitz | 1 episode |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Jenny, Mr. Crawford's maid | 1 episode | |
| 1965 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Mrs. Spaulding | 1 episode |
| Hank | Mrs. Wallace | 1 episode | |
| 1967 | Captain Nice | 1 episode | |
| 1967–1968 | That Girl | Clerk Librarian |
2 episodes |
| 1968 | I Spy | Clara | 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Mod Squad | Nurse | 1 episode |
| But I Don't Want to Get Married! | Mrs. Green | Television movie | |
| 1971 | Allan | Blanche Fisher | Television movie |
| The Chicago Teddy Bears | Mrs. Krausmeyer | 1 episode | |
| Love, American Style | 2 episodes | ||
| 1972 | Insight | 1 episode | |
| Wait till Your Father Gets Home | Voice | 1 episode | |
| The New Scooby-Doo Movies | Voice | 2 episodes | |
| 1974 | Here's Lucy | Old Woman | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Sylvia | Television movie |
| Police Woman | Hannah Victor | 1 episode | |
| 1976 | Gemini Man | Miss Evans | 1 episode |
| All in the Family | Martha Linfoot | 1 episode | |
| 1976–1982 | Barney Miller | Various roles | 6 episodes |
| 1977 | The Love Boat | Millie Lindsay | 1 episode |
| CHiPs | Mrs. Abel | 1 episode | |
| The Betty White Show | Marian | 3 episodes | |
| 1977–1983 | Alice | Annie Old Lady |
2 episodes |
| 1978 | Soap | Aunt Esther | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Archie Bunker's Place | Aunt Gussie | 2 episodes |
| 1979–1980 | Angie | Ceil | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | This Is the Life | Old Woman | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Gimme a Break! | Mrs. Falkenberg | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Condo | 1 episode | |
| It Takes Two | Florence | 1 episode | |
| Hill Street Blues | Fish Store Customer | 1 episode | |
| 1984 | Diff'rent Strokes | Mrs. Gruber | 1 episode |
| Brothers | Mrs. Veltnelman | 1 episode | |
| 1984–1985 | St. Elsewhere | Mrs. Hufnagel | 18 episodes |
| 1985 | Joanna | Mrs. Benson | Television movie |
| Anything for Love | Claire | Television movie | |
| 1985–1986 | Night Court | Bailiff Florence Kleiner | 22 episodes |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Boyer, Edward J. (July 16, 1986). "Florence Halop of TV's 'Night Court' Dies at 63". Los Angeles Times.
- 1 2 DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 118.
- ↑ "Radio Children". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. May 3, 1931. p. 108. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "(radio listing)". The Piqua Daily Call. Ohio, Piqua. January 3, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Littleton, Darryl (2008). Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 237. ISBN 1-55783-730-9.
External links
- Florence Halop at the Internet Movie Database
- New York Times Florence Halop page
- Florence Halop at Find a Grave