Sandy Helberg
| Sandy Helberg | |
|---|---|
 Sandy Helberg | |
| Born |
May 28, 1949 Frankfurt, Allied-occupied Germany |
| Years active | 1973-2012 |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet B. Helberg (1975-present; 2 children) |
| Children |
Mason Helberg Simon Helberg |
Sandy Helberg (born May 28, 1949) is an American actor.
Early life
Helberg was born in Frankfurt, Germany, the son of Tonia (née Altman) and Sam Helberg. His parents were both Holocaust survivors who met in a concentration camp.[1] They soon emigrated to the United States where his father, originally a barber, eventually became a successful real estate developer in Toledo, Ohio,[2] where Helberg grew up.
Career
He later moved to New York City where he studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Sandy did stand-up and was part of an improv group that worked clubs in Greenwich Village. He later moved to Los Angeles, becoming an original member of the Los Angeles improv group, The Groundlings. Acting in several comedy films, in particular three Mel Brooks films High Anxiety, History of the World: Part 1 and Spaceballs, he starred in the comedy films The Hollywood Knights and Up the Creek.
Sandy wrote and starred in short lived 1977 TV series The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show and the 1979 CBS TV series Flatbush. He has made numerous guest appearances on TV shows, including Trapper John, M.D., Remington Steele, Newhart, The Jeffersons, M*A*S*H, Married... with Children, The Wonder Years, Night Court, Fernwood Tonight, Knight Rider, Too Close for Comfort, Get a Life, House Calls, Cybill, and Days of Our Lives among others. Sandy also co-starred in the NBC miniseries, Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue and CBS movie of the week, More Wild Wild West.
Sandy was the original Gopher Smith in The Love Boat pilot.
Personal life
He has been married to Harriet Helberg (née Birnbaum)[3] since April 6, 1975, and has 2 sons, Mason and actor Simon Helberg.
Filmography
- School for Scoundrels (2006)
- Meet Wally Sparks (1997)
- Mortal Kombat (1995)
- The Granny (1995)
- I'll Do Anything (1994)
- Spaceballs (1987)
- Up the Creek (1984)
- This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
- Modern Problems (1981)
- History of the World: Part 1 (1981)
- Loose Shoes (1980)
- The Hollywood Knights (1980)
- The Jazz Singer (1980)
- High Anxiety (1977)
- American Raspberry (1977)
- A Star Is Born (1976)
- Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975)
- Terror in the Wax Museum (1973)
Writer of TV episodes for The Golden Girls, (100th episode) Perfect Strangers, Dear John, Harry and the Hendersons, with wife/writing partner Harriet Helberg
Co-producer of "USO Salute to the Troops" for HBO/TBS
References
- ↑ Toledo Blade: "Nazi camp survivor was active in Jewish groups" April 11, 2007
- ↑ Toledo Blade: "Holocaust survivor developed real estate September 9, 2003
- ↑ Maryland District Court Case No. 1:90-cv-01715-WEB: Birnbaum, et al v. G.D. Searle Company, et al filed June 26, 1990