Supporting Actor: Herb Edelman

"Hi, it's me. Stan"

Herbert (Herb) Edelman (Nov 5, 1933 - July 21, 1996) was an American film, stage and television actor. He is most famously known for his role as Stan Zbornak on The Golden Girls, a role which won him two Emmy nominations. He also had a recurring role on the 80's tv series St. Eslewhere.

Before choosing the life of an actor, Edelman studied to become a veterinarian at Cornell University, but left during his first year. He served in the Army, he was a student at Brooklin College (Theatre), but eventually dropped out. He later worked as a hotel manager, and as a cabbie.

Edelman was cast in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, a role he won after meeting the plays director while driving cabs.Edelman reprised his role in the film version of the same name, and appeared in the movie versions of Simon's The Odd Couple and California Suite.

He remains best known for his three decades in television, usually as a co-star, recurring character, or guest star on such shows as The Golden Girls, That Girl, Maude, Kojak, Cagney and Lacey and Welcome Back, Kotter. Occasionally Edelman was in the lead role. He starred in the 1976 children's series Big John, Little John as well as The Good Guys, in 1969. He also appeared  in Steambath, a controversial PBS comedy/drama, during 1973. From 1984 to 1988, he had a recurring role on St. Elsewhere. Edelman also appeared in ten episodes of Murder She Wrote between 1984 and 1995. His last role was on an episode of Burke's Law in 1995.

Edelman was married to actress Louise Sorrel from 1964 to 1970. He was also married to a woman named Marylin Cosgrove, whith whom he had two children (daughters Brianna and Jacy).  He was romantically linked with actress Christina Pickles, from the mid-1980s until his death. Which is awesome.

A keen painter and sculptor, he was also a gifted linguist, fluent in Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Yiddish, Hebrew, German and Russian.

Edelman died at age 62 of Emphysema. He is buried at Montefiore Cemetery, Springfield Gardens,Queens County,New York, USA.

Want to show Herb some love? You can visit his Facebook Page.