Al Lewis Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family
In the late 1920s, Lewis worked as a circus performer, but ultimately decided on college, earning a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia University. He taught school and wrote two children's books. In 1949, at the suggestion of a friend, Lewis turned to acting and joined the Paul Mann Actor's Workshop in New York. Lewis worked in burlesque and ...
Net Worth
$1.1 Million
Date Of Birth
April 30, 1923
Place Of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
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Prominent large nose
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Squinty-eyed grin with a quick, furious nod
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Will be forever known as "Grandpa"
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Quote
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[asked about being typecast as Grandpa Munster] Why would I mind? It pays my mortgage.
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[on his most famous role, Grandpa Munster] The role of Grandpa is not complicated because you're wearing odd makeup or bizarre costumes. That's not what complicates a role. What makes Grandpa a little odd is the fact that he had no prototype. When I approached this role, I knew that whatever I was doing was original. So no director could say to me, "Listen, remember how he did it, this is how I want it done." I worked very hard creating that character. I made those lines work. The walk and the posture all fit the character. As to the character itself, you might say that Grandpa was a kind of Dracula-type Major Hoople.
There is some conjecture that Lewis made up the 1910 birth date because actress Yvonne De Carlo, who played his daughter in the Munsters was actually a year older than he was.
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His character on The Munsters (1964) was often incorrectly referred to as Grandpa Munster even though his name was Sam Dracula. Munster was the surname of his son-in-law.
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After his death, his son announced that Lewis had in fact been born on April 30, 1923, not 1910 as the actor had previously claimed. Obituarist Dan Barry wrote in an article in the February 11, 2006 New York Times that almost every claim Lewis made about his early life - his birth date and place of birth, his wartime adventures in the merchant marine, his education - was unverifiable and possibly false. He may have adjusted his birth date to land the role of Grandpa Munster, as he was in reality one year younger than Yvonne De Carlo, the actress who was to play his daughter. Lewis' place of birth is also in question. He claimed to have been born in Wolcott, New York, but the local records contain no reference to his birth, and it is thought (although no proof has been published) that he was born in Brooklyn, New York.
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Had a local New York City radio show up until his death in 2006.
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Although he claimed to have a Ph.D. in child psychology from Columbia University, the university has no record of it, under his stage name or his real name.
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Worked as a salesman, waiter, pool room owner, store detective, circus clown and vaudeville performer.
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Has three sons and four grandchildren.
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Former basketball player at Thomas Jefferson High School, achieved notoriety as a basketball talent scout.
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He claims to have read a different book every day of his life.
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Was a hot dog vendor at Ebbets Field, the former ballpark for the then Brooklyn Dodgers.
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June 30, 2003: Had his third angioplasty at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. Complications developed, necessitating the amputation of his right leg below the knee and the toes on his left foot.
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Ran as Green Party candidate for Governor of New York in 1998.
