Bill Erwin, "Seinfeld" Actor, Dies at 96

NEW YORK (CBS) Bill Erwin, a character actor who is best known for his Emmy-nominated appearance as a grumpy, old man on "Seinfield," has died at 96.

Erwin died of age-related causes on Dec. 29 at his Studio City, Calif., home, his son told the Los Angeles Times.

He received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the irritable Sid Fields in the 1993 "Seinfeild" episode "The Old Man."

Other TV credits include guest spots on "Gunsmoke," "Highway to Heaven," "Growing Pains," "The Golden Girls," "Who's the Boss?" and "My Name is Earl," among others.

Erwin is also known for his role as Arthur the bellman in the 1980 film, "Somewhere in Time," starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

In 1983, he received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance in the "Old Friends" production at the Actors Forum.

Born in Honey Grove, Texas, Dec. 2, 1914, Erwin had a long career on stage. He studied acting at Pasadena Playhouse and performed there starting in 1940, along with performing in  productions at the Laguna Beach and La Jolla Playhouses.

Erwin was also a self-taught cartoonist and had seen his work published in Playboy, The New Yorker and Los Angeles magazine.