Harold Gould, Character Actor of "The Sting," Dies at 86
NEW YORK (CBS) Harold Gould, a veteran character actor who played con-man Kid Twist in the 1973 movie "The Sting," has died. He was 86.
Gould, who also was known for his stage work, died Saturday at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement community in Los Angeles of prostate cancer, said Leah Gould, his daughter-in-law.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Gould was a former university drama teacher who launched his career in front of the camera in the early '60s, Gould appeared in movies such as "Harper," the 1974 remake of "The Front Page," "Love and Death," "Silent Movie," "Freaky Friday" and "Patch Adams."
Over the last five decades, he made scores of guest appearances on TV shows such as "Route 66," "Perry Mason," "Dr. Kildare," "The Jack Benny Program," "The Big Valley," "Soap," "Spencer" and, most recently, "Nip/Tuck."
On television, Gould may be best remembered for playing Martin Morgenstern on the 1974-78 situation comedy "Rhoda" and Miles Webber (boyfriend of Betty White's character) on the 1985-1992 sitcom "The Golden Girls."
"He was such a fine actor and such a lovely man," White said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "He will be sorely missed."
Gould was nominated for five primetime Emmys: In 1975 for an episode of "Police Story," in 1978 for an episode of "Rhoda," in 1980 for "The Scarlett O'Hara War," in 1986 for "Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry" (opposite Katharine Hepburn) and in 1990 for an episode of "The Ray Bradbury Theater."
Despite his extensive television credits, theater was Gould's greatest love.
On Broadway, he appeared in Neil Simon's "Fools," Jules Feiffer's "Grown Ups," Tom Stoppard's "Artist Descending a Staircase" and Richard Baer's "Mixed Emotions."
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lea; his children, Deborah Gould Harris, Joshua Gould and Lowell Gould; and five grandchildren.
