Harvey Atkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harvey Atkin
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| Born |
Elliot Harvey Atkin
18 December 1942 |
| Died | 18 July 2017 (aged 74) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Resting place | Pardes Shalom Cemetery, Maple, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–2017 |
| Spouse(s) |
Celia Tessler
(m. 1963) |
| Children | 2 |
Elliot Harvey Atkin (December 18, 1942 – July 18, 2017) was a talented Canadian actor. He was well-known for playing Morty Melnick in the movie Meatballs. He also played Sergeant Ronald Coleman in the TV show Cagney & Lacey. Many people remember his voice work as King Koopa in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Sam in The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police.
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Harvey Atkin's Early Life
Harvey Atkin was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on December 18, 1942. He found his love for acting while he was a student at Northview Heights Secondary School. He performed in a play called The Rope and even won an award for it!
Before becoming a full-time actor, Harvey worked for his father's construction company. Later, he became a real estate agent. Eventually, he started acting in commercials, which led him to bigger roles.
Harvey Atkin's Acting Career
Harvey Atkin had a long and busy career in acting. He appeared in over 75 films and many television shows. He was also a very popular voice actor.
Famous Roles in Movies and TV Shows
One of his most famous movie roles was Morty Melnick in the comedy film Meatballs (1979). His performance was so good that he was nominated for a Genie Award.
On television, Harvey was a regular on the police drama Cagney & Lacey. He played Sergeant Ronald Coleman in 95 episodes of the show.
He also had a role in the horror film Funeral Home (1980). Later, he made a small appearance as a bus driver in the classic film Atlantic City (1980), which starred Burt Lancaster.
Voice Acting Adventures
Harvey Atkin was the very first English voice actor for Mario's and Luigi's enemy, King Koopa. He voiced King Koopa in all three animated Super Mario Bros. series. This made him one of the few actors to play the same character across all three shows.
He also voiced Sam in The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police. Another voice role was Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop, a cartoon based on the movie Little Shop of Horrors. You might also recognize his voice from other cartoons like Beetlejuice, Bad Dog, and Ruby Gloom.
Harvey did voice-over work for about 3,000 television and radio commercials. He was especially known for his voice in commercials for the Leon's Furniture chain in Canada. He even won three Clio Awards for his commercial work!
Legal Dramas and Other Appearances
Harvey Atkin played Judge Alan Ridenour in many episodes of the popular TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also played this judge character in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order.
He was the voice for Morty in the animated TV series Jacob Two-Two. In 2010, he made a guest appearance as a rabbi on the CBC Television series 18 to Life.
Harvey Atkin's Personal Life
Harvey Atkin married Celia Tessler in 1963. They had two children together. Later, they became proud grandparents to five grandchildren.
Harvey Atkin's Passing
Harvey Atkin passed away on July 18, 2017, in Toronto, Ontario. He was 74 years old and died from a brain tumor.
His Lasting Legacy
After Harvey Atkin passed away, a special project was created to honor him. An animated version of the Super Mario World episode "Mama Luigi" was remade by over 227 animators and artists. This new version was dedicated to Harvey Atkin and also to Tony Rosato, who voiced Luigi and passed away earlier that same year. The video was released on August 29, 2017.
