Phil Leeds facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phil Leeds
Leeds in Ghost
Born	April 6, 1916 New York City, United States
Died	August 16, 1998(1998-08-16) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1949–1998
Spouse(s)	Toby Brandt (1934–1987; her death)

Phil Leeds (born April 6, 1916 – died August 16, 1998) was an American character actor. He was famous for appearing in many movies and television shows. You might have seen him in popular series like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Maude, Friends, Barney Miller, The Golden Girls, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Boy Meets World. He often played funny or quirky characters.

Early Life of Phil Leeds

Phil Leeds was born in New York City on April 6, 1916. His father worked at a post office. Phil grew up in the Bronx, a part of New York City. For a while, he sold peanuts near famous sports stadiums like Yankee Stadium. After serving in the US Army during World War II, he started his entertainment career.

Phil Leeds' Acting Career

Phil Leeds began his career as a stand-up comedian. Soon, he started appearing in many films and TV shows. He was known for his small but memorable roles.

He appeared in movies like Rosemary's Baby and Beaches. On television, he was in shows such as All in the Family, Three's Company, Night Court, and Wings. He also had roles in Ally McBeal and Everybody Loves Raymond.

One of his memorable movie roles was as a friendly spirit in the 1990 film Ghost. He also appeared in an episode of ALF called "When I'm 64." In this episode, he played Jack, a resident of a retirement home.

When he was 80 years old, Phil Leeds appeared in a 1996 Halloween episode of Roseanne. His very last role was a brief scene in the 1999 movie Lost & Found.

Facing the Blacklist

During the 1950s, a time known as the McCarthy era, some actors and writers were "blacklisted." This meant they were prevented from working in Hollywood. Phil Leeds was blacklisted after he refused to answer certain questions from a government committee. He used his right to remain silent, which is part of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Phil Leeds' Personal Life

Phil Leeds was married to Toby Brandt, who was also an actress. They were married for 53 years, from 1934 until her death in 1987. Phil Leeds was Jewish.

Death of Phil Leeds

Phil Leeds passed away from pneumonia on August 16, 1998. He was 82 years old. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. An episode of the TV series Ally McBeal called "Happy Trails" showed clips of his past appearances on the show. This episode was a tribute to his character.

Filmography