Character actor Bill Erwin died on Dec. 29 in his Studio City, Calif. home. He was 96.
Erwin’s work has spanned almost half a century but is best recognized for his role on a Seinfeld episode as “The Old Man.” His resume includes work in movies, theater and particularly television, taking dozens of roles on shows including Gunsmoke,The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, The Golden Girls, Growing Pains, Who’s the Boss? and My Name Is Earl.
Erwin was born in Texas in 1914 and studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. A self-taught illustrator, he also worked as a cartoonist was published in The New Yorker, Playboy and Los Angeles magazines.
With all these great achievements, Erwin is remembered best for his part on Seinfeld as a grumpy, old man-a part that earned him an Emmy nomination.