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Norm Alden Obituary
Mr. Alden appeared or did voice work in about 2,500 movies, TV series and commercials, his family told The Hollywood Reporter.
He played the owner of Lou's Diner in Back to the Future and Cameraman Bill in Tim Burton's Ed Wood; did the voice of Aquaman (among others) in Super Friends and The All-New Super Friends Hour; and played Lou the Mechanic in a series of AC Delco commercials. Not to mention scores of sheriffs, outlaws, cabbies, cops and crooks in a credit roll the includes projects as diverse as the original Dallas and Love, American Style, as well as appearances in seemingly every cop show of the late '60s and '70s.
Mr. Alden, who as born Norman Adelberg? on Sept. 13, 1924, in Fort Worth, had a Hollywood career that spanned five decades. But he never forgot his roots.
"He's a TCU, Paschal High School, purple-and-white person," Linda Thieben, his longtime partner, said by phone from the L.A. area.
"A few years ago, everybody from Fort Worth was here for the Rose Bowl, and we got to meet with a lot of his friends."
Mr. Alden returned to Fort Worth frequently and was often spotted at the Colonial National Invitation Tournament by people who recognized his face but couldn't place where they'd seen him. He also came back to play stage parts such as the sheriff in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at Casa Mañana and the Stage Manager in a 1995 production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town and Mr. Alden's alma mater, Paschal High School. Mr. Alden told the Star-Telegram at the time that he made his acting debut on the same stage in 1936 or '37, playing Mexican Gen. Santa Anna.
Services for Mr. Alden will be Sunday in Los Angeles. Plans for a memorial service in Fort Worth are pending.
Memories and Condolences
for Norm Alden
27 Entries
Donna Sloate
April 13, 2018
so long for now old friend
May 10, 2014
This was truly an amazing person with so much talent the loss is clearly ours. Prayers fill our hearts while singing praises to God asking him to let us never forget the love we have for this wonderful person gone from our lives never forgetting the joy we shared experiencing a great talent. Hebrews 6:10.
April 30, 2013
Revealation 21:4- And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more...
Wendy Solomon Finkelstein
August 11, 2012
Norman was my favorite cousin, we called him Uncle Norman. He would come have lunch with me when I was in elementary school at J.P. Moore. It was such a thrill to have him there. He was my Show and Tell! I bet he and my parents are having a great time now. They were so close. I will miss you so much Uncle Norm!!! I love you. Wendy Solomon Finkelstein
Dean and Cindy gachman and family
August 5, 2012
You were a man of compassion, talent and humor and most of all a good father to your children.You have been family to our family. We have great memories of you. Rest in peace.
August 4, 2012
I met Norm in 1946 at TCU. I was one of the singing waiters at Epod's Emporium in 1951, and we shared many good times over the years. Dick "Red" McLamore
Deanna Morgeson
August 4, 2012
My husband and I had the pleasure of knowing Norman through my boss and his lovely friend Linda Thieben. I remember that he always had a story to tell. He was the consumate showman that was always entertaining. We will miss you Norm may you rest in peace. Love, Deanna and Doug
Linda Thieben
August 3, 2012
To the love of my life and best friend...now you are resting in peace and all of miss you but will have happy memories that we will carry with us forever
Russell Smith
August 1, 2012
I worked for him and Mr Bensen at Cowtown Country on Forest Park. He was quite a character and a great story teller. I was a little short on registration money a semester at TCU and I suddenly got a $1500 tip. (a lot money in 1982)
RIP Mr. Alden.
Gene Huggins
August 1, 2012
So long "Epod"You were great there too.
Clarence Bruyere
August 1, 2012
I was so sorry to hear of Norm's passing. I had the pleasure of attending some classes with him at Paschal. He had a great sense of humor and warm personality. He will definitely be missed.
Van Hess
August 1, 2012
What an honor and privilege to know Norm Alden. Working as the coordinator of his Familiar Faces Charity Golf Classic Tournament gave me many hours of fun and laughs and a chance to meet many of his celebrity friends. Most importantly to Norm, we did some good work for charities in his home town. You never felt like you worked "for" Norm but "with" Norm. My children and I recall the hundreds of phone calls, mailings and preparations for the tournament and it was great fun! He had that voice you could never mistake. Great loss for friends, fans and Fort Worth.
Jan Tropp
July 31, 2012
My Mom had some funny stories about Mr Alden. We loved watching him. He apparently was a really nice man. His scene of drowning in his chicken soup on Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, was a classic.
July 31, 2012
I used to sneak out late to see Epod in fort worth in the early fifties.I still remember the "going out west with his family bit.Norm will be missed especially for his annual visit to the Colonial.
Clifton Morris.
July 31, 2012
I remember Norm telling me he was usually shot and killed in the first 12 minutes of the Elliot Ness series, as he was in many of his other shoot'em up shows. He was glad he wasn't paid by the hour.
A great loss to the industry and the Ft. Worth community
Jack C. Scott
July 31, 2012
A young school drop out built a small house for me in 1995. He told me one day he had built a place for an actor who was the friendliest, most laid back, and funniest man he had ever met. He was like home folk the youn man said. The actor was Norm Alden. That says a lot about the kind of man he was ..a person for everyone! We'll miss you Norm.
July 31, 2012
How many of the old Paschalites remember Norm winning tha talent contests at the
TIVOLI and Parkway theaters. And then eating 6 for a quarter burgers at the GRIDDLE next to the Parkway Theatre?
Norm was one of a kind, a true treasure of talent and warmth.
Roger Courtney
July 31, 2012
Thanks for many years of great TV and film work. RIP Mr Alden
Ron Hutchins
July 31, 2012
RIP Mr. Alden, you will be missed. Enjoyed seeing many of your vast library of work.
Vicki Alexander Gaudet
July 31, 2012
Norm will be missed by all Panthers. He was such an interesting, funny and warm person. It was such a joy to get to meet him in Mrs. Todd's drama class. Guess he was needed in heaven to help with a play there. Paschal is proud to have had such a wonderful man.
July 31, 2012
Those of us PASCHAL exes (late 40's early 50's) might remember
EPOD'S EMPORIUM on Camp Bowie Blvd.
EPOD, that's DOPE spelled backwards, was Norm's Radio handle at KXOL. He honed his humor and standup routines in that BYOB establishment.Hecklers were welcome.
lee tackett
July 31, 2012
I've always enjoyed the characters that he played..."rough and rugged"...Had the pleasure to meet him in Fort Worth some years ago, and it was refreshing to hear his perspective on Hollywood and acting in general. You will be missed my friend. God be with you and your family always....
Tom Haggard
July 31, 2012
We may have walked the same halls at different times but the pride of Paschal high school forever connects us all. Rest in Peace fellow panther. You made us all proud!
July 31, 2012
Chief Screaming Eagle,you will be greatly missed and always remembered by the multitudes you entertained so many times.
J.W. Robbins, Haltom City, TX
Norma Sweet Raymond
July 30, 2012
Norm was a wonderful actor, hilarios story teller, and sweet , loving friend of many years. He had a tendency to ad lib anything, including Shakespeare, due to his inability to remember lines. Few people who heard those lines realized what briliance they had witnessed. He left a legacy of joy and happiness to the world and to everyone who knew and loved him. Blessings and love to Linda, the precious love of his life who cared for him so lovingly. There is no one in the world even remotely like our dear frined, Norm. I will miss him terribly.
Nancy Altaras
July 30, 2012
It's sad to lose another great actor, and yes I do remember Norm Alden. It seems like all of the good ones are passing away. It was great that he was from Fort Worth, Texas, too, but did he have to go to Paschal? Yuck! Anyway, as long as his movies keep showing whether he was an important character or doing a voice, he will never be forgotten. He looks a little bit like Dean Martin, too. Guess God and Jesus needed another actor, they got a good one. He will be terribly missed.
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