Gary Friedkin was an actor who played Clarence the cook on “Happy Days” and starred in the film “Young Doctors in Love.”
- Died: Friday, December 2, 2022. (Who else died on December 2?)
- Details of death: Died from complications of Covid-19 at the age of 70.
- We invite you to share condolences for Gary Friedkin in our Guest Book.
Clarence the cook on Happy Days
Gary Friedkin was a little person who had a big career in Hollywood. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, he was a natural born musician who played drums and piano. He went out to Los Angeles to pursue a music career and became an actor when a producer approached him at a little people’s convention, and he won a role in the film “Under the Rainbow” with Chevy Chase and Carrie Fisher.
Legendary producer/director/writer Garry Marshall cast Friedkin in a starring role in his 1982 movie “Young Doctors in Love” with Sean Young and Ted McGinley and then cast him in his best-known role as Clarence the cook on the hit show “Happy Days.” The running joke on the show was that Clarence was always talked about but never seen until he was played by Friedkin in the 10th season. He played an Ewok in “Return of the Jedi” and was part of a biker gang in the Harrison Ford film “Blade Runner.” In 2016, he appeared in “Mother’s Day, Garry Marshall’s final film. He was an active member of Little People of America and attended many of their conventions.
Notable Quote
“I wouldn’t do anything I thought was derogatory.” “I wouldn’t go near it.” – He said in a 2020 interview with tribtoday.com regarding roles he was offered that treated little people in demeaning ways
Tributes to Gary Friedkin
Full Obituary: tribtoday.com
