Harvey Atkin Explained

Harvey Atkin
Birth Name:Elliot Harvey Atkin
Birth Date:18 December 1942
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting Place:Pardes Shalom Cemetery, Maple, Ontario, Canada
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1969–2017
Children:2

Elliot Harvey Atkin (18 December 1942 – 18 July 2017) was a Canadian actor best known for his roles as Morty Melnick in Meatballs, Sergeant Ronald Coleman in Cagney & Lacey, and for voicing King Koopa in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Sam in .

Early life

Atkin was born 18 December 1942 in Toronto, Ontario to parents of Russian-Jewish descent. He developed his interest in acting while a student at Northview Heights Secondary School by performing in a high school production of Eugene O'Neill's one-act play The Rope, for which he won an award at the Simpson's Drama Festival. Atkin initially worked at his father's construction company. He then became a real estate agent, eventually transitioning to acting in commercials.

Career

Atkin played Morty Melnick in the comedy film Meatballs (1979), for which performance he earned a Genie nomination.

Atkin had a role in William Fruet's horror film Funeral Home (1980), as well as the role of Sam in , and also played Mario's and Luigi's archenemy King Koopa on DiC Entertainment's cartoon version of Super Mario Bros. (notably, he was the first English voice actor for the character). Playing Koopa in all three Mario animated series, he was one of the only voice actors to appear in all three series as the same character.

He voiced Mr. Mushnik on Little Shop, loosely based on the movie Little Shop of Horrors. He also played characters in other series such as Beetlejuice, Bad Dog and Ruby Gloom. Atkin appeared in more than 75 films and on many television series. He did voice-over work in approximately 3,000 television and radio commercials, notably for the Leon's Furniture chain, for which he won three Clio Awards.

He appeared in 95 episodes of Cagney & Lacey as Sergeant Ronald Coleman. Atkin played Judge Alan Ridenour in a recurring role on the television drama , a role he also played in and Law & Order, and was the voice-over in Leon's and "Buy Israel Bonds" commercials in Canada. He also made a cameo playing a bus driver in the classic film Atlantic City (1980) starring Burt Lancaster, and was the voice for Morty in the television series Jacob Two-Two. He made a guest appearance in 2010 as a rabbi on the CBC Television series 18 to Life.

Personal life

Atkin married Celia Tessler in 1963. Together they had two children, and went on to become grandparents to five.

Death

Atkin died of a brain tumor on 18 July 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 74.

Legacy

A re-animated version of the Super Mario World episode "Mama Luigi", commissioned and directed by animation artist Andrew Dickman within a year with over 227 animators and artists participating, was dedicated to Atkin alongside Tony Rosato (Luigi) who died earlier that year on 10 January. The video was released on 29 August 2017.

Filmography

Film performances
YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Silver StreakConventioneer
1977data-sort-value="War Between the Tates, The" The War Between the TatesDr. Bernard M. KotelchukTelevision film
1978High-Ballin'Buzz
1978Power PlayAnwar
1979MeatballsMorty Melnick
1980Atlantic CityBus Driver
1980Funeral HomeHarry Browning
1981data-sort-value="Incubus, The" The IncubusJoe Prescott
1981Improper ChannelsSergeant
1981data-sort-value="Last Chase, The" The Last ChaseJud
1981Heavy MetalAlien / HenchmanVoice
1981Ticket to HeavenMr. Stone
1982If You Could See What I HearBert
1982Rubberface
1982Visiting HoursVinnie Bradshaw
1983All in Good Taste
1984Finders Keepers
1985Carried AwayVoice
1985Joshua Then and NowDr. Jonathan Cole
1986Separate VacationsHenry Gilbert
1986Every Dog's Guide to Complete Home SafetyBernardVoice
1987Mr. Nice GuyJerry Reeman
1989Speed ZoneGus Gold
1989Mindfield
1989Lew Eisen
1991
1991data-sort-value="Lump, The" The LumpVoice
1991Every Dog's Guide to the PlaygroundBernardVoice
1991data-sort-value="Apprentice, The" The Apprentice (L'Apprenti)Voice
1992Terror on Track 9Television film
1993Guilty as SinJudge Steinberg
1994Seasons of the HeartTelevision film
1994Janek: The Silent BetrayalMedical ExaminerTelevision film
1995Between Love and HonorTelevision film
1995Family of CopsAvrum WeissTelevision film
1996data-sort-value="Stupids, The" The StupidsDeli Guy
1996Radiant CityTelevision film
1996Television film
1997Love and Death on Long IslandLou
1997Critical CareJudge Fatale
1998One Tough CopRudy
1998Jo's Wedding
2000Out of SyncSidney GoldenTelevision film
2001Club LandMortyTelevision film
2006Why I Wore Lipstick to My MastectomyTelevision film
2010Barney's VersionSecond father in-law
2013Let’s RapNeighborShort film
2014BastardsUncle LemShort film
2015Trailer Dangerous LessonsPrinciple WintersTelevision film
2017data-sort-value="Change of Heart, A" A Change of HeartCardiologist
2017Progress (and Unrelated Things)MaxFinal role

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Television series performances
YearTitleRoleNotes
1975Down Home CountryChuck Wagon
1977–1980King of KensingtonVarious4 episodes
1979–1985data-sort-value="Littlest Hobo, The" The Littlest HoboVarious
1981–1988Cagney & LaceySergeant Ronald Coleman95 episodes
1982Claim to Fame
1986Every Dog's Guide to Complete Home SafetyBernard
1986–1993Under The Umbrella TreeThe Great Goldberg
1987–1989Additional voices13 episodes
1988–1989AlfTalesAdditional voices
1988K.R.U.D. TV station manager, Zokistani ShiekEpisodes "No News Is Good News" and "A Robot's Revenge" (Uncredited)
1989data-sort-value="Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, The" The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!King Koopa, Tryclyde, Koopa Troopas, Elvin Parsley, Flab Bro #1, Hercufleas, Hooded Robin, Mark Twang, Dealin' Delbert, Joilet's Father, Captain Clump, Murphy, Mushroom Mayor, Sergeant Kooperman, Snifit65 episodes
1989–1991BeetlejuiceLipscum, Exorcist
1990Piggsburg Pigs!Additional voices
1990data-sort-value="Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, The" The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3King Koopa26 episodes
1991Swamp ThingTomahawkRecurring role
1991Little ShopAdditional Voices13 episodes
1991Wish KidAdditional Voices13 episodes
1991Super Mario WorldKing Koopa12 episodes
1991–1994Hello Kitty and FriendsGuala, Mr. Jones, William3 episodes
1992Stunt DawgsBadyear, Half-A-Mind
1992data-sort-value="Adventures of Tintin, The" The Adventures of TintinAdditional voices13 episodes
1993X-MenSasquatch, Dr. Walter Langkowski
1993–1994Keroppi and FriendsMary and Johnny's Father, King Richard2 episodes
1994Tales from the CryptUncle Harry, Harold Klump 2 episodes
1995Sailor MoonPox, Bumboo2 episodes
1995data-sort-value="Neverending Story, The" The Neverending StoryMr. Rockchewer2 episodes
1996GoosebumpsMr. MalikEpisode: "Bad Hare Day"
1997–1998data-sort-value="Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police, The" Sam24 episodes
1998–2000Bad DogMr. Potanski
1998–2001Bob and MargaretAdditional voices
2000–2009Judge Alan Ridenour18 episodes
2001–2002data-sort-value="Ripping Friends, The" The Ripping FriendsCrag, The Indigestible Wad, Cereal CEO, Pungent Puss Husband, Dad #1 Santa, Fish5 episodes
2003Jacob Two-TwoMorty5 episodes
2003BracefaceMr. StoneEpisode: Ms. Spitz Goes to Warsch and Stone
2005Time Warp TrioBeaner, Journalist
2006Sons of Butcher2 episodes
2006Ruby GloomMr. White
2006–20086teenGeorge Bickerson3 episodes
2010–2013Scaredy Squirrel7 episodes