January 20, 2007–Allan Melvin, a character actor known for appearances in such TV shows as “The Phil Silvers Show,” “All in the Family” and “The Brady Bunch,” has died of cancer. He was 84.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in New York City, Melvin got his big break on “The Phil Silvers Show,” which ran from 1955 to 1959, playing Cpl. Henshaw, the right-hand man to Silvers' Sgt. Ernie Bilko.
He went on to play Archie Bunker's neighbor Barney in “All in the Family,” and different roles on at least eight episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Fans of “The Brady Bunch” knew him as Sam the butcher, the boyfriend of Alice the housekeeper.
Melvin also worked in cartoons, providing the voices of Magilla Gorilla in the Hanna-Barbera series of the same name and Bluto on “Popeye,” the Times said.