Harvey Atkin was a familiar face on TV
Canadian actor Harvey Atkin, who was a regular on U.S. dramas Law & Order and Cagney & Lacey, died Monday after a battle with cancer. He was 74.
Atkin’s career first took flight in 1979 when Canadian filmmaker Ivan Reitman cast the actor in the summer camp comedy Meatballs, which co-starred Bill Murray, Kate Lynch and Chris Makepeace. His performance as Morty Melnick earned Atkin a Genie nomination.
He appeared regularly as staff sergeant Ronald Coleman in the 1980s detective drama Cagney & Lacey opposite Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless and Al Waxman. Atkin was also a regular on Law and Order as Judge Ridenour.
The actor lent his voice talents to a number of animated TV shows, including Jacob Two-Two, The Ripping Friends and several Super Mario Bros. series. He had guest-starring roles in TV and film including Ticket to Heaven, Beetlejuice, Silver Streak, Atlantic City and Barney’s Version.