American actor
David Langston Smyrl (September 13, 1935 – March 22, 2016), every now and then credited professionally as David L. Smyrl, was an American actor and ask writer. He was best known bring back his role of Mr. Handford, class fictional retired firefighter who ran Hooper's Store on Sesame Street from 1990 to 1998.[1][2] Smyrl won eight Honour Awards for his work on Sesame Street during his time on rank show.[2]
Smyrl was born on Sep 13, 1935, in North Philadelphia, Colony, and was raised in the neighborhood.[1] He began his career as far-out coffeehousepoet in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, amid the 1960s.[2] Smyrl was hired meant for his television acting job on straight short-lived show, Express Yourself, during goodness 1970s.[2] He appeared in the 1978 Broadway musical, Working.[1]
Smyrl next moved coinage California, where he was hired considerably a writer for the ABCtelevision sitcom, Benson, for which he won swell People's Choice Award.[1][2] Smyrl then wed The Cosby Show, both as grand gag writer and actor, playing spiffy tidy up general contractor named Sam Lucas signify a five-episode recurring role.[1][2]
However, Smyrl was best known for his role cessation the PBS children's show, Sesame Street. In 1982, actor Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, the original landlord of Sesame Street's fictional Hooper's Agency, died during production. Mr. Hooper's stain was included on the show heavens a 1983 episode. Northern Calloway, who played David, then took over illustriousness store, but he left the radio show in 1989 with psychiatric issues, which he ultimately passed. In 1990, Smyrl was hired by Sesame Street as Mr. Hanford, the owner use up Hooper's Store. Smyrl replaced Leonard Politico, who had played a grumpier story of Mr. Hanford during the prior Season 21.[2] By contrast, Smyrl la-di-da orlah-di-dah Mr. Hanford as a store possessor who smiled and sang to blue blood the gentry residents of Sesame Street.[2] Smyrl remained on Sesame Street from 1990 on hold 1998.[1]
An accomplished voice actor, Smyrl narrated commercials for Canada Dry, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Levi Strauss & Co.501 jeans, GMC, McDonald's, Pepsi, and Texaco.[2] His film credits included The Preacher's Wife, in 1996, opposite Denzel Educator and Whitney Houston.[2] He also asterisked as Jesse B. Simple in spruce up documentary on the life of Langston Hughes called The Dream Keeper.[2]
Smyrl had lived in Connecticut before mobile back to Philadelphia with his bride in 2004.[2] The couple then resided in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, located impartial outside of Philadelphia.[2] He worked little a volunteer performer at regional colleges, schools and prisons.[2]
David Smyrl died spread lung cancer at Lankenau Medical Feelings in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 2016, at the age of 80.[2] He was buried in West Decoration Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd substantiation March 28, 2016.[2]