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mac56

(17,561 posts)
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:18 PM Apr 2013

M*A*S*H star Allan Arbus dies at 95

Source: Yahoo.com

Allan Arbus, who played psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman on M*A*S*H, died Friday at home in Los Angeles, his daughter Amy confirmed to The New York Times. He was 95.

Read more: http://tv.yahoo.com/news/m-h-star-allan-arbus-dies-95-165400134.html



"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice!" - Dr. Sidney Freedman
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M*A*S*H star Allan Arbus dies at 95 (Original Post) mac56 Apr 2013 OP
"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice." Sidney Freedman Mister K Apr 2013 #1
yup mac56 Apr 2013 #2
R.I.P Allan Arbus question everything Apr 2013 #3
Alan was one of the good folks.... Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #4
Well, poop. Buzz Clik Apr 2013 #5
That's a long run. Good actor. nt onehandle Apr 2013 #6
There were so many great actors and personalities on that show. Baitball Blogger Apr 2013 #7
Wow. Dr. Sidney Freeman was married to Diane Arbus? Gormy Cuss Apr 2013 #8
His wife rtracey Apr 2013 #9
I've always loved both their work, but I didn't know about their marriage. GliderGuider Apr 2013 #12
I must have quoted that Freedman line a thousand times. It may be my mantra. RIP, and thanks. nolabear Apr 2013 #10
That's a shame. IveWornAHundredPants Apr 2013 #11
RIP Gothmog Apr 2013 #13
RIP Patsy Stone Apr 2013 #14
did I ever tell you that you are my fave? Botany Apr 2013 #23
Awww - I loved Dr. Freedman leftynyc Apr 2013 #15
he really looked good frylock Apr 2013 #20
95 - wow! liberal N proud Apr 2013 #16
My Favorite RobinA Apr 2013 #17
I agree, but; greiner3 Apr 2013 #27
Acknowledgment for Edward Winter and Larry Linville, Auggie Apr 2013 #33
RIP Sid gejohnston Apr 2013 #18
had no idea he was as old as he was.. frylock Apr 2013 #19
Should have been made a regular cast member... Auggie Apr 2013 #21
Alda fooled by Arbus ErikJ Apr 2013 #22
Respects to a fine character actor. (nt) Paladin Apr 2013 #24
Didn't he also star in Greaser's Palace? marble falls Apr 2013 #25
yes - Jesus in a zoot suit Doctor_J Apr 2013 #40
Wow... 95 Marrah_G Apr 2013 #26
He didn't take up screen acting until he was 50. sofa king Apr 2013 #41
One of my favorites. Boomerproud Apr 2013 #28
Lumpy died, too. secondvariety Apr 2013 #29
Okay i.dont remember him. darkangel218 Apr 2013 #30
Greasers Palace spike91nz Apr 2013 #31
Yup. Hissyspit Apr 2013 #35
May he rest in peace. My condolences to the family. Tuesday Afternoon Apr 2013 #32
He and his wife, Marie Claire were my sister in laws God parents litlbilly Apr 2013 #34
RIP Allan Arbus davidpdx Apr 2013 #36
Played one of My favorite characters in MASH Wraith20878 Apr 2013 #37
He really hit the big time... Archae Apr 2013 #38
Oh my..........Sidney. Historic NY Apr 2013 #39
Such a great character on M*A*S*H tonekat Apr 2013 #42

question everything

(47,263 posts)
3. R.I.P Allan Arbus
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:23 PM
Apr 2013

A very genial and no-nonsense character. To learn that he was 95 makes me feel very old..

 

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts)
5. Well, poop.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:29 PM
Apr 2013

One of my favorite scenes was a poker game with Sidney and others making idle conversation. One of them made a comment that actually was somewhat revealing, and Sidney pointed that out. That person (whoever it might have been) then tossed Sidney a poker chip for his psychiatric fee. The running gag throughout the show was players tossing Sidney a chip each time anyone made a revealing comment about themselves. I have told it poorly, but it was quite clever.

The SF initials for Sidney was clever too ... as in Sigmund Freud.

 

rtracey

(2,062 posts)
9. His wife
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:38 PM
Apr 2013

She was Diane Arbus..photographer..she was pretty eclectic....committed suicide in 1971.....she was a great talent

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
12. I've always loved both their work, but I didn't know about their marriage.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:58 PM
Apr 2013

"Eclectic" kind of understates her vision, though. I always thought of her as "Sylvia Plath with a Rolleiflex". Her work is probably the darkest, most interior photography I've seen.

95? Nice run.
RIP Allan, you were obviously one hell of a man.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
15. Awww - I loved Dr. Freedman
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:32 PM
Apr 2013

Some of my favorite episodes included his character. I didn't realize he was so much older than Alan Alda (who is 77).

 

greiner3

(5,214 posts)
27. I agree, but;
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 04:46 PM
Apr 2013

Bringing a character to life, especially as a 'bad' person convincingly, IS a great talent.

I say this because Flagg was so much of a 'bad' character, even with the humor associated with he and his escapades, I looked forward to Flagg's appearances too.

Auggie

(31,055 posts)
33. Acknowledgment for Edward Winter and Larry Linville,
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 05:34 PM
Apr 2013

aka Flagg and Frank Burns, who played their roles so wonderfully. It was especially difficult for Linville, who found himself typecast for the rest of his career. He was a nice guy and well-liked by the rest of the cast.

 

ErikJ

(6,335 posts)
22. Alda fooled by Arbus
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 04:00 PM
Apr 2013

Abrus, who had served as a military photography in the Army and ran a fashion photography business before becoming an actor, was so convincing in his role as Maj. Freedman, that co-star Alan Alda often found himself opening up to Arbus. "I was so convinced that he was a psychiatrist I used to sit and talk with him between scenes," Alda said in an interview with the Archive of American Television. "After a couple months of that I noticed he was giving me these strange looks, like 'How would I know the answer to that?'"

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
41. He didn't take up screen acting until he was 50.
Wed Apr 24, 2013, 04:47 AM
Apr 2013

Aside from one uncredited role in 1961. Before that he had a photography business.

As per IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0033458/

spike91nz

(180 posts)
31. Greasers Palace
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 05:11 PM
Apr 2013

He was wonderful in the surreal Jesus movie made by Robert Downey's father named "Greaser's Palace". His message:


"I bring you a message. Exactly six miles north of Skagg Mountain in the Valley of Pain, there lives an evil devil-monster. His name is Bingo Gas Station Motel Cheeseburger With A Side Of Aircraft Noise And You'll Be Gary Indiana. And he *loves* to hurt people. The last time I saw Bingo Gas Station Motel Cheeseburger With A Side Of Aircraft Noise And You'll Be Gary Indiana, he told me what he wants to do. He wants to come down here and kill each and every one of you! But I said to him: "Bingo, wait a minute." And the reason I said that is because I believe in you people. I believe you can do the job. I believe you can help each other. I believe you can make this world a better place to live in. That's it."

Thank you Arbus for some wonderful mischief.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
36. RIP Allan Arbus
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:44 PM
Apr 2013

He was a great actor and I loved his performance as Sidney Freedman. The quote is one of my favorites.

Wraith20878

(181 posts)
37. Played one of My favorite characters in MASH
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:53 PM
Apr 2013

I only liked Captain Tutle better. Rest in Peace Allan Arbus.

"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice!"

Archae

(46,260 posts)
38. He really hit the big time...
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 10:15 PM
Apr 2013

In the episode with the air crewman who thought he was Jesus.

His total put-down of Col Flagg was a classic.

tonekat

(1,805 posts)
42. Such a great character on M*A*S*H
Wed Apr 24, 2013, 01:34 PM
Apr 2013

Like others, I'm surprised he was 95!

Greaser's Palace is one of those movies on my "to see" list since it came out. I remember a review in Newsweek when I was about 15.

Goodbye Mr. Arbus, thank you for entertaining us.

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