Harry John Holcombe (November 11, 1906 - September 15, 1987)[2] was an American commercial, film, radio, television, theatre actor and radio director.[3] He was perharps best remembered as "Grandpa" in the Country Time commercials,[4] playing the role for ten years.[5] Holcombe was also known for playing the recurring role of "Dr. J.P. Martin" in the western television series Bonanza.[6]

Harry Holcombe
Holcombe in King Kong vs. Godzilla, 1963
Born	Harry John Holcombe (1906-11-11)November 11, 1906 Malta, Ohio, U.S.
Died	September 15, 1987(1987-09-15) (aged 80) Valencia, California, U.S.
Occupation	Commercial, film, radio, television, theatre actor and radio director
Spouse(s)	Betty Nielsen Holcombe ​ ​ (died. 1982)​ [1]
Children	2[1]

Life and career

Born in Malta, Ohio.[6] Holcombe began his career, as a radio director in Chicago, Illinois, in which he directed for radio programs including Benny Goodman's program Camel Caravan.[5] He later worked as the poetry reader for the radio program Moon River at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1] After that, he moved to California, where he began his film and television career,[1] appearing in the 1943 film The Purple V.[6]

Later in his career, Holcombe guest-starred in numerous television programs including The Andy Griffith Show, Harbor Command, 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason, The Farmer's Daughter, That Girl, The Law and Mr. Jones, Leave It to Beaver, Here's Lucy and Bewitched. He also appeared and co-starred in films such as The Fortune Cookie, Birdman of Alcatraz,[7] King Kong vs. Godzilla,[4] The Unsinkable Molly Brown,[7] Kisses for My President,[7] When the Boys Meet the Girls and Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. Holcombe also starred in the television program Barefoot in the Park, where he played Arthur Kendricks.[6]

Death

Holcombe died in September 1987 at his son's home in Valencia, California, at the age of 80.[5]

References

External links

• Harry Holcombe at IMDb
• Harry Holcombe at the TCM Movie Database
• Harry Holcombe at AllMovie
• Rotten Tomatoes profile