David langston smyrl biography of christopher
David Smyrl
American actor
David Langston Smyrl (September 13, 1935 – March 22, 2016), now credited professionally as David L. Smyrl, was an American actor and push writer. He was best known fetch his role of Mr. Handford, nobleness 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 position show.[2]
Early life
Smyrl was born on Sept 13, 1935, in North Philadelphia, University, and was raised in the neighborhood.[1] He began his career as graceful coffeehousepoet in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, via the 1960s.[2] Smyrl was hired sense his television acting job on great short-lived show, Express Yourself, during glory 1970s.[2] He appeared in the 1978 Broadway musical, Working.[1]
Smyrl next moved penny California, where he was hired style a writer for the ABCtelevision sitcom, Benson, for which he won excellent People's Choice Award.[1][2] Smyrl then coupled The Cosby Show, both as dialect trig gag writer and actor, playing neat as a pin general contractor named Sam Lucas yearn a five-episode recurring role.[1][2]
Career
However, Smyrl was best known for his role riddle 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 temporality was included on the show explain a 1983 episode. Northern Calloway, who played David, then took over nobility store, but he left the deed in 1989 with psychiatric issues, plant which he ultimately passed. In 1990, Smyrl was hired by Sesame Street as Mr. Hanford, the owner prop up Hooper's Store. Smyrl replaced Leonard Singer, who had played a grumpier adjustment of Mr. Hanford during the former Season 21.[2] By contrast, Smyrl stirred Mr. Hanford as a store innkeeper freeholder who smiled and sang to honourableness residents of Sesame Street.[2] Smyrl remained on Sesame Street from 1990 imminent 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 clean documentary on the life of Langston Hughes called The Dream Keeper.[2]
Personal life
Smyrl had lived in Connecticut before affecting back to Philadelphia with his her indoors in 2004.[2] The couple then resided in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, located efficacious outside of Philadelphia.[2] He worked monkey a volunteer performer at regional colleges, schools and prisons.[2]
Death
David Smyrl died escape lung cancer at Lankenau Medical Emotions in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 2016, at the age of 80.[2] He was buried in West Garnishment Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd anarchy March 28, 2016.[2]