| HARRY ANDERSON, the tall, genial street hustler turned magician gained fame as the star of a
popular long-running sitcom, "Night Court" (NBC, 1984-92). Playing oddball judge Harry Stone in the
normally hardball world, of the NYC legal system, Anderson brought a boyish exuberance to the
potentially grim responsibilities of his fictional job. Judge Stone was actually one of the more
laid-back members of a lively cast of characters. Some fans missed the smooth duplicitous manner of
his less-savory earlier persona, "Harry the Hat", a small-time conman/magician on "Cheers".
National TV audiences first encountered Anderson performing his unconventional magic on "Saturday
Night Live". Regardless of the role, his cleverness and charm remain a constant. Harry first turned
to chicanery as an escape from the rigors of a transient childhood. At age 16, he was running a
very lucrative shell game in San Francisco. He changed over to legitimate magic after a disgruntled
"sucker" broke his jaw in 1970. Still the con man would be an essential component of his subsequent
magician character. By 1973 he was performing many shows a day on street corners, at fairs, and
eventually at college campuses and the booming comedy clubs.
Most certainly Harry made his name with the success of "Night Court". He became a TV staple,
appearing in numerous guest spots ("Tonight Show", "Tales From the Crypt"), Disney TV productions
(a 1988 NBC remake of "The Absent-Minded Professor"), assorted specials, TV movies and miniseries
including "Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs" (CBS, 1988), "Stephen King's 'It" (ABC, 1990) and "Harvey"
(CBS, 1995).
Following a personal hiatus, Harry signed for another stint as sitcom star, playing Pulitzer
Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry on "Dave's World (CBS, t993-97). Both "Night Court" and
"Dave's World" have experienced healthy after-lives in syndication, as has Harry's comedy work on
SNL, HBO et al, keeping him constantly onscreen whether he likes it or not.
Throughout all, Harry has continued to develop his live stage performance as "Harry the Hat" and
has fascinated and delighted audiences in casinos, theaters, nightclubs and corporate events around
the country.
For now and the future Harry Anderson resides in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where he and
his wife Elizabeth own and operate a magic shop: "Spade & Archer - Curiosities by Appointment".
Streaming Video Sample
contact:
Gail A. Stocker
1025 N. Kings Rd Suite 113
Los Angeles CA 90069
323.654.4015 phone
323.654.1150 fax
gail@comedycontact.com
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