Florence Halop (January 23, 1923 – July 15, 1986) was an American actress. Best known for her roles as surly patient Mrs. Hufnagel on the drama St. Elsewhere and the raspy-voiced bailiff Florence Kleiner on the sitcom Night Court.[1] Halop was the sister of Billy Halop, one of the original Dead End/East Side Kids.
Florence Halop | |
|---|---|
 Halop being made up for her role as Mama in the television comedy Meet Millie, 1953 | |
| Born | January 23, 1923 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 15, 1986 (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Flo Halop |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1939–1986 |
| Spouse | George Gruskin (1949-1976; his death) |
| Children | 2 |
Early years edit
Halop was from a theatrical family. She was born in Jamaica, New York. Her mother was a dancer. She had two brothers: Billy Halop, was an actor who worked on radio, in films, and in television, and Joel Tucker Halop (1934-2006).[2]
Radio edit
An item in a 1931 newspaper reported that Halop was "the youngest star of the National Broadcasting Company -- only 7 and broadcasting for the last three years."[3] She first appeared on Coast-to-Coast on a Bus.[2] Later, she was heard on Wheatenaville.[4] Halop was the second of many to play Miss Duffy, the owner's man-crazy daughter in Duffy's Tavern. She was Hot Breath Houlihan on The Jimmy Durante Show.[5]
Television edit
Halop transitioned to television in the early 1950s with a role in the series Meet Millie. After the series ended in 1956, Halop guest starred on various television series during the late 1950s and 1960s including roles in Playhouse 90, Going My Way, and I Spy. Between 1976 and 1982, she guested six times on the TV series Barney Miller, each time playing a different character. In 1984, she had a guest stint on St. Elsewhere. Halop's character, Mrs. Hufnagel, was originally intended to be a one-episode spot,[1] but her role was so well received the writers found a way to get her into 17 more episodes over the course of the season.[1]
In 1985, Halop succeeded Selma Diamond as a bailiff on Night Court after Diamond's death from lung cancer. Halop, who was also a heavy smoker, had similarly developed lung cancer and died during the series run.[1] She was replaced on Night Court by Marsha Warfield, who played Roz Russell until the series ended in 1992.[6]
Family edit
Halop was married to George Gruskin, who died in 1976. They were the parents of two daughters, Georgeanna and Benita. She is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.[citation needed]
Filmography edit
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1939 | Nancy Drew... Reporter | Phyllis Gimble, Journalism Student | Uncredited |
| 1940 | Junior G-Men | Mary | Serial |
| 1966 | The Glass Bottom Boat | Lady on Telephone | Uncredited Alternative title: The Spy in Lace Panties |
| 1970 | The Boatniks | Bert's Wife - Florence | Uncredited |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | 1 episode | |
| Holiday Hotel | Unknown episodes | ||
| 1952 | I Love Lucy | Woman on Phone | 1 episode |
| 1952–1956 | Meet Millie | Mrs. Bronson | 78 episodes |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Mrs. Laurie | 1 episode |
| 1959 | The Untouchables | Flora Weinberg | 1 episode |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners | Ruth Melton Foss | 1 episode |
| 1963 | Going My Way | Mrs. Kravitz | 1 episode |
| The Danny Thomas Show | Matilda | 1 episode | |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Jenny, Mr. Crawford's maid | 1 episode | |
| The New Phil Silvers Show | Phil Silvers fan | 1 episode | |
| 1965 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Mrs. Spaulding | 1 episode |
| Hank | Mrs. Wallace | 1 episode | |
| 1967 | Captain Nice | 1 episode | |
| 1967–1968 | That Girl | Clerk Librarian |
2 episodes |
| 1968 | I Spy | Clara | 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Mod Squad | Nurse | 1 episode |
| But I Don't Want to Get Married! | Mrs. Green | Television movie | |
| 1971 | Allan | Blanche Fisher | Television movie |
| The Chicago Teddy Bears | Mrs. Krausmeyer | 1 episode | |
| Love, American Style | 2 episodes | ||
| 1972 | Insight | 1 episode | |
| Wait till Your Father Gets Home | Voice | 1 episode | |
| The New Scooby-Doo Movies | Voice | 2 episodes | |
| 1974 | Here's Lucy | Old Woman | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Sylvia | Television movie |
| Police Woman | Hannah Victor | 1 episode | |
| 1976 | Gemini Man | Miss Evans | 1 episode |
| All in the Family | Martha Linfoot | 1 episode | |
| 1976–1982 | Barney Miller | Various roles | 6 episodes |
| 1977 | The Love Boat | Millie Lindsay | 1 episode |
| CHiPs | Mrs. Abel | 1 episode | |
| The Betty White Show | Marian | 3 episodes | |
| 1977–1983 | Alice | Annie Old Lady |
2 episodes |
| 1978 | Soap | Aunt Esther | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Archie Bunker's Place | Aunt Gussie | 2 episodes |
| 1979–1980 | Angie | Ceil | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | This Is the Life | Old Woman | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Gimme a Break! | Mrs. Falkenberg | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Condo | 1 episode | |
| It Takes Two | Florence | 1 episode | |
| Hill Street Blues | Fish Store Customer | 1 episode | |
| 1984 | Diff'rent Strokes | Mrs. Gruber | 1 episode |
| Brothers | Mrs. Veltnelman | 1 episode | |
| 1984–1985 | St. Elsewhere | Mrs. Hufnagel | 18 episodes |
| 1985 | Joanna | Mrs. Benson | Television movie |
| Anything for Love | Claire | Television movie | |
| 1985–1986 | Night Court | Bailiff Florence Kleiner | 22 episodes, (final appearance) |
References edit
- ^ a b c d Boyer, Edward J. (July 16, 1986). "Florence Halop of TV's 'Night Court' Dies at 63". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 118.
- ^ "Radio Children". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. May 3, 1931. p. 108. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Programs On The Air". The Piqua Daily Call. January 3, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halop, Florence". Radio Goldin Index. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ Littleton, Darryl (2008). Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 237. ISBN 978-1-55783-680-9.
