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Tom Poston (born October 17, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio) is an American television and film actor.

Poston has been on television in a career that began in 1950. He has appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist, game show host, movie actor, and Broadway performer.

After completing high school, Poston went to Bethany College in West Virginia, but did not graduate. Instead, he joined the United States Army Air Force and served as a pilot in the European Theater in World War II. He was awarded the Air Medal three times and reached the rank of captain. After his discharge, he began studying acting in New York City.

In the 1950s, Poston gained recognition as a frequent performer on the Steve Allen Show. Following that, Poston appeared frequently on Broadway and as a game show panelist, including as a regular on To Tell The Truth and as guest on What's My Line?. He also played the main character in the movie Zotz.

Poston was a recurring guest star on The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s. He later played the role of Mr. Bickley on Mork & Mindy. A longtime friend of Bob Newhart, Poston played George Utley, country handyman of the Stratford Inn, on Newhart. He had a third appearance with Newhart in the short lived program Bob.

Poston has also had regular roles on many TV series: Family Matters, Murphy Brown, Home Improvement, Cosby, Malcolm & Eddie, ER, Grace Under Fire and That '70s Show.

In 2001, Poston married actress Suzanne Pleshette who played the wife of Newhart's character Bob Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show. Poston continued to appear in supporting roles in films, with two new ones released in 2004, Christmas with the Kranks and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, and on several television programs.

In 2005, he played the character "Clown" on the NBC series Committed.

Contents 1 Family 2 Trivia 3 Links 4 See also

Poston's wife, actress Suzanne Pleshette, is battling lung cancer.

• Even though Poston had left without graduating, Bethany College awarded him an Honorary Doctorate as a Doctor of Letters on September 13, 1990.

• Tom Poston at the Internet Movie Database

• Sigma Nu LEADership learning program