Richard Deacon was a renowned character actor, best recognized for his portrayal of Mel Cooley on the iconic television sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show" from 1961 to 6196. Prior to this, he had already established himself as a versatile performer by appearing on the popular series "Leave It to Beaver" (1957),where he played the role of Fred Rutherford, the father of Lumpy Rutherford.
Born on May 14, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Deacon's early career was marked by his work on the stage. Noted stage legend Helen Hayes, who Deacon had the privilege of working with, advised him to focus on character acting, as she believed he would not be suited for leading roles. This advice proved to be instrumental in shaping Deacon's successful career, which spanned several decades and was only cut short by his untimely passing.
Deacon's distinctive physical appearance and authoritative voice often led to him being typecast as a humorless or irritable authority figure. He went on to become a highly respected supporting player in films, earning praise from many of the leading actors he worked with, including Jack Benny, Lou Costello, and Cary Grant. However, it was television that Deacon truly thrived in.
His five-year stint on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" cemented his place in television history, as he brought to life the character of Mel Cooley, the long-suffering brother-in-law of Alan Brady. Deacon's character was constantly subjected to the witty banter of Buddy Sorrell, played by Morey Amsterdam. After the show concluded its successful run, Deacon went on to co-star in the TV sitcom "The Mothers-In-Law" (1967),alongside Kaye Ballard and Eve Arden.
Following the cancellation of "The Mothers-In-Law," Deacon returned to his roots, appearing in various stage productions, including the long-running Broadway show "Hello Dolly" (1969-70),where he played the role of Horace Vandergelder opposite Phyllis Diller as the titular character. Deacon continued to work in television and film until his untimely passing.
In addition to his acting career, Deacon was an accomplished gourmet chef. In the 1980s, he hosted a Canadian television program focused on microwave cookery and even wrote a companion book on the subject.
Tragically, Deacon's life was cut short when he suffered a heart attack on the night of August 8, 1984, at the age of 62, in his Beverly Hills home. He was rushed to Cedars Sinai Hospital, where he later passed away. Despite his untimely passing, Deacon's legacy as a talented character actor continues to be celebrated and remembered.
