Norm Alden, Much Recognized Character Actor, Has Died at 87

Norman Alden, much seen to TV and movie viewers though with a name most likely not all that known, has died. The 87-year-old actor passed away of natural causes on July 27. At the time, he was residing in Los Angeles at an assisted living facility.

Alden did hundreds of performances in his career. According to the Hollywood Reporter, his family actually stated he'd appeared in 2,500 TV, movie, and commercial parts. The name may not be known, but the odds are most know his face.

Some of Alden's more memorable roles include:

**Lou the mechanic in a long lasting media campaign for AC Delco.

** Coach Leroy Fedders on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Fedders was noted for having drowned in a bowl of soup.

**Horrible Hank Hopkins in the roller derby movie, Kansas City Bomber with Raquel Welch. He was a mentally impaired employee of the team.

**Tom Williams, the father of Polly (Ronne Troup) on My Three Sons. Tom was gruff and objected to Polly's marriage to Chip Douglas (Stanley Livingston).

**Major Truman H. Landon in the film, Tora! Tora! Tora! He unintentionally led an unarmed group of planes right into the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In 2006, Alden retired, his last role being a minor character in TV movie, Our House. That marked the end of a nearly 50-year span of steady work for Alden.

Alden is survived by two children.