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Florence Halop

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Florence Halop
Halop being made up for her role as Mama in the television comedy Meet Millie, 1953
Born(1923-01-23)January 23, 1923
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, 1986(1986-07-15) (aged 63)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesFlo Halop
OccupationActress
Years active1939–1986
SpouseGeorge Gruskin (1949-1976; his death)
Children2

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 Kids/East Side Kids.

Early years

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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

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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

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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, similarly developed lung cancer and died during the series run.[1] She was replaced by Marsha Warfield, who played Roz Russell until the series ended in 1992.[6]

Family

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Halop was married to George Gruskin, who died in 1976. They were the parents of two daughters, Georgeanna and Benita.[citation needed]

Filmography

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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 Florence, Bert's Wife Uncredited
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1951 Goodyear Television Playhouse Season 1 Episode 1: "October Story"
Holiday Hotel Unknown episodes
1952 I Love Lucy Woman on Phone Season 2 Episode 8: "Redecorating"
1952–1956 Meet Millie Mrs. Bronson 78 episodes
1958 Playhouse 90 Mrs. Laurie Season 2 Episode 23: "No Time at All"
1959 The Untouchables Flora Weinberg Season 1 Episode 9: "The Tri-State Gang"
1962 Saints and Sinners Ruth Melton Foss Season 1 Episode 10: "A Shame for the Diamond Wedding"
1963 Going My Way Mrs. Kravitz Season 1 Episode 23: "Cornelius Come Home"
The Danny Thomas Show Matilda Season 11 Episode 7: "My Fair Uncle"
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Jenny, Mr. Crawford's Maid Season 2 Episode 7: "Starring the Defense" (uncredited)
The New Phil Silvers Show Phil Silvers fan 1 episode
1965 The Dick Van Dyke Show Mrs. Spaulding Season 5 Episode 4: "The Ugliest Dog in the World"
Hank Mrs. Wallace 1 episode
1967 Captain Nice Mrs. Kowalski Season 1 Episode 5: "The Man with Three Blue Eyes"
That Girl Clerk Season 2 Episode 5: "The Apartment"
1968 That Girl Librarian (uncredited) Season 3 Episode 6: "Secret Ballot"
I Spy Clara Season 3 Episode 21: "Shana"
1970 The Mod Squad Nurse Season 2 Episode 22: "A Time for Remembering"
But I Don't Want to Get Married! Mrs. Green Television movie
1971 Allan Blanche Fisher Television movie
The Chicago Teddy Bears Mrs. Krausmeyer Season 1 Episode 7: "Linc Minds the Baby"
Love, American Style Mrs. Jones Season 3 Episode 9: "Love and the Big Mother" (segment)
Love, American Style Guest Season 3 Episode 14: "Love and the Motel Mixup" (segment)
1972 Insight 1 episode
Wait till Your Father Gets Home Voice Season 1 Episode 14: "The Beach Vacation"
The New Scooby-Doo Movies Voices 15 episodes
1974 Here's Lucy Old Woman Season 6 Episode 18: "Lucy, the Sheriff"
1975 Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Sylvia Television movie
Police Woman Hannah Victor Season 1 Episode 20: "Hannah Victor"
1976 Gemini Man Miss Evans Season 1 Episode 8: "Escape Hatch"
All in the Family Martha Linfoot Season 7 Episode 11: "Mr. Edith Bunker"
1976–1982 Barney Miller Ms. Mabel Kleiner / Mrs. Pierce / Evelyn Hawley / Karen Golden / Wanda LaMear / Wilma Kestner 6 episodes
1977 The Love Boat Millie Lindsay Season 1 Episode 3: "Ex Plus Y/Golden Agers/Graham and Kelly"
CHiPs Mrs. Abel Season 1 Episode 10: "Highway Robbery"
The Betty White Show Marian Season 1 Episode 8: "Good Night, Sweet Fletch"
The Betty White Show Marian Season 1 Episode 11: "Joyce's Wedding"
The Betty White Show Marian Season 1 Episode 12: "Fletcher's Decision"
Alice Annie Season 1 Episode 23: "The Bundle"
1978 Soap Aunt Esther Season 2 Episode 2
1979 Archie Bunker's Place Aunt Gussie Season 1 Episode 1: "Archie's New Partner: Part 1"
Archie Bunker's Place Aunt Gussie Season 1 Episode 2: "Archie's New Partner: Part 2"
Archie Bunker's Place Aunt Gussie Season 1 Episode 14: "The Shabbat Dinner"
Angie Ceil Season 2 Episode 10: "Harvey's Mother"
Angie Ceil Season 2 Episode 12: "The Gambler"
1980 Angie Ceil Season 2 Episode 17: "Marie Moves Out"
Angie Ceil Season 2 Episode 19: "February Fever"
This Is the Life Old Woman Episode: "Independence and '76"
1981 Alice Old Lady Season 5 Episode 16: "Macho, Macho Mel"
1982 Gimme a Break! Mrs. Falkenberg Season 2 Episode 4: "Grandpa's Visit"
1983 Condo Lady in Sauna Season 1 Episode: "The Neighbors"
It Takes Two Florence Season 1 Episode 12: "The Choice"
It Takes Two Florence Season 1 Episode 21: "The Suit"
Hill Street Blues Fish Store Customer Season 4 Episode 2: "Ba-Bing, Ba-Bing"
1981 Alice Old Lady Season 8 Episode 3: "Jolene Gets Her Wings"
1984 Diff'rent Strokes Mrs. Gruber Season 6 Episode 15: "The Hitchhikers: Part 2"
Brothers Mrs. Veltnelman Season 1 Episode 10: "Standards and Practices"
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

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  1. ^ a b c d Boyer, Edward J. (July 16, 1986). "Florence Halop of TV's 'Night Court' Dies at 63". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Radio Children". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. May 3, 1931. p. 108. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Programs On The Air". The Piqua Daily Call. January 3, 1933. p. 7. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Halop, Florence". Radio Goldin Index. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. ^ 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.
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