Thanks for the great entertainment. May You Rest in Peace
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Allan Arbus
jaypay111 — 12 years ago(April 23, 2013 09:27 AM)
Thanks for the great entertainment. May You Rest in Peace
Allan Arbus, who left the successful fashion photography business he and his wife, Diane, built to become an actor, most memorably playing the caustic psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman on the hit television series MASH, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 95.
Amy Arbus, his daughter, confirmed his death.
Mr. Arbus appeared in films like Coffy and Crossroads and was a TV regular during the 1970s and 80s, appearing on Taxi, Starsky & Hutch, Matlock and other shows. But his best-known role was Major Freedman, the liberal psychiatrist who appeared in a dozen episodes of MASH. He treated wounds of the psyche much as Capt. Hawkeye Pierce treated surgery patients: with a never-ending string of zingers.
Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, recalled Mr. Arbus as a very believable therapist.
I was so convinced that he was a psychiatrist I used to sit and talk with him between scenes, Mr. Alda said in an interview with the Archive of American Television. After a couple months of that I noticed he was giving me these strange looks, like How would I know the answer to that?
Allan Franklin Arbus was born in New York City on Feb. 15, 1918. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School and entered City College at 15. He left college a year and a half later for a job at Russeks Department Store, where he met Diane Nemerov, the daughter of the stores owners.
They married in 1941 and became passionate about photography. They shot fashion photographs for Russeks before Mr. Arbus left to serve as a photographer in the Army Signal Corps in Burma during World War II. When he was discharged in 1946 the Arbuses established a studio on West 54th Street for fashion photography and soon won a contract from Cond Nast to supply photos for magazines like Glamour and Vogue.
In 1956, Ms. Arbus dissolved their business partnership to work full time on her haunting shots of marginalized people. Mr. Arbus continued to work in fashion photography but also took up acting.
The Arbuses separated in 1959 and divorced in 1969, when Mr. Arbus moved to Los Angeles. Ms. Arbus committed suicide in 1971. In 1976, Mr. Arbus married Mariclare Costello. She survives him, as do his two daughters from his first marriage, Amy and Doon; and a daughter from his second marriage, Arin Arbus.
Mr. Arbuss last television role was on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2000. -
r32motorman — 12 years ago(April 23, 2013 10:55 AM)
A Sidney Freedman episode was always a special treat on MAS*H, because Sidney was SOOOO likable, and well written, but mostly because Mr. Arbus played him so well. I remember wondering if he would appear in the finale when it first aired (yes, I'm that old), and was thrilled that he was a major player in that last episode. He helped the series end on it's highest note, and I will always remember Mr. Arbus's portrayal of Sidney as my favorite character on the show.
My condolences to his family, and my thanks to Mr. Arbus himself for his great work.
Requiescat in Pace, Good Sir.
Thank you for riding with MTA, New York City Transit. -
Keep_Flying — 12 years ago(April 23, 2013 05:58 PM)
tcob4 said
He was one of my favorite reoccurring characters on Mash !!
"Ladies & Gentlemen take my advise pull down your pants & slide on the ice"
You said everything I wanted to say and first. My only addition,
Mr. Arbus, may there be no war where you are, now. Rest in peace.
"Chance favors the prepared mind" Louis Pasteur -
happipuppi13 — 12 years ago(April 23, 2013 05:50 PM)
The very first Sidney episode I saw him in was,not surprisingly,The Billfold Syndrome in Season 7. I was ten and in watching the show thought "Wow,what great doctor." (Of psychiatry ).
Alan Arbus made Sid not just a strong and sympathetic friend to the 4077th,he was also a fun person with a sense of humor. In othr woirds,the perfect head doctor to help when Hawkeye needed it ,as well sas the others.
I'd have sworn when anyone asked me how old I thought Arbus/Sid was,that he was the same age as Alan Alda. I had no idea until about 5 years ago,that he was in Harry Morgan's age range.
Arbus had many other Tv appearences and was in quite a few movies too but people will always know him for Sid. RIP Mr. Arbus.
MAN! One dream's come true,ready for another.
happipuppi13
arf,man!! -
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Akzidenz_Grotesk — 12 years ago(April 23, 2013 06:15 PM)
Yes, 95 was surprising. Also the fact he was the husband of the tragic photographer Diane Arbus who committed suicide. I never connected the name with him as I had not known they had been married.
MIND AND TRUTH -
tipperary-1 — 12 years ago(April 23, 2013 09:14 PM)
This man was one of my all time favorites. I just knew one day soon we would read this. RIP, Mr. Arbus. Thank you so much for the hours of entertainment you provided us. I will never forget you.
"I'm a paranoid schizophrenic. I AM my own entourage!"