Emmy-winning actor David Smyrl, best known for his role as Mr. Handford, the retired firefighter who ran Hooper’s Store on “Sesame Street,” has passed away. He was 80.
According to his wife Cheryl, Smyrl who was diagnosed with lung cancer in January, and died of complications from the disease at the Lankenau Medical Center outside Philadelphia.
“He was funny,” Cheryl told The Hollywood Reporter. “I could say so many good things about him. He was loved by so many people. He was a mentor to a lot of children. He was a family man, loyal, true and faithful.”
A north Philly native born on Sept. 12, 1935, Smyrl kicked off his career as a poet in Greenwich Village in the 1960s. He got his first big break in television when he landed a role on the show “Express Yourself” in the ’70s, in New York City. Later on in his career, Smyrl moved to California to work on the sitcom “Benson,” where he nabbed his first a People’s Choice Award. He also worked as a writer and actor on “The Cosby Show,” playing contractor Sam Lucas.
From 1990 to 1998, the actor played the fun loving, singing store-owner on “Sesame Street.” He succeeded Leonard Jackson, who played a grumpier Handford.
According to a 1997 story in the Record-Journal, a Connecticut newspaper, Smyrl won the job by acting out a script where he had returned from fighting a fire, worn out, and talked of retiring and buying a little store. “You get to act stupid,” Smyrl told the newspaper. “It’s fun! I get to do fun things like dance with Gloria Estefan.”
Meanwhile, his wife, Cheryl, was convinced he loved the role because he was surrounded by children. The Smyrl’s met in 1975 and were friends for many years before they jumped the broom in April 1992. Smyrl is also survived by his stepson, Pancho Scott.
A funeral is scheduled for Monday. In the meantime, share your condolences in the comment section below.
