He managed to work past the possible typecasting after Mel Brook's inspired casting in Frankenstein. (Fred Gwynn had a harder time getting past his old Munster role). While he was in a lot of movies and programs, every time I saw him in something else I had to smile, because that Frankenstein role was a classic in the background.

He hadn't been looking well the last few times I saw him in programs. We have the answer to that now.

SRS