NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Actor Marvin Kaplan, Mel’s Diner patron on ‘Alice,’ dead at 89

NEW YORK

Veteran actor Marvin Kaplan has died at 89.

Best known for his recurring role on the long-running sitcom “Alice,” Kaplan died Friday in Burbank, Calif., where he resided, said John Gallogly, executive director of Theatre West, with which Kaplan was associated.

Besides his portrayal on “Alice” of Henry, a telephone lineman and frequent patron of Mel’s Diner, Kaplan voiced the character Choo-Choo in the 1960s cartoon series “Top Cat.”

More recently, he made several appearances on the Ted Danson comedy “Becker.”

Other credits include the 1963 film “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and the 1965 Blake Edwards comedy “The Great Race.”

The New York native also was a regular on the sitcom “Meet Millie,” which first aired on radio and was also seen on television from 1952-55.

Welcome to the fourth grade: Teacher’s rap targets students

SKOKIE, Ill.

A new teacher who made a music video to welcome his students has become a bit of a star with his fourth-graders.

Dwayne Reed’s video was posted on YouTube this week and already has been viewed more than a half-million times and earned him an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

The 25-year-old Reed just began teaching at Stenson Elementary School in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.

In his video, Reed wears a lab coat and sings, “Welcome to the fourth grade. So happy to meet you. Can’t wait till I see you.”

Reed says he wants his students to know they are important and loved and that they can be leaders.

He says students love the video and even introduced themselves to him using his lyrics.

Associated Press