
Louis Nye
Biography
Louis Nye, born Louis Neistat, was an American comedic actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is best known for his work on countless television, film and radio programs. Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio, playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties." Nye served in the United States Army during World War II, and because he earned laughs by mimicking other soldiers, he was assigned to run the recreation hall. Following his discharge, he returned to New York and began working in live television. He also appeared in several plays on Broadway, and made many appearances on television variety shows such as The Jack Benny Program (including one memorable turn as a crying cab driver), The Jimmy Durante Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and The Victor Borge Show. He earned his greatest fame as a regular on The Steve Allen Show, performing with Allen, Don Knotts, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington Jr., Dayton Allen, Gabriel Dell and Bill Dana. He primarily played urbane, wealthy, and often fey bon vivants; as part of the weekly "Man on the Street" sketches, his characterization of the pretentious country-club braggart Gordon Hathaway, with his catchphrase, "Hi-ho, Steverino," plus Allen's inability to resist bursting into hysterical laughter at his ad-libs, made Nye one of the favorites on Allen's show. When production moved to Los Angeles, Nye went too and became a character actor in Hollywood. Nye was cast as a guest star on many television series, including Make Room for Daddy; Guestward, Ho!; Burke's Law; The Munsters; Love, American Style; Laverne & Shirley; Starsky and Hutch; Police Woman; Fantasy Island; St. Elsewhere; and The Cosby Show. Nye played dentist Delbert Gray on several episodes of The Ann Sothern Show from 1960 to 1961, the romantic interest of Olive Smith, played by Ann Tyrrell. Nye also played Sonny Drysdale, the spoiled rich stepson of Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies during the 1962 season. He did six episodes, and received more mail than from anything else he had ever done on television, but the character was dropped. It was rumored that someone in the CBS network, or a sponsor, thought Sonny was too "sissified". However, Nye revived the character briefly during the 1966 season. During this period, Nye appeared in several television commercials for various products, including Rath brand lunch meats and the Better Business Bureau. Nye appeared as a celebrity judge on The Gong Show during the late 1970s. He also recorded a few comedy LPs, doing a variety of characterizations. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to reach his potential in movies. Many of his character roles were little more than cameos. Nevertheless, he performed with Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Robert Mitchum, Jack Webb and Joanne Woodward, and others. Nye also appeared on the lecture circuit, in concerts and in nightclubs, and did voice work in animation, such as Inspector Gadget with Don Adams.
Known For(63 works)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962

Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000

The Mike Douglas Show
1961The Mike Douglas Show
1961

The Mike Douglas Show
1961The Mike Douglas Show
1961

The Love Boat
1977The Love Boat
1977

The Love Boat
1977The Love Boat
1977

The Love Boat
1977The Love Boat
1977

St. Elsewhere
1982St. Elsewhere
1982

The Cosby Show
1984The Cosby Show
1984

The Beverly Hillbillies
1962The Beverly Hillbillies
1962

The Merv Griffin Show
1962The Merv Griffin Show
1962

Naked City
1958Naked City
1958

Starsky & Hutch
1975Starsky & Hutch
1975

Starsky & Hutch
1975Starsky & Hutch
1975

Fantasy Island
1978Fantasy Island
1978

Police Woman
1974Police Woman
1974

Burke's Law
1963Burke's Law
1963

Burke's Law
1963Burke's Law
1963

The Dick Cavett Show
1968The Dick Cavett Show
1968

Laverne & Shirley
1976Laverne & Shirley
1976

The Munsters
1964The Munsters
1964

The Jack Benny Program
1950The Jack Benny Program
1950

The Jack Benny Program
1950The Jack Benny Program
1950

The Steve Allen Show
1956The Steve Allen Show
1956

The Bob Hope Show
1950The Bob Hope Show
1950

The Real Ghostbusters
1986The Real Ghostbusters
1986

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968

Kraft Music Hall
1958Kraft Music Hall
1958

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956

Kraft Television Theatre
1947Kraft Television Theatre
1947

This Is Your Life
1952This Is Your Life
1952

The Hollywood Palace
1964The Hollywood Palace
1964

The Lieutenant
1963The Lieutenant
1963

Alice in Wonderland
1985Alice in Wonderland
1985

The Pruitts of Southampton
1966The Pruitts of Southampton
1966

Cannonball Run II
1984Cannonball Run II
1984

Guestward, Ho!
1960Guestward, Ho!
1960

Aloha Paradise
1981Aloha Paradise
1981

The Judy Garland Show
1963The Judy Garland Show
1963

Good Neighbor Sam
1964Good Neighbor Sam
1964

A Guide for the Married Man
1967A Guide for the Married Man
1967

The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005

O.C. and Stiggs
1987O.C. and Stiggs
1987

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976

The Facts of Life
1960The Facts of Life
1960

The Wheeler Dealers
1963The Wheeler Dealers
1963

Full Moon High
1981Full Moon High
1981

Harper Valley P.T.A.
1978Harper Valley P.T.A.
1978

Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
1980Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
1980

Daytime Revolution
2024Daytime Revolution
2024

Zotz!
1962Zotz!
1962

Sex Kittens Go to College
1960Sex Kittens Go to College
1960

Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975

The Stripper
1963The Stripper
1963

One Touch of Venus
1955One Touch of Venus
1955

The Last Time I Saw Archie
1961The Last Time I Saw Archie
1961

All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
1980All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
1980

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
1963Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
1963

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
1974Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
1974

Charge of the Model T's
1977Charge of the Model T's
1977

The Great Bear Scare
1983The Great Bear Scare
1983

The City That Forgot About Christmas
1974The City That Forgot About Christmas
1974

Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter
1988Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter
1988