Harry Laverne Anderson is an American actor, writer, director and magician.
He is best known for the role of Judge Harry Stone on the 1984-1992 television series Night
Court.
In addition to eight appearances on Saturday Night Live between 1981 and 1985, Anderson
had a recurring guest role as con man "Harry the Hat" on Cheers, toured extensively as
a magician, and did several magic/comedy shows for broadcast, including Harry Anderson's
Sideshow.
Early life Harry Anderson was born October 14, in Newport,
Rhode Island.
His first exposure to magic began when the Anderson family moved to Chicago.
Anderson's father, who was a salesman, would occasionally lead him downstairs to the Ambassador
East Hotel where the famous restaurant "The Pump Room" was.
There, Anderson discovered wise guys playing card games, hustling and occasionally performing
magic tricks.
Young Anderson became highly intrigued by the art of conjuring and wanted to learn more
about the subject.
He eventually had the opportunity to see legendary magician Harry Blackstone, Sr. perform at
a show.
Anderson was fascinated by the performance and continued to digest all he could about
magic.
Anderson moved to Los Angeles and attended High School there.
Every day after school, he would practice, fine tune and polish his conjuring skills.
Anderson attended Buena Park High School before transferring to North Hollywood High School.
Apparently he was valedictorian of his 1970 class of North Hollywood High School.
He joined the Dante magic club where he rubbed elbows with close-up magic wizards Paul Harris
and Paul Green.
He also frequented the Magic Castle, where he befriended a lot of magicians, including
magic legend Dai Vernon.
At age 17, Anderson decided to move to San Francisco and worked the streets performing
magic.
He soon discovered that he could make more money in hustling the crowd.
So he incorporated magic tricks and swindling into his routines.
Career His copious appearances on Saturday Night
Live led to his role as "Harry the Hat" on the first season of Cheers and eventually
as Judge Harry Stone on the hit TV show Night Court.
Anderson went on to appear in numerous other TV specials and shows, including 12 appearances
on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
As a magician, Anderson has since toured extensively and performed many comedy/magic shows for
clubs and broadcast, including Harry Anderson's Sideshow in 1987.
In 1990, he starred in the successful television adaptation of Stephen King's It as the adult
Richie Tozier.
The miniseries was directed by Tommy Lee Wallace.
From 1993 to 1997, Anderson starred in the sitcom Dave's World, based loosely on the
life and columns of humor columnist Dave Barry.
Together with longtime friend Turk Pipkin, Anderson wrote a book called Games You Can't
Lose: A Guide for Suckers, a collection of gags, cons, tricks and scams.
First published in 1989, this title also contains a survey of "Games You Can't Win" told from
an insider's perspective.
He appeared with Criss Angel in a TV special called The Science of Magic, later released
on DVD.
In November 2008, Anderson played himself on an episode of 30 Rock along with fellow
Night Court cast members Markie Post and Charles Robinson.
Personal life A longtime Mel Tormé fan, Anderson gave the
eulogy at the singer's funeral.
Judge Stone in Night Court was also a Tormé fan; the show's creator Reinhold Weege says
the fact that Anderson was also a Tormé fan was completely coincidental.
Anderson kept a nominally low profile after Dave's World was canceled.
Tired of L.A.'s glaring spotlight, Anderson moved to New Orleans in 2002.
In the 1990s, He and his second wife Elizabeth opened a small shop in the French Quarter
named "Sideshow" selling various "magic, curiosities, and apocrypha."
In the summer of 2005, Anderson also opened a nightclub in the French Quarter called "Oswald's
Speakeasy", located at 1331 Decatur Street at the corner of Esplanade Avenue.
He performed a one-man show there called Wise Guy.
In August 2006, Anderson and his wife announced their decision to leave New Orleans and move
to Asheville, N.C., citing concerns including declining tourism to the city, the re-election
of Mayor Ray Nagin, and the depressed mood prevailing in New Orleans.
Anderson appears in Hexing a Hurricane, a documentary about the first six months in
New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
The Andersons sold Oswald's Speakeasy in October 2006, and now reside in Asheville, North Carolina.
Anderson continues to present his evening show Wise Guy, which was originally developed
for his theater in New Orleans.
Filmography Film
Television References
External links Harry Anderson at the Internet Movie Database