﻿ “Oscar.”
“What?”
“The cemetery’s on the phone.” “Tell them I’m not ready yet.”
Welcome to Hollywood Graveyard. Rare is the creative work that finds success
on the Broadway stage, and in film, and on television. One such example of this
trifecta of success is Neil Simon’s beloved play, The Odd Couple. Since its debut on
the Broadway stage in 1965, different incarnations of this odd pairing have
made us laugh through the generations. Today we’re remembering Felix Ungar,
and Oscar Madison…
“This messy grave marks the last resting place of Oscar Madison.”
And the talented folks behind The Odd Couple, by visiting their final resting places.
“It’s no time to be obsessed with graves and cemeteries, that’s depressing.”
Oh come now, Felix, it’s not depressing. In fact, it’s a great way to keep their memory alive.
How about you, Oscar, you up for some famous grave hunting?
“Now he’s got me talking to graves.” I’ll take that as a yes.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to bid farewell to Felix
Ungar, and Oscar Madison.” And as we eulogize Felix and Oscar,
let us first remember the man who conjured them up to begin with. This is Pound Ridge Cemetery
in Westchester County, New York. Here lies one of the most celebrated writers for stage
and screen of the past century, Neil Simon. He wrote dozens of plays throughout his career,
and would pen the screen-adaptations of many of his plays as well. He began writing radio
and television scripts in the 50s, and in the 60s made his first forays into playwriting.
He gained national fame with the plays Barefoot in the Park in 1963, and the subject our explorations
today, The Odd Couple, which premiered in 1965. It’s the story of two mismatched roommates:
the neurotic neat-freak Felix Ungar, recently given the boot by his wife and forced to move
in with his divorced friend Oscar Madison, who is something of a slob. And hilarity ensues. The
play ran for 964 performances, and was a huge hit, gaining 4 Tony Awards and a nomination for
Best Play. The success of that play would spark countless adaptations in the decades to follow,
including several stage revivals, movies and TV shows, and even a female version in 1985,
staged by Simon, featuring Sally Struthers as Florence Ungar, and Rita Moreno as Olive Madison.
The most recent adaptation was the 2015 television sitcom starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon.
Neil Simon had many other hits, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lost in Yonkers,
and The Sunshine Boys, both of which he later adapted into films,
but The Odd Couple will always rank among his best. And over the years, some of the giants
of stage and screen would bring his creations of Felix and Oscar to life for our enjoyment.
To find the actor who originated the role of Felix Ungar, we head to Riverside Cemetery in
Old Saybrook, Connecticut. This is where legendary actor and comedian Art Carney is laid to rest.
Audiences today perhaps remember him best as Ed Norton from the Honeymooners,
and for his Oscar-winning role in Harry and Tonto. But it was Art Carney who, in March 1965,
first brought to life the persnickety and fastidious Felix, alongside Walter Matthau’s
Oscar. Art continued in the role until October of that year, stepping down after he took ill.
To find the Oscar to Art’s Felix, we fly back to Los Angeles, and the star-studded Westwood Village
Memorial Park. Here lies the inimitable grumpy old man, the perfect Oscar for the stage and
big screen, Walter Matthau. Walter originated the role of the slovenly Oscar Madison in the play’s
debut in 1965. Walter won rave reviews for his performance, and among the many Tony Awards The
Odd Couple would take home, Walter won for Best Actor in a Play. Walter continued in the role
until stepping down in November of 1965 for filming obligations. Just a few years later,
Walter would team up with his frequent on-screen partner, Jack Lemmon, for the 1968 film adaptation
of The Odd Couple, reprising his role as Oscar. “The irony is that unless we come to some other
arrangement, I’m going to kill you, that the irony of it.”
“What’s wrong, Oscar?” “There’s something wrong with
this system, that’s what’s wrong. I don’t think two single men living alone in an 8-room apartment
should have a cleaner house than my mother.” The film was a huge success, garnering two Oscar
nominations (fittingly). Three decades later, a sequel was produced, The Odd Couple II, with both
Walter and Jack reprising their roles once again. Walter died from heart disease at age 79.
And speaking of Jack, Walter’s long-time friend and collaborator, the Felix to his movie Oscar, is
just a short distance away near the chapel. Jack Lemmon was one of the great dramedy performers
of his age, the quintessential “everyman,” remembered for films like Some Like it Hot, and
The Apartment. When casting the film version of The Odd Couple, producers wanted a big box office
draw, so while Walter Matthau reprised his role from the play, Jack Lemmon was cast to portray
Felix Ungar in the movie. The on-screen chemistry between the two, amplified by their real-life
friendship, led to one of the great pairings in movie history, and the movie was a smash.
“You’re a wonderful guy Oscar! You’ve done everything for me. If it weren’t for you I
don’t know what would have happened to me. You took me in here, you gave me a place to live, you
gave me something to live for. I’m never going to forget you for that, Oscar. You’re tops with me.”
“Have I just been told off? I think I may have missed it.”
As mentioned earlier, Jack would reprise his role as Felix in The Odd Couple II, in 1998.
“Jack Lemmon.” “Didn’t you fix that yet?”
“Walter Matthau.” He passed away from cancer in 2001 at age 76.
He now tops the marquee on his own grave.
With the success of both the play, and the film, the natural progression of The Odd Couple was
television. We’re at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills, to find one of the men who developed The
Odd Couple for television. Garry Marshall was one of the great producers of film and television.
He’s known for creating shows like Happy Days, and directing movies like Pretty Woman,
but it was his adaptation of The Odd Couple for television in 1970
that was his first big hit, with producing partner Jerry Belson.
Starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, the show ran for 5 seasons,
and has since become one of the all-time great television comedies,
raking in numerous Emmy nominations along the way, and still gets airtime today in reruns.
It's hard to imagine any two actors being able to match the on-screen pairing of Walter Matthau and
Jack Lemmon as Oscar and Felix… but the casting for the 1970s TV sitcom of The Odd Couple was
perfection, and led to comedy gold. Back at Westwood Village Memorial Park,
in the columbarium near the fountains, we find the man who brought the slobbish Oscar Madison to the
small screen, Jack Klugman. Jack’s remembered for shows like Quincy ME and The Twilight Zone,
and films like 12 Angry Men – but he was perfectly suited for the role of Oscar because, rewinding
back to 1965, it was Jack Klugman who took over the role of Oscar from Walter Matthau on stage.
Jack debuted his TV Oscar Madison in September 1970, and would go on to appear in 114 episodes
of the show through 1975. Jack won 2 primetime Emmys for his portrayal.
“What’s that?” “Matching funeral urns. One for you, one for me.”
“Which one is yours?” “That one.”
“That’s for my ashes.” “I’m giving you a head start.”
As for Jack’s ashes, they were inurned here at Westwood in good company,
including next door neighbor Janet Leigh, after his death from cancer in 2012, at the age of 90.
To find the perfect Felix to Jack’s TV Oscar, we cross back over to the east coast, to Westchester
Hills Cemetery in Westchester New York. Let me see now, it’s been a few years since I’ve been here. I
can’t seem to recall where Tony’s grave is. “It’s plot 204 by the babbling brook.”
Ah yes, that’s right. Here we are. Tony Randall had known success on Broadway for years,
and found stardom in films like Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? and Pillow Talk, before being cast as
hypochondriac, Flix Unger, now spelled “Unger” for television. His pairing with Jack Klugman,
for many including myself, was on par with the Matthau-Lemmon pairing, in 114 hilarious episodes.
Tony won an Emmy for his portrayal of Felix. “Felix.”
“You nearly scared me to death!” “You wouldn’t have far to go.”
“I’m glad you got down here, I want to show you my plot.”
“Yeah, I see it.” “Isn’t this lovely?”
“It’s beautiful, but I wanna talk to you.” “You have no idea how long I searched for
just the right spot, and now I’ve found it.”
And Tony found his perfect spot here in beautiful Westchester, after his death from
pneumonia following surgery in 2004 at the age of 84, though I don’t see a babbling brook nearby.
It wasn’t just Oscar and Felix. There were some very funny ladies that made us laugh along with
the odd couple as well. We’re back at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, to find one of TV and film’s
greatest comediennes, Penny Marshall. The sister of the show’s creator, Garry Marshall, Penny
Marshall is beloved by generations for her role as Laverne on Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley…
a role referenced right here on her marker. Penny went on to find success behind the camera,
one of the great female directors of comedy, like the movies Big and A League of Their
Own. On The Odd Couple, Penny starred as Myrna, Oscar’s secretary, in 27 episodes.
“I’m telling you -- come on in -- from this moment on I’m not being a slob anymore.”
“That’s it, I’m going crazy! I gave up smoking, and now my hearing’s going bad.
I thought I just heard you say you didn’t want to be a slob anymore.”
“That’s what you heard, and I’m not crazy. Come on, sit down.”
“I’m glad I’m not crazy.” Penny passed away from cardiopulmonary
failure and complications of diabetes at the age of 75, and rests here next to her brother Garry.
To find our next funny lady, we head to this uniquely scenic spot in Connecticut:
the Memorial Gardens of the Unitarian Church in Westport.
Brett Somers was a comedic actress, known by gameshow audiences as a frequent panelist on Match
Game. She was singularly qualified to play Oscar Madison’s wife on the 70s sitcom, because she was
the actual wife of Jack Klugman. Brett played Blanche in 5 episodes alongside her husband.
“Instead of fighting, let’s see if we can’t think of something else to do.”
“Like what?” “Like this.”
“Hey, we didn’t’ fight once during that whole kiss!”
Brett Somers died from cancer at age 83. The next incarnation of The Odd Couple might
surprise you, and you might not even be aware it existed. The year the TV sitcom ended, 1975,
Paramount developed a Saturday morning cartoon version of the series, titled The Oddball Couple,
in which Felix and Oscar were portrayed as a cat and a dog named Spiffy and Fleabag respectively.
We’re at Forest Lawn Glendale in the Courts of Freedom area, and the Columbarium of Heavenly
Peace. Frank Nelson was one of comedy’s great supporting players on radio and television for
decades, with his distinctive voice. You saw him on I Love Lucy, and The Jack Benny Program,
and you heard him in cartoons like The Flintstones, and Snorks. And if you happened
to catch The Oddball Couple for the one season it ran, you also heard Frank as Spiffy, the Felix
character embodied by a cat in the cartoon. “Honestly Fleabag, I hope you’ll accept this
remark without offense. But you are just about the most unkempt, uncouth,
disorganized reporter I have ever met.” “Okay, okay, what are you buttering me up
for? If you wanna favor, just come out and ask for it.”
The character of Oscar, a dog named Fleabag, was voiced by Paul Winchell, best known today by
audiences as the voice of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Paul was cremated and his ashes scattered,
so he does not have a grave we can visit. One of the men behind the production of the
Oddball Couple is a name familiar to you fans of classic animation.
This is Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, and the crypt of Friz Freleng. Friz was one of
the creatives behind those iconic Looney Tunes and Merry Melody cartoons from Warner Bros, where
he would introduce or help develop some of their biggest stars, like Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweety,
Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, and more… all featured here on his crypt. After Warner Bros, Friz teamed
up with David DePatie to form DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, which in addition to producing The
Oddball Couple, was known for producing The Pink Panther, and the Dr. Seuss TV Specials.
In 1982 Garry Marshall brought The Odd Couple back to the small
screen, this time with black actors in the lead roles, featuring Ron Glass as Felix,
and Demond Wilson as Oscar. It was called The New Odd Couple, which ran for just one season.
This brings us now to Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier California.
Ron Glass is perhaps best remembered today for his role as Det. Harris in the classic sitcom, Barney
Miller, in some 164 episodes. Younger audiences also remember him as Shepherd Book on Firefly.
But if you happened to catch one of the 18 episodes of The New Odd Couple produced in
1982, you got to see Ron Glass’s interpretation of Felix Unger.
“Oscar, you offered. You said it was on your way home.”
“I know that Felix, but I took another way home. I’m sorry. What’s for dinner?”
“Dinner? I’ll tell you what’s for dinner: burnt promises.”
Paired with Ron Glass was another familiar name from classic comedy: Demond Wilson,
of Sanford and Son fame, who played Oscar Madison in The New Odd Couple. As of filming,
Demond Wilson is still with us. There are a handful of other stars from
The Odd Couple who were cremated and don’t have a grave we can visit, like Al Molinaro,
who played Officer Murray in 73 episodes of the 70s series; Janis Hansen who played Gloria,
Felix’s wife, in the 70s series; Carole Shelley who played Gwendolyn Pigeon on stage and screen;
John Fiedler, who appeared in both the film and TV series; Pat Hingle, who took over for Jack Klugman
as Oscar in the Broadway Play; Eddie Bracken, who took over for Art Carney as Felix in the Broadway
play; and Gene Saks, who directed both film and stage adaptations of The Odd Couple.
One of the most iconic characters in the world of the Odd Couple was never seen, but heard in the
movies and every TV episode: that memorable theme music. We’re at Forest Lawn Hollywood once again,
in the Courts of Remembrance. In the Sanctuary of Enduring Protection, we find the crypt of composer
Neal Hefti. You Batman fans will remember him as the composer of the iconic Batman theme.
Just as memorable is his theme for the Odd Couple. It was written for the 1968 film,
and later opened and closed each episode of the 70s sitcom.
An updated, slightly more hip version of the theme featured in The New Odd Couple in 1982,
and for the 2015 remake starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, the theme was
given somewhat of a ska feel. Thank you Mr. Hefti, for one of TV’s most hummable themes.
So what’s next for the Odd Couple? Podcasts? Webseries? TikTok sketches?
Perhaps all of the above… we shall see. But what history has given us thus far
with this mismatched duo is enough to supply laughter for a lifetime,
and maybe a little more. Thanks for watching.
“You’re burying me between the captain of a garbage scow and the king of bowling.
Over here I was next to a concert cellist! He’s on the guided tour and everything!”
“Well, dig a tunnel, you can visit.”