Paul Sand

With his naturally rumpled, down-at-heel look, Paul Sand has the perfect face for comedy. This was helped greatly by his boyhood training as an actor, which was further honed by work in an early lineup of the famed Chicago improv troupe, Second City. With his appearance and experience, Sand moved quickly into TV and films, becoming a mainstay for several decades.

His first significant role was a small one on the hit suburban witchcraft comedy "Bewitched" (1966). From there, he worked often and became a familiar presence in both mediums. Notable film appearances include explosives expert Greenberg in the diamond caper film "The Hot Rock" (1972) starring George Segal and Robert Redford, and a bigger one as Barbra Streisand's ex-husband in the boxing comedy "The Main Event" (1979). Sand alternated these appearances with TV acting.

He popped up in many of the top shows of various eras, including a recurring role as a wacky landlord in the family sitcom "Gimme a Break!" (1986). He even had his name on a show--"Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers" (1974), a comedy developed by famed director-writer James L. Brooks in which Sand played a lovable classical musician. The series lasted only one season, however.

All this TV and film acting apparently wasn't enough for Sand. He also played roles on stage, and won a Tony Award for his work in the Grimm's Fairy Tales update "Paul Sills' Story Theatre" in 1971.