Tony Randall

Comic actor Tony Randall, pictured here in 2002, first gained attention as the fastidious "best friend" figure in several Rock Hudson-Doris Day movies, and is best known for playing Felix Unger on television's "The Odd Couple." Randall died May 17, 2004, in New York. He was 84.

Randall, left, and Jack Klugman in a scene from "The Odd Couple" sitcom, which was based on Neil Simon's play and movie. The show's charm sprang from Randall's chemistry and conflict with Klugman as sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison, with whom he's forced to share an apartment after both men get divorced.

Randall in a 1974 publicity photo for "The Odd Couple," which ran from 1970-75. Randall won an Emmy for the show after it had been cancelled, prompting him to quip at the awards ceremony: "I'm so happy I won. Now if I only had a job."

Randall poses with Klugman, February 1993, in New York. The friends reunited for a Broadway production of "The Sunshine Boys" in 1998.

After "The Odd Couple," Randall had two short-lived sitcoms, and returned to Broadway, where made his stage debut in 1941 in "The Circle of Chalk." Randall is seen here holding Antoinette Perry "Tony" Award nomination certificates for his National Actors Theater production of "Inherit the Wind," and for the play's leading actor George C. Scott, May 15, 1996, in New York. The production did not win that year's awards.

Actress Carol Channing congratulates Randall at the opening night party for the National Actors Theater's "The School for Scandal," at Sardi's restaurant in New York, Nov. 19, 1995. In an effort to bring classic theater back to Broadway, Randall founded the non-profit National Actors Theatre in 1991, using $1 million of his own money and $2 million from corporations and foundations.

Tony Randall, middle in blue robe, and dancer/entertainer, Ben Vereen, middle right, dance with cast members during a rehersal of "A Christmas Carol," Nov. 7, 1996, in New York. Vereen held the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present and Randall played Scrooge.

Randall, 75, and his bride Heather Harlan, 25, laugh at Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's humor as he marries them at New York City Hall, Nov. 17, 1995. Randall met Harlan through his National Actors Theatre. Their first child, Julia Laurette Randall, was born in April 1997, and they had a son, Jefferson Salvini Randall, in June 1998.

Harlan and Randall kiss after their wedding ceremony at New York City Hall, Nov. 17, 1995. Randall was married to his college sweetheart, Florence Randall, for 54 years until she died of cancer in 1992.

Attending the 27th Annual Theatre Hall of Fame Ceremonies in New York, Feb. 2, 1998, are, left to right: Philip Bosco, Tony Randall, Zoe Caldwell, Tony Walton and Lauren Bacall. Caldwell and Walton were already in the Hall of Fame; Bosco, Randall and Bacall were inducted that evening.

Randall shakes hands with New York Gov. George Pataki, right, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. March 16, 1999, as New York Council on the Arts chairman Richard Schwartz and actress Kathleen Chalfant, far right, look on. Several celebrities and arts advocates visited Albany to push for an $8.8 million increase in the state budget for the arts.

Randall was socially active, lobbying against smoking in public places, marching in Washington against apartheid, and helping raise money for AIDS research. Here he listens to Andrew Cuomo while Cuomo's wife, Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, stands at right during a fund-raiser for Andrew Cuomo's unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for New York governor, in New York, June 7, 2001.

Randall and television personalities Meredith Viera, center, and Star Jones arrive for the opening of Broadway's "42nd Street," May 2, 2001, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in New York.

Randall, left, and Klugman embrace after Randall's surprise onstage visit at the conclusion of "On Golden Pond," in which Klugman starred, at the Newberry Opera House in Newberry, S.C., April 8, 2003.

Randall, center, has the hood representing his honorary degree placed over his head by Pace University President David A. Caputo, right, and Beverly Kahn, the associate provost for academic affairs, left, during commencement ceremonies of the university's New York City campus, at Radio City Music Hall, May 22, 2003. Randall received an honorary doctorate of fine arts.

Mireille Enos, Tony Randall and Jurian Hughes in a scene from the 2003 National Actors Theatre production of "Right You Are," at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University in New York.

Randall speaks against proposed budget cuts to the state of New Jersey budget that would affect funding of arts programs, during a news conference at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J., May 14, 2003.

Randall and his wife, Heather, pose for photographers on opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival, May 6, 2003, in New York. Randall's final film, "Down With Love," opened the festival.