Magician/actor/comic Harry Anderson has passed away. He was best known as the eccentric, magic-loving Judge Harry Stone on Night Court. Anderson started his showbiz career as a street magician, which eventually led to him performing his tricks on variety TV series like The Mike Douglas Show, The Late Show With David Letterman, and Saturday Night Live. His prestidigitation landed him a role on Cheers as lovable conman Harry “The Hat” Gittes, which in turn got him the Night Court lead that would make him a household name. Anderson’s quirky humor and mastery of magic shine in almost all of his performances.
Anderson also had a few macabre achievements to his name. His version of “Needle Through Arm” is still the go-to trick for any magician who wants to add something ghastly to their act. He also had a prominent role in the the original IT miniseries as the adult Richie Tozier. Harry would also go on to work on two different Tales From the Crypt episodes, one as an actor and the other as a screenwriter. The episode he wrote showcases his fascination with cons and deception.
Harry Anderson was a favorite of this site. We are deeply saddened by his passing and our hearts go out to his family.
Thank you for all the magic moments, Mr. Anderson.
