Charles Herbert Levin (March 12, 1949 – June 28, 2019) was an American actor who appeared in television, movies and on stage. He was best known for the role of Elliot Novak on the series '' Alice'' having become a regular in the show's ninth season and the recurring role of Eddie Gregg on ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the staff of a single police station loca ...

'' from 1982 to 1986.

Life and career

Levin was also known for playing the

mohel A ( he, מוֹהֵל , Ashkenazi pronunciation , plural: , arc, מוֹהֲלָא , "circumciser") is a Jew trained in the practice of , the "covenant of circumcision". Etymology The noun ( in Aramaic), meaning "circumciser", is derived f ...

in "

The Bris "The Bris" is the 69th episode of the sitcom ''Seinfeld''. It is the fifth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on October 14, 1993. The story centers on the bris for the newborn child of two of Jerry and Elaine's friends. Jerry and El ...

" episode of ''

Seinfeld ''Seinfeld'' ( ) is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, over nine seasons and List of Seinfeld episodes, 180 episodes. It stars Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld ( ...

'', and Coco, the gay cook, in the pilot episode of ''

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White ...

''. His part was dropped because the part of Sophia Petrillo (played by

Estelle Getty Estelle Gettleman (née Scher; July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008), known professionally as Estelle Getty, was an American actress and comedian best known for her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo on ''The Golden Girls'' (1985–92), for which she won ...

) changed from a recurring part to a main character. Levin appeared as a guest star on many television shows including ''Alice'' (as Vera's husband Elliot Novak), ''

Capital News ''Capital News'' is an American drama television series that aired on ABC in 1990. Starring Lloyd Bridges, Helen Slater, and William Russ (Boy Meets World) ''Capital News'' was created by David Milch and Christian Williams. Synopsis The series ...

'' (as Vinnie DiSalvo), ''

Family Ties ''Family Ties'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC for seven seasons, premiering on September 22, 1982, and concluding on May 14, 1989. The series, created by Gary David Goldberg, reflected the move in the United States f ...

'', ''

Tales from the Darkside ''Tales from the Darkside'' is an American anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero. Debuting in October 1983 with a pilot episode and then being picked up for syndication in September 1984, the show ran for 4 seasons through July ...

'', ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, su ...

'', '' The Facts of Life'', ''

Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...

'' (as Arthur Haberman), ''

Punky Brewster ''Punky Brewster'' is an American sitcom television series about a young girl (Soleil Moon Frye) being raised by a foster parent (George Gaynes). The show ran on NBC from September 16, 1984, to March 9, 1986, and again in syndication from Octobe ...

'' (as Officer Bob), ''

Thirtysomething ''Thirtysomething'' is an American drama television series created by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz for United Artists Television (under MGM/UA Television) and aired on ABC from September 29, 1987, to May 28, 1991."The 'don't trust anyo ...

'', ''

Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan municipal court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portray ...

'', ''

L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...

'' (as Robert Caporale), ''

Designing Women ''Designing Women'' is an American television sitcom created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that aired on CBS from September 29, 1986, to May 24, 1993, producing seven seasons and 163 episodes. It was a joint production of Bloodworth/Thomason M ...

'', ''

Murphy Brown ''Murphy Brown'' is an American television sitcom created by Diane English that premiered on November 14, 1988, on CBS. The series stars Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for ''FYI'', a ...

'', ''

NYPD Blue ''NYPD Blue'' is an American police procedural television series set in New York City, exploring the struggles of the fictional 15th Precinct detective squad in Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwines several plots involving an ensemble c ...

'', and ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...

''. He was Jewish.

Disappearance and death

On July 8, 2019, Charles Levin's son reported to the police that Levin was missing, and had not been heard from since June 28. At the time, Levin lived in

Grants Pass, Oregon Grants Pass is the county seat of Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on Interstate 5, northwest of Medford, along the Rogue River. The population was 39,189 at the 2020 census. History Early Hudson's Bay Company hunt ...

, and was in the process of moving to a new house in the town. Levin's car was found on July 12 on a remote road northeast of Selma, Oregon. The body of his dog, Boo Bear, was found inside. Levin's body was found a day later. On November 8, 2019, authorities confirmed Levin's cause of death to be accidental. His car became stuck where it was later found, on an unmaintained wilderness road. After trying to free it, it appeared he left the car in search of help and fell to his death down a embankment. He was 70 years old.

Filmography

* ''

Everybody Rides the Carousel ''Everybody Rides the Carousel'' is a 1975 independent animated film about the stages of life. It was directed by John Hubley and written and produced by Hubley and his wife Faith. Among the cast are Meryl Streep, Dinah Manoff, and Lane Smith and ...

'' (1975) – Stage 6 (voice) * ''

Annie Hall ''Annie Hall'' is a 1977 American satirical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay written by him and Marshall Brickman, and produced by Allen's manager, Charles H. Joffe. The film stars Allen as Alvy Singer, w ...

'' (1977) – Actor in Rehearsal * '' Between the Lines'' (1977) – Paul * '' A Doonesbury Special'' (1977) – Mark Slackmeyer * ''

Rush It ''Rush It'' is a 1978 American romantic drama film co-written and directed by Gary Youngman. The directorial debut film also featured the first acting role in a film by Tom Berenger.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075157/trivia Premise A female b ...

'' (1978) – Dr. Levy * ''

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

'' (1979) – Television Actor #1 * ''

The Seduction of Joe Tynan ''The Seduction of Joe Tynan'' is a 1979 American political drama film directed by Jerry Schatzberg, and produced by Martin Bregman. The screenplay was written by Alan Alda, who also played the title role. The film stars Alda, Barbara Harris, ...

'' (1979) – John Cairn * '' Honeysuckle Rose'' (1980) – Sid *''Washington Mistress'' (1982, TV Movie) – Larry * ''

Deal of the Century ''Deal of the Century'' is a 1983 American comedy film directed by William Friedkin and starring Chevy Chase, Gregory Hines, and Sigourney Weaver. The film follows the adventures of several arms dealers that compete to sell weapons to a South A ...

'' (1983) – Dr. Rechtin * '' Alice'' (1976) (Season 8 recurring, Season 9 regular: 1983–85) – Elliot Novak * ''

This Is Spinal Tap ''This Is Spinal Tap'' (also known as ''This Is Spınal Tap: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi'') is a 1984 American mockumentary film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner (in his feature directorial debut). The film stars Christopher Guest, M ...

'' (1984) – Disc 'n' Dat Manager * '' Do You Remember Love'' (1985, TV Movie) – Dr. Raymond Sawyer * ''

'' (1985, TV pilot) - Coco * ''

The Man with One Red Shoe ''The Man with One Red Shoe'' is a 1985 American comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and starring Tom Hanks and Dabney Coleman. It is a remake of the 1972 French film ''The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe'' starring Pierre Richard and Mireil ...

'' (1985) – CIA Dentist * ''

The Golden Child ''The Golden Child'' is a 1986 American dark fantasy martial arts action comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. The film stars Eddie Murphy as Chandler Jarrell, a Los Angeles social worker who is informed that he is " The Chosen One", and is ...

'' (1986) – TV Host * ''

The Couch Trip ''The Couch Trip'' is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. It stars Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin and Donna Dixon. It is loosely based on the 1971 novel ''The Couch Trip'', by Ken Kolb. Plot Alleged mental pa ...

'' (1988) – TV Reporter *''Home Free'' (1988, TV Movie) – Barry Kramer * ''

No Holds Barred No holds barred or No Holds Barred may refer to: * ''No Holds Barred'' (1952 film), a film starring The Bowery Boys * ''No Holds Barred'' (1989 film), a film starring Hulk Hogan * ''No Holds Barred'' (Biohazard album) (1997) * ''No Holds Barred ...

'' (1989) – Ordway * ''

Immediate Family The immediate family is a defined group of relations, used in rules or laws to determine which members of a person's family are affected by those rules. It normally includes a person's parents, siblings, spouse, and children. It can contain other ...

'' (1989) – Eli's Dad * ''

Opposites Attract "Opposites Attract" is a song by American singer Paula Abdul from her debut album, ''Forever Your Girl'' (1988). It was written and produced by Oliver Leiber. Vocals on the song, in addition to Abdul, were provided by Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gunn ...

'' (1990) – Marcino * ''

'' (1989) (Episode: ''

'', 1993) – The Mohel * ''

A Civil Action ''A Civil Action'' is a 1995 non-fiction book by Jonathan Harr about a water contamination case in Woburn, Massachusetts, in the 1980s. The book became a best-seller. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction. The case is ...

'' (1998) – Geologist (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Levin, Charles 1949 births 2019 deaths 20th-century American male actors Accidental deaths from falls Accidental deaths in Oregon American male film actors American male television actors American male stage actors Male actors from Chicago People from Grants Pass, Oregon Yale School of Drama alumni