Actor Bill Erwin Dies at 96

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Bill Erwin, a veteran Hollywood actor best known for his Emmy-nominated stint as a grumpy old man on Seinfeld, died at 96 Tuesday of age-related causes.

In addition to his role as Sid Fields in the 1993 episode “The Old Man,” Erwin is remembered for roles in Somewhere in Time, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, The Golden Girls, Growing Pains, Who’s the Boss? and My Name is Earl.

(See TIME’s cover story on Seinfeld.)

Born William Lindsey Erwin in 1914 in Texas, he studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, performing there and on other stages around Los Angeles throughout his career.  Erwin was also a self-taught cartoonist, published in The New Yorker, Playboy and Los Angeles magazine.  (via LA Times and People)

(See the top 10 TV series of 2010.)

See Erwin’s scene-stealing performance on Seinfeld below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC2CM7UVzPQ&w=450]