Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Harvey Atkin


Harvey Atkin passed away this week. He was half of the two Torontonians (along with Al Waxman)  who performed in just about every Cagney & Lacey episode ever produced, beginning with the movie starring Tyne Daly & Loretta Swit, through the Meg Foster Episodes, and on to the 119 hour-long shows made with Sharon Gless as Christine Cagney.

Harvey was our Sergeant Coleman and easily shouldered the responsibility of bringing some necessary humor into the workplace, both in front and behind the camera. Like our Lieutenant Samuels (Al Waxman), Harvey was more than a member of our ensemble. He became a reliable friend and, along with his wife, Celia, a home away from home for Sharon during the years in Canada while she starred in Showtime’s Queer as Folk.

In subsequent years Harvey and Celia, when visiting their winter Florida home in Fort Lauderdale, would always see to it that at least once a season we four would rendezvous for a feast at Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach. Good as those meals were, Sharon never failed to observe, that they didn’t measure up to Celia’s homemade Brisket dinners on Friday nights in Toronto.

Our thoughts, prayers and good wishes go out to Celia, their daughter, Lisa, son, Danny and their five grandchildren. Harvey joins a too-long list of fellow Cagney & Lacey alumni who have passed on. I miss them all.



Barney Rosenzweig

2 comments:

Kim V. said...

Beautiful tribute.

It's nice to see you blogging again��

I read your book a few months ago & enjoyed it very much. As I read of the many obstacles you overcame to keep the show on the air, I couldn't help but think of something my Dad kept framed on his desk for as long as I can remember.

Press On
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistance. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistance and determination alone are omnipotent.

Anonymous said...

Sadden to hear of the passing of Harvey Atkin.
Once on a rerun of Law & Order, there was Harvey Atkin!
He was promoted & elevated to his new job as a JUDGE.
RIP sir, your work keeps you alive in many admirers.