Tony Randall, 1920-2004

Anybody who knows Filmbrain can attest that he is literally obsessed with The Odd Couple, and has been for many years. Hearing just moments ago that Tony Randall died has REALLY bummed him out. In his film career he was best known for playing the effete fop in such films as Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back, but one of his best roles was as the working-class husband in 1957's No Down Payment. (A great unsung film about couples living in a California housing development.) It's fitting that his last role was in 2003's Down With Love, an homage to the Rock Hudson-Doris Day films that he appeared in. To most of us though, he will always be remembered as finicky Felix the neat freak who lived with sloppy Oscar on The Odd Couple. Filmbrain believes this was the greatest sitcom ever, and the chemistry and interplay between Randall and Jack Klugman has never been equaled. (The episode where they move into a high-security building is a comic masterpiece.) It's tragic how hacked up the episodes are in syndication, and maybe Randall's passing with finally encourage somebody to release the entire series on DVD. Until then, Filmbrain will continue writing his weekly letters to Paramount.