THE HAT SQUAD: FRANKLIN COVER

My first awareness of Franklin Cover in Toobworld was from "Between Time And Timbuktu", an adaptation of several short stories and vignettes from the novels of Kurt Vonnegut.

(Somebody at TV Land or the Sci-Fi Channel really should consider resurrecting that to be seen by a new generation!)

Cover's portrayal of Tom Willis on 'The Jeffersons' might seem tame in today's view, but I think his big, friendly face helped to ease America into the idea of a racially mixed marriage on TV. And if I'm not mistaken, it happened at a time when I think there were still some states with anti-miscegenation laws in their books.

So, in that regard, he could be considered a pioneer just for playing a supporting role on a sitcom.

I'll have more on the character of Tom Willis soon......

TV SERIES
"The Jeffersons" .... Tom Willis

TV SEQUELS
Columbo: A Trace of Murder (1997) (TV) .... Harry Jenkins
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (1994) (TV)

TV PILOTS
"All in the Family"
- The Jeffersons Move on Up (1975) TV Episode .... Tom Willis

TV MOVIES
Change at 125th Street (1974) (TV) (as Frank Cover)
Short Walk to Daylight (1972) (TV) .... Conductor
Between Time and Timbuktu (1972) (TV) .... Col. Donald 'Tex' Pirandello

TV BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY
A Woman Called Golda (1982) (TV) .... Hubert Humphrey
The Day the Bubble Burst (1982) (TV) .... Herbert Hoover

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Will & Grace"
- Object of My Rejection (1999) TV Episode .... Justice of the Peace
"Mad About You"
- The 2nd Mrs. Buchman (1998) TV Episode .... Yankee Infielder
"Too Something"
- Eric's Book (1996) TV Episode .... Professor Skaggs
"Coach"
- Luther Get Your Gun (1996) TV Episode .... Gunnar
"Batman"
- Harley's Holiday (1994) TV Episode (voice) (as Frank Cover) .... General Vreeland
"Living Single"
- School Daze (1994) TV Episode .... Professor Fletcher
"ER"
- Day One (1994) TV Episode .... Mr. Thurnhurst
"In the Heat of the Night"
- Unfinished Business (1991) TV Episode .... Tommy Vincent
- Just a Country Boy (1991) TV Episode .... Tommy Vincent
"Who's the Boss?"
- Let Her Tell You 'bout the Birds and the Bees (1991) TV Episode .... Mr. Campell
- Ms. Mom (1991) TV Episode .... Mr. Kimball
[It's my opinion that this is an error on the part of the IMDb; that both characters should be named "Kimball".]
"227"
- The Butler Did It (1988) TV Episode .... Alfred
"The Love Boat"
- Your Money or Your Wife/Joint Custody/The Temptations (1985) TV Episode .... Marvin Brown
"N.Y.P.D."
- The Patriots (1968) TV Episode .... Pepper
"The Jackie Gleason Show"
- The Honeymooners: Be It Ever So Humble (1967) TV Episode .... Police Officer
- The Honeymooners: Flushing Ho! (1967) TV Episode .... Police Officer
"Naked City"
- Kill Me While I'm Young So I Can Die Happy (1962) TV Episode .... Jergens

BCnU.....
Tele-Toby