THE HAT SQUAD: LENNIE WEINRIB

Lennie Weinrib was a vocal master in the Tooniverse since the late 1960s, appearing in many cartoons as well as providing the voice for several of the larger puppets seen in productions by Sid and Marty Krofft.

But he was also a talented writer (He wrote all the episodes for 'H.R. Pufnstuf' and several episodes of 'All In The Family'.) as well as an actor.

As Pufnstuf's voice, Weinrib also appeared in a movie version and even did a cameo on 'CHiPs'. I like to think that his appearance on that show was as the real Pufnstuf, and not as an actor in the suit which is probably what was intended. (However, it was written to be ambiguous about that possibility, perhaps to keep little kids watching from becoming disillusioned.)

Lennie was the only person to be rescued three times in one show of "Emergency".playing "Fred Gibson" in episode: "The Firehouse Four" (episode # 4.11) back in 1974.

For me, it's a five minute appearance on an episode of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' that first comes to mind when I think of Lennie Weinrib. In the episode, Buddy Sorrell got himself fired so that he could take a better paying job at another show. But when that fell through, he found it impossible to come back to 'The Alan Brady Show' because Mel Cooley was so happy he was gone.

Enter Jackie Brewster (aka Jacke Brewbrew). Rob and Sally brought in the comic to be the new comedy writer and to inflict such punishment upon Mel that he would beg for Buddy to come back.

As Jackie, Lennie Weinrib's assault on Mel couldn't have been more than about three minutes long. But it was such an intensive pummelling of insults and bizarre behavior ("This is your thumb. This is your rib."), that I'm always left gasping from laughter upon seeing it.

As a singular moment in a series of pure comedy gems, I think this has to rate as my favorite.

Mr. Weinrib showed up again in another memorable scene (Although his name was now Phil Franklin, he was basically still Jackie Brewster.) in which he convinced Rob Petrie to dismantle his phone. And then he told Rob to put all the pieces into a paper bag, go outside and wave it over his head, and scream like a chicken.

How many people pulled that same stunt on their friends over the following weeks once that episode aired?

Some time ago, Mr. Weinrib fell in love with a woman who was from Chile. He married her and moved to her native land, and apparently he was quite happy there until his death. But it robbed Toobworld and the Tooniverse of his rich contributions.

But he always did what he enjoyed in Life and how many can claim that?

Hat's off to you, Lennie Weinrib.

For a much better profile and tribute to Lennie Weinrib, visit Mark Evanier's site:

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2006_06_28.html#011679

Here are his writing credits for 'All In The Family':

Show/Episode Title Ep # Airdate Type Crew
"All in the Family" 02x11 04/Dec/1971 Writer
Title : The Man in the Street
"All in the Family" 01x02 19/Jan/1971 Writer
Title : Writing the President
"All in the Family" 01x01 12/Jan/1971 Writer
Title : Meet the Bunkers

TV SERIES
"The Krofft Supershow" (1976) TV Series .... Magic Mongo in ('Magic Mongo') (1977-1978)
"The Skatebirds" (1977) TV Series (voice) .... Knock-Knock Woodpecker "H.R. Pufnstuf" (voice) .... H.R. Pufnstuf/Seymour Spider/Ludicrous Lion
"The Spike Jones Show" (1960)

TV CROSSOVER APPEARANCE
"CHiPs" - Green Thumb Burglar (1977) TV Episode (voice) .... H.R. Pufnstuf

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"The Kids from C.A.P.E.R."
- King Cone (1976) TV Episode .... Conrad
"Emergency!"
- The Firehouse Four (1974) TV Episode .... Fred Gibson
"The Waltons"
- The Marathon (1974) TV Episode .... Spanky
"Happy Days"
- Richie's Cup Runneth Over (1974) TV Episode .... Duke
"Adam-12"
- The Sweet Smell (1974) TV Episode .... Tony
- The Beast (1973) TV Episode .... Tony
"Love, American Style"
- Love and the Anxious Mama/Love and the Boomerang/Love and the Private Eye (1972) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Anxious Mama")
- Love and the Advice Column/Love and the Bathtub/Love and the Fullback/Love and the Guru/Love and the Physical (1972) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Fullback")
"Jericho"
- Jackal of Diamonds (1967) TV Episode
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
- The Off-Broadway Affair (1966) TV Episode .... Winky Blintz
"Laredo"
- The Sweet Gang (1966) TV Episode .... Bud Sweet
"Burke's Law"
- Who Killed the Rabbit's Husband? (1965) TV Episode .... Maddox
- Who Killed What's His Name? (1964) TV Episode (as Len Weinrib) .... Cully
"The Dick Van Dyke Show"
- The Impractical Joke (1965) TV Episode .... Phil Franklin
- The Sam Pomerantz Scandals (1963) TV Episode .... Danny Brewster
- Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? (1961) TV Episode .... Jackie Brewster
"The Munsters"
- The Midnight Ride of Herman Munster (1964) TV Episode .... Freddie
"My Favorite Martian" - Uncle Martian's Wisdom Tooth (1964) TV Episode .... Dr. Herbie Little, dentist
"Grindl"
- It's in the Bag (1964) TV Episode .... Archie Williams
"77 Sunset Strip"
- Nine to Five (1963) TV Episode .... Joe
"The Twilight Zone"
- Miniature (1963) TV Episode .... Buddie
"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"
- And Now a Word from Our Sponsor (1963) TV Episode (as Len Weinrib) .... Eddie Baker
"Don't Call Me Charlie"
- Who Stole My Boots? (1962) TV Episode .... Shoemaker
"Dennis the Menace"
- Mr. Wilson's Inheritance (1961) TV Episode .... Tracker
Westinghouse Presents: The Sound of the Sixties (1961) (TV) .... Himself
"The Rebel"
- The Hunted (1960) TV Episode (as Len Weinrib) .... Sheriff
"Swinging Spiketaculars" (1960)
"Peter Gunn"
- Wings of an Angel (1960) TV Episode (as Len Weinrib) .... Vince Canell

TV MOVIES
Big Daddy (1973) (TV)

THE TOONIVERSE
"Yo Yogi!" (1991) TV Series (voice) .... Secret Squirrel
"Wake, Rattle & Roll" (1990) TV Series (voice) .... Secret Squirrel
"Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs" (1987) TV Series
"Rambo" (1986) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices
"Kissyfur" (1985) TV Series (voice) .... Charles/Lenny
"Voltron: Defender of the Universe" (1984) TV Series (voice) .... Hunk/Lotor
"The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour" (1982) TV Series (voice) .... Scrappy-Doo
"The Smurfs" (1981) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices
"The Kwicky Koala Show" (1981) TV Series (voice)
"Space-Stars" (1981) TV Series .... Dipper
"Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo" (1979) TV Series (voice) .... Scrappy-Doo (I) (1979-1980)
"Tarzan and the Super 7" (1978) TV Series (voice) .... Commissioner Gordon/The Joker/The Penguin/Mr.Freeze/Additional Voices
"Dynomutt, Dog Wonder" (1978) TV Series .... Additional voices
"The C.B. Bears" (1977) TV Series (voice) .... Rattle/The King/Yukayuka
"The New Adventures of Batman" (1977) TV Series (voice) .... Commissioner Gordon/The Joker/The Penguin/Mr. Freeze/Miscellaneous Voices
"Fred Flintstone and Friends" (1977) TV Series (voice)
"Jabberjaw" (1976) TV Series
"The Pink Panther Laugh and the Half Hour and Half Show" (1976) TV Series (voice) (as Leonard Weinrib) .... Roland/Rattfink
"The New Tom & Jerry Show" (1975) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices
"Uncle Croc's Block" (1975) TV Series (voice) .... Tonka/Wizard/Captain Kitt/Sir Walter Cat/Winston
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975) (TV) (voice) .... Darzee the Tailorbird
"Hong Kong Phooey" (1974) TV Series (voice)
"Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch" (1974) TV Series (voice) .... Hi-Riser
The Magical Mystery Trip Through Little Red's Head (1974) (TV) (voice) .... Timer
"Inch High, Private Eye" (1973) TV Series (voice) .... Inch High
"The Addams Family" (1973) TV Series (voice) (as Leonard Weinrib) .... Gomez Addams
"The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan" (1972) TV Series (voice) .... Stanley (1972-1974)
"The New Scooby-Doo Movies" (1972) TV Series .... (1972)
"The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie"
- Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family (1972) TV Episode (voice) .... Big Louie/Count Krumley/Mr. McGuffin
- The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik (1972) TV Episode (voice) .... Robin Hoodnik/Alan Airedale/Whirlin' Merlin/Lord Scurvy/Friar Pork/Little John
- Yogi's Ark Lark (1972) TV Episode (voice) .... Cap'n Noah
"The Flintstones Comedy Hour" (1972) TV Series (voice) .... Moonrock
"Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch" (1971) TV Series (voice) (as Lenny Weinrib)
The Point (1971) (TV) (voice) .... Count
"The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show" (1971) TV Series (voice) .... Moonrock
Tales of Washington Irving (1970) (TV) (voice)
Uncle Sam Magoo (1970) (TV) (voice) .... John F. Kennedy
"Doctor Dolittle" (1970) TV Series (voice) .... Sam Scurvy
"Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" (1969) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices
"The Jetsons" (1962) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices

BCnU....
Tele-Toby

[Thanks to the IMDb.com]