Beloved Cheers and Space Jam actor Michael Alaimo dies aged 86
A recognisable stalwart in 80s TV and film.
Michael Alaimo, a seasoned character actor whose screen and stage career spanned more than sixty years, has died at 86.
His daughter, Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, confirmed his death, noting he passed away peacefully on May 2 in Burbank, California. No cause of death was disclosed.
Alaimo built a long, varied résumé in Hollywood, marked by memorable turns in film, television, and theater.
Though never a household name, he became a familiar face to generations of viewers, thanks to a steady stream of scene-stealing supporting roles.
One of his most widely seen performances came in the 1996 cult hit Space Jam, where he appeared opposite Michael Jordan as the team doctor.
Earlier in his career, Alaimo had roles in socially resonant films like The China Syndrome (1979), a nuclear meltdown thriller.
Alaimo was known for his prevalence as a character actor (Picture: Amanda Edwards/WireImage) He also appeared in a numbe rof sitcoms (Picture: NBC)He also worked on a variety of genre films in the late 1960s and early 70s, including Graffiti (1969) and Come Play with Me (1968), often appearing in low-budget, adult-oriented features that later developed cult followings.
On television, Alaimo made appearances on numerous iconic shows throughout the 1980s.
He guest-starred on Cheers in a 1985 episode titled 2 Good 2 Be 4 Real, playing the role of Vinnie Claussen. The appearance came during the show’s acclaimed fourth season.
Other TV credits included Dynasty, Night Court, Hill Street Blues, ALF, Mr. Belvedere, and The Paper Chase.
He also appeared with Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland in Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland Perform an Anti-Vietnam Demonstration at Philharmonic Hall in New York City (Picture: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) The actor appeared on countless episodes of TV in the 70s and 80s (Picture: Getty Images) He was known for playing memorable character roles (Picture: American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)He also played Mr. Radford on Scrubs in 2004, along with parts on The Drew Carey Show in 1997 and The Wonder Years in 1992.
Alaimo also appeared in films including the 1989 Tony Danza comedy She’s Out of Control and 1983’s Mr. Mom, which starred Michael Keaton and the late Teri Garr.
The actor is survived by his wife Louise; daughters Gabriella and Giovanna; son-in-law David; and granddaughters Isabella and Malia.
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