SHEPARD MENKEN

November 2, 1921

Shepard Menken was born in New York City on November 2, 1921. He is sometimes billed as “Shep” Menken or Shepard Menkin. 

He made his film debut in 1949 with a supporting role in The Red Menace, in which he played Henry Solomon. The film dealt with the growing fear of communism, something that would threaten Lucille Ball’s career in 1953. 

In 1952, Menken appeared in MGM’s The Great Caruso, which also featured future “I Love Lucy” actors Mario Siletti, Harry Dar Boggia, Ernesto Molinari, Bess Flowers, Bert Stevens, and Harold Miller. 

In March 1951, he made his television debut on “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” co-starring Bea Benadaret, who had played Iris Atterbury on Lucy’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.” 

On New Year’s Eve 1951, Menken made the first of his four appearances on “I Love Lucy” as Jean Valjean Raymond, Lucy’s French dance teacher in “The Adagio” (ILL S1;E12). 

Ethel calls Raymond the only French insult she can think of – Crepe Suzette. 

A year later, in January 1953, Menken played William Abbott, the Art Store Owner, in “Lucy Becomes a Sculptress” (ILL S2;E15).  Turns out, Mr. Abbott is scamming his customers, in league with his clerk (Leon Belasco, right). 

At the end of 1953, Menken was back in a different role; Lucy and Ricky’s optometrist in “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined” (ILL S3;E11).  

Although Lucy has sent Ricky for an eye exam, it turns out Lucy is the one with vision problems!  The doctor gives her some eye drops that blur her vision and drastically steer her off course in her dance routine at the Tropicana. 

In February 1956, he returned to his French accent to play Charpontier, a shady sidewalk artist, in “Paris at Last” (ILL S5;E18).

Poor but talented street artists wearing berets is a typical film and television trope. Menken plays it to the hilt. 

Although Lucy believes she’s bought an original Charpontier, it turns out she’s been scammed by Menken yet again!

In 1958, Menken began doing voice over work, which would keep him busy for the rest of his career. He worked with recognizable animated figures like Mr. Magoo, Spider-Man, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Garfield the Cat. 

The last time he was seen on screen was in a 1971 episode of “Mission: Impossible” a series originally filmed at Desilu (later Paramount). “Here’s Lucy” did a satire on the show in October 1968 although it featured none of the original cast. 

Shepard Menken died on January 2, 1999, at the age of 77.