PHILIP BRUNS

May 2, 1931

Philip Bruns was born on May 2, 1931 in Pipestone, Minnesota. 

He graduated from Augustana College in South Dakota and earned a Master’s Degree from the Yale School of Drama. He also studied at the Old Vic Theatre School in London, England.  

Off-Broadway, he received the 1964 Obie Award for his performance in the play, Mr. Simian.  He also appeared on Broadway. He made is TV debut in a 1964 episode of “Car 54, Where Are You?” 

On “December 30, 1968, he played a grizzled old prospector named J.C.C. Tompkins on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy and the Gold Rush” (HL S1;E13).  To turn him into the stereotypical old prospector, he wore a beard and old age make-up.  

This was his only time acting with Lucille Ball. 

He is probably best remembered for his role as Mary Hartman’s father George Shumway on the Norman Lear satire “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” from 1976 to 1977.  

He appeared as Morty Seinfeld in the sitcom “Seinfeld”, in a first-season episode entitled “The Stake Out”, but was replaced in the role by Barney Martin after Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld decided they wanted the character to be harsher, as they thought Bruns was too laid-back for the role.

His final role was on a February 1999 episode of “Just Shoot Me”.  He died on February 12, 2012, at age 80. He was survived by his wife Broadway actress Laurie Franks.