Louis Nye, born Louis Neistat, was a renowned American comedic actor who made a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. His illustrious career spanned multiple decades, with a significant portion dedicated to serving as an entertainer for the troops during World War II.
After the war, Nye relocated to New York City, where he began working in radio, taking on various roles in soap operas. He continued to hone his acting skills, playing a wide range of characters, from rotten Nazis to rich uncles and emotional juveniles. However, he only attempted to be humorous during social gatherings.
Nye's military service during World War II led to his assignment to run the recreation hall, where he earned laughs by mimicking his fellow soldiers. Following his discharge, he returned to New York and transitioned to live television, making appearances on various shows, including The Jack Benny Program, The Jimmy Durante Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, and The Victor Borge Show.
Nye's greatest fame came as a regular on The Steve Allen Show, where he performed alongside Allen, Don Knotts, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington Jr., Dayton Allen, Gabriel Dell, and Bill Dana. He was known for his urbane, wealthy, and often fey characters, particularly his portrayal of the pretentious country-club braggart Gordon Hathaway, with his catchphrase, "Hi-ho, Steverino."
When production moved to Los Angeles, Nye followed, becoming a character actor in Hollywood. He went on to appear in numerous television series, including Make Room for Daddy, Guestward, Ho!, Burke's Law, The Munsters, Love, American Style, Laverne & Shirley, Starsky and Hutch, Police Woman, Fantasy Island, St. Elsewhere, and The Cosby Show.
Nye played memorable roles in several television shows, including Delbert Gray, the dentist, on The Ann Sothern Show from 1960 to 1961, and Sonny Drysdale, the spoiled rich stepson of Milburn Drysdale, on The Beverly Hillbillies during the 1962 season. Although the character was initially dropped, Nye revived Sonny in the 1966 season. During this period, he also appeared in various television commercials and recorded comedy LPs, showcasing his impressive range of characterizations.
In addition to his television work, Nye appeared as a celebrity judge on The Gong Show in the late 1970s and performed in numerous concerts, nightclubs, and lectures. He also lent his voice to several animation projects, including Inspector Gadget with Don Adams. Despite never achieving his full potential in film, Nye left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, collaborating with legendary figures such as Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Robert Mitchum, Jack Webb, and Joanne Woodward.
