Happy Birthday to 5 Great Actors!

February 26th! This is a very important day...five of television's greatest actors celebrated birthdays today. On this day we remember Fred Mertz, Alan Alda's Father, Ralph Kramden, Charlie Hume and Felix Unger. "I Love Lucy" - Fred Mertz was television's first landlord and a reflection of how surviving the great depression and marrying your vaudeville partner can turn you into a penny pinching old grouch. But he was incredibly funny...and all these years later...loved by all. As a character actor the father of "M*A*S*H" star Alan Alda, appeared on many television shows and several feature films. Some include "Here's Lucy" and "The Facts of Life." "The Honeymooners" - The Brooklyn bus driver with the big mouth and glint of success always in his eye, Ralph Kramden was the original portrayal of the American dream...thriving for success while trying to maintain a low paying job in order to live in a low level apartment. He was surrounded by love, his wife Alice and his best friends Ed and Trixie Norton always made sure that he remembered what was most important. "Lou Grant" - As the managing editor Charlie Hume, he was often side by side with star Ed Asner and leading lady Nancy Marchand. This actor began when radio was in its most successful era and by the end of his career he had appeared with everyone from Clayton "Bud" Collyer to Angela Lansbury to Pauley Shore. "The Odd Couple" - As Felix Unger, he was both annoying and entertaining. His career included films, Broadway and most importantly television. He headlined his own self titled show from 1976 to 1978 and also the sitcom "Love, Sidney" from 1981 to 1983. His character on "Love, Sidney" was the first homosexual leading character to ever be featured in a serious and realistic way on a sitcom. Five fabulous actors... In Memoriam Remembers: William Frawley (123) Robert Alda (96) Jackie Gleason (94) Mason Adams (91) and Tony Randall (90)