Husband of 'Maude' Nearly Lived to 100

Actor Bill Macy dead at 97
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 18, 2019 1:20 PM CDT

He had a long resume of TV and movie credits, but the world knows him best as the husband of Maude in the 1970s sitcom of that name. Bill Macy, the actor who played Walter Findlay and opposite Bea Arthur in the show, has died at age 97, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Among his bigger movie credits were My Favorite Year (1982) and The Late Show (1977). He also made appearances on TV shows ranging from Law & Order to Seinfeld, notes Deadline. But it was on the 1972-78 run of Maude that Macy made his name.

On the show, he owned Findlay's Friendly Appliances and often bore the brunt of his wife's barbed humor. In one notable episode, discussed in both of the above sources, Macy's character begins to show signs of alcoholism and slaps Maude in the face during a related argument. His character would go on to receive treatment. See highlights from the episode as well as Macy's later commentary on it in this video. No cause of death has been announced. Friend Matt Beckoff announced the news, saying Macy "was a spitfire up the end," and adding "condolences to his beautiful wife Samantha Harper Macy." (More obituary stories.)

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