‘DOBIE GILLIS’ STAR DIES

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

STEVE FRANKEN, best known as Chatsworth Osborne Jr. on the hit sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," died of cancer on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 80.

The character actor's career lasted more than 50 years.

He was seen on "Bewitched," "Love, American Style," "Mission: Impossible," "Seinfeld" and many other series.

On the big screen, Franken appeared in the films "Angels & Demons," "Curse of the Pink Panther," "The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu," "Which Way to the Front?" "The Party" Ib Melchior's "The Time Travelers" and "The Americanization of Emily."

Discussing the comedy classic "The Party," on its 40th anniversary, one journo wrote: "Rivaling Peter Sellers with one of 'The Party's' stand-out performances: Steve Franken as the increasingly inebriated butler, slathering on a layer of slapstick to the proceedings with his incontinent antics. Franken's interaction with his vexed supervisor, his drunken stroll through the shallow indoor pool, his struggle to rescue the roast chicken perched precariously atop a bewigged socialite's bouffant hairdo: all comedy gold."

Franken was born in Queens and moved to Los Angeles to further his acting career.

He is survived by his wife, three daughters and two grandchildren.