The actor best known for playing Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch" has died.Advertisement



Allan Melvin's wife says he died of cancer at his home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. He was 84.

Melvin spent decades playing a series of sidekicks, second bananas and lovable lugs, including Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on "All in the Family," and Sergeant Bilko's right-hand man Corporal Henshaw on the "Phil Silvers Show."

But his place in pop culture may be fixed by his role as butcher and bowler Sam Franklin, the love interest of Brady family maid Alice Nelson.

Melvin also appeared in "Stalag 17" on Broadway and found steady work as a voice actor, most famously providing the voice of "Magilla Gorilla" for the Hanna Barbera cartoon of the same name.

Other credits include appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gomer Pyle: USMC," and "The **** Van **** Show."

awww this is so sad too, I remember him. He played alot of funny roles..

awww Sam the Butcher, he always gave Alice good pork chops! RIP Sam!

Rest In Peace
(((( Melvin ))))

Rest In Peace. He was awesome on the Brady Bunch!

I remember him on "Gomer Pyle: USMC" also. He played another sergent that always gave Sergent Carter competition and a hard way to go. Always funny on that show, and he seemed like a nice guy.