LOS ANGELES -- Tom Poston, who was best known for playing clueless television sidekicks, has died. He was 85.
A family spokesman says Poston died last night after a brief illness.
The tall, pasty-faced actor began his run as a comic bumbler on "The Steve Allen Show" in the mid-1950s. He went on to appearances on scores of television shows. On "Mork and Mindy," he played a mindless boozer with an annoying dog.
On "Newhart," he was the handyman who couldn't fix anything. Poston later admitted to being a bit of a "goof-up" himself.
Other roles ranged from movies like "The Happy Hooker" and "Beethoven's 5th" and parts in "Cyrano de Bergerac" on Broadway.
As a young man, he was an acrobat with the Flying Zepleys.
Poston is survived by his wife, actress Suzanne Pleshette, and two children.
