Louis Nye
Known for Acting · 66 credits
- Born
- 1913-05-01
- Died
- 2005-10-09
- Place of birth
- Hartford, Connecticut, USA
- Also known as
- Louis & Anita · Louis Neistat
Biography
Louis Nye, born Louis Neistat, was an American comedic actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is best known for his work on countless television, film and radio programs.
Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio, playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties."
Nye served in the United States Army during World War II, and because he earned laughs by mimicking other soldiers, he was assigned to run the recreation hall. Following his discharge, he returned to New York and began working in live television. He also appeared in several plays on Broadway, and made many appearances on television variety shows such as The Jack Benny Program (including one memorable turn as a crying cab driver), The Jimmy Durante Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and The Victor Borge Show.
He earned his greatest fame as a regular on The Steve Allen Show, performing with Allen, Don Knotts, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington Jr., Dayton Allen, Gabriel Dell and Bill Dana. He primarily played urbane, wealthy, and often fey bon vivants; as part of the weekly "Man on the Street" sketches, his characterization of the pretentious country-club braggart Gordon Hathaway, with his catchphrase, "Hi-ho, Steverino," plus Allen's inability to resist bursting into hysterical laughter at his ad-libs, made Nye one of the favorites on Allen's show. When production moved to Los Angeles, Nye went too and became a character actor in Hollywood.
Nye was cast as a guest star on many television series, including Make Room for Daddy; Guestward, Ho!; Burke's Law; The Munsters; Love, American Style; Laverne & Shirley; Starsky and Hutch; Police Woman; Fantasy Island; St. Elsewhere; and The Cosby Show.
Known For
TV Shows (38)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000
as Jeff's Dad
The Love Boat
1977
as Louis Nye / Barney Briscoe / Glenn Dobson
The Cosby Show
1984
as Norman Kirby
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
as Sonny Drysdale
St. Elsewhere
1982
as Milton Axelrod
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
as Mickey Marshall
Fantasy Island
1978
as Mr. Milbanks
Naked City
1958
as The Drunk
Starsky & Hutch
1975
as Jerry
The Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
Burke's Law
1963
as Hooper / James Stock
Police Woman
1974
as Myron Drew
Laverne & Shirley
1976
The Munsters
1964
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
The Real Ghostbusters
1986
as Charles Foster Hearse III (voice)
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self
The Jack Benny Program
1950
as Harvey Hollis Pickering / The Crying Cab Driver
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957
as Self
Kraft Television Theatre
1947
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
This Is Your Life
1952
as Self
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Comedian
The Lieutenant
1963
The George Gobel Show
1954
as Self
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966
Alice in Wonderland
1985
as Carpenter
The Don Knotts Show
1970
as Self
Guestward, Ho!
1960
Aloha Paradise
1981
The Judy Garland Show
1963
as Self
The Steven Banks Show
1994
as Shower Guest
Needles and Pins
1973
as Harry Karp
Movies (28)
Cannonball Run II
1984
as Fisherman #3
A Guide for the Married Man
1967
as Technical Adviser (Irving, House Buyer)
Good Neighbor Sam
1964
as Reinhold Shiffner
O.C. and Stiggs
1987
as Garth Sloan
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Radio Interviewer
The Facts of Life
1960
as Hamilton Busbee
The Stripper
1963
as Ronnie Cavendish
The Wheeler Dealers
1963
as Stanislas
Harper Valley P.T.A.
1978
as Kirby Baker
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975
as Self
Zotz!
1962
as Hugh Fundy (uncredited)
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
1980
as Laundry Customer
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
1963
as Harry Tobler
Daytime Revolution
2024
as Self (archive footage)
The Last Time I Saw Archie
1961
as Pvt. Sam Beacham
Salute to Stan Laurel
1965
as Self
Full Moon High
1981
as Reverend
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
1980
as Self
Sex Kittens Go to College
1960
as Dr. Zorch
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
1974
as Lee Fong (voice)
Charge of the Model T's
1977
as Fred Smith
One Touch of Venus
1955
as Dr. Rook
The Great Bear Scare
1983
as Dracula (voice)
Li'l Abner in the Dogpatch Today
1978
as General Bullmoose
The Reluctant Dragon
1981
as St. George
The City That Forgot About Christmas
1974
as (voice)
Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter
1988
as (voice)
About Louis Nye
Louis Nye, born Louis Neistat, was an American comedic actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is best known for his work on countless television, film and radio programs. Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio, playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties." Nye served in the United States Army… With 66 credits spanning from 1947 to 2024, Louis Nye has appeared in 28 films and 38 TV shows.
Fans searching for Louis Nye movies, Louis Nye filmography, or the latest projects starring Louis Nye can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Louis Nye Movies
- Cannonball Run II (1984) — as Fisherman #3
- A Guide for the Married Man (1967) — as Technical Adviser (Irving, House Buyer)
- Good Neighbor Sam (1964) — as Reinhold Shiffner
- O.C. and Stiggs (1987) — as Garth Sloan
- The Adventures of Errol Flynn (2005) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Louis Nye Films
Most Louis Nye movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Louis Nye, check our movies catalogue and browse page.