Philip Perlman (actor)

This article is about the businessman, film and television actor. For the Maryland politician, see Philip Perlman.

Philip Perlman (August 15, 1919 – April 29, 2015)^[1] was a Polish-born American businessman, film and television actor.^[2]

Philip Perlman
Perlman in Throw Momma from the Train, 1987
Born	(1919-08-15)August 15, 1919 Poland
Died	April 29, 2015(2015-04-29) (aged 95) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, film and television actor
Spouse	Adele Perlman ​ (m. 1947)​
Children	Rhea Heide
Relatives	Lucy DeVito (granddaughter) Danny DeVito (son-in-law)

Career

Perlman became an actor after retiring from a career in the toy business.^[3] He is known for his recurring role as "Phil" on the American sitcom television series Cheers, on which his daughter, Rhea, starred. He appeared in 142 episodes.^[4] He also played the same character in one episode of spin-off series Frasier.

Perlman also had roles in several films, including Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Out of Sight (1998), and Man on the Moon (1999), in most of which his son-in-law, Danny DeVito, appeared.^[5]

Personal life

Perlman was born in Poland in 1919. He married his wife, Adele (née Miller), in 1947 and they had two daughters, actress Rhea Perlman and script writer Heide Perlman.^[5] Perlman died on April 29, 2015, in Los Angeles, at age 95. His widow, Adele, died in 2016.^[6][7]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	Throw Momma from the Train	Mr. Perlman
1989	The War of the Roses	Bidder at auction
1991	Other People's Money	Garfield supporter
1992	Class Act	Teacher
1992	Hoffa	Maitre'd
1998	Out of Sight	Old elevator gent
1999	Man on the Moon	Mama Rivoli's angry guy
2000	Drowning Mona	Motel cashier
2003	Duplex	Phil
2005	Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School	Civil defense man
2006	Even Money	Retiree

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Hill Street Blues	Old man by telephone in station house	1 episode
1986–1993	Cheers	Phil	142 episodes
1991–1992	Roc		2 episodes
1992	Sibs	Phil	1 episode
2002	Frasier	Phil	1 episode
2006	It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia	I.V. Man	1 episode