Disappearing Act: Inside Harry Anderson's Hermit Life After Fame
Apr. 17 2018, Updated 12:44 a.m. ET
Harry Anderson, who died suddenly on Monday, April 16 at the age of 65, had long given up the Hollywood spotlight, and finished his years living in a quiet, North Carolina town. Check out this RadarOnline.com gallery to see how the former star lived out the rest of his life before his unexpected passing.
Anderson, a magician-turned-comedian who won multiple Emmys for his roles on such classic shows like Night Court, Cheer, and Dave’s World, once said he never set out to be an actor.
"I did a Saturday Night Live, just a guest spot," Anderson told the Bradenton Herald in 2015. "Les Charles (the creator of Cheers) called me and said I had beaten him out of $20 in a shell game in San Francisco."
After helming the short-lived sitcom Dave’s World, based on the life of humor columnist Dave Barry, Anderson dropped out of showbiz to open a restaurant and magic store in New Orleans with his second wife, Elizabeth. He was married to his first wife, Leslie Pollack, from 1977–1999.
But the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina forced Anderson to close up shop and move to North Carolina, leaving his restaurant dreams behind.
He toured sporadically over the last decade, performing magic and stand-up comedy, but never enjoyed the kind of success he found in the 1980’s, during his Night Court heydays.
Most recently, he spent his time making sets for his magic shows — a far cry from his TV glory days. Before his death, he had returned to TV in the Christian film Matter of Faith.
Anderson was found dead Monday morning, April 16, at his Asheville, N.C. home.
Cops say “foul play” is not suspected in his passing.
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