Fyvush Finkel Has Died

The New York Times says that Fyvush Finkel passed into the afterlife at the age of 93 on Sunday at his home in Manhattan. I don’t know how he got there, but I choose to believe it was riding on a beautiful silk printed bow tie. Fyvush’s son confirmed the news to The New York Times, adding that his father had some heart problems leading up to his death.

Fyvush Finkel was in so much stuff, and such a crazy random variety too. Fyvush – who was born Philip and adopted the name Fyvush – started acting in Yiddish theater when he was 9 years old and continued for 35 years. He also performed in the Catskills as a comedian. In the 60s, he started doing stuff on Broadway, like being in the first production of Fiddler on the Roof. Then in the 80s he started getting into TV and films. Fyvush also had some truly A+ voice-over jobs. Fyvush played himself playing Krusty the Clown on The Simpsons. He also voiced Grandpa Boris’ nemesis Schlomo in the Rugrats Chanukah special, making him a Hot Slut by association.

Fyvush is probably most well known for two things: either playing lawyer Douglas Wambaugh on Picket Fences (for which he won an Emmy) or playing Harvey Lipschultz on Boston Public. I used to watch Boston Public and I’ll never forget the episode where a former student shoots Fyvush Finkel while he’s buying a bagel. He jokes that he shouldn’t get extra cream cheese on his bagel because it will kill him, and then he gets shot. It was really upsetting. His character didn’t die, but still. I was like “Damn, Fyvush didn’t even get to eat that bagel.” I hope he’s eating all the bagels and as much goddamn cream cheese as he wants in heaven while wearing a suit made entirely of bow ties.

Rest in peace, Fyvush.

Pic: CBS