David Sheiner, Character Actor Known for ‘The Odd Couple’ and ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ Dies at 98

David Sheiner, the character actor known for his work in films like “The Odd Couple” and shows like “Murder, She Wrote,” died June 5 of renal failure in Los Angeles, his daughter Kate Sheiner confirmed to Variety.

Sheiner was a Lee Strasberg-trained actor who left Broadway to move to Los Angeles. While studying the performing arts, his classmates included the likes of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, according to his family’s biography. While on Broadway, Sheiner originated the role of Bellman in “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” which opened in 1955.

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After getting his start in the ’50s with shows like “Studio One,” “The Big Story” and “The Phil Silvers Show,” Sheiner went on to work on almost 100 different films and programs, often playing spies, doctors, lawyers and lawmen.

He appeared on “Perry Mason,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Eleventh Hour,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E,” “The Fugitive,” “The Big Valley,” “Hawaii Five-O” and, of course, “The Odd Couple” as Roy, the poker-playing accountant, alongside Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

His last appearance was on Season 5, Episode 6 of “Murder, She Wrote,” in which he played Leo Selkirk. Other ’80s roles included “News at Eleven,” “The Fall Guy,” “Fantasy Island” and “Blue Thunder.”

Sheiner spent the last four decades of his life off-screen, and his obituary noted that he devoted his life to family.

Sheiner is survived by his son Andrew Sheiner, daughter-in-law Janet Nolan Sheiner, daughter Kate Sheiner, son-in-law Chris Hoaglund and granddaughter Liv Hoaglund.