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Topic: Fred Gwynne

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Frederick Hubbard "Fred" Gwynne (10 July 1926 – 2 July 1993) was an American actor. Gwynne is best known for his roles as Francis Muldoon and Herman Munster in the 1960s sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters, respectively. He is also recognized by many as Judge Chamberlain Haller from the 1992 comedy film My Cousin Vinny, his final role.

Gwynne was born in New York City, the son of Dorothy (née Ficken) and Frederick Walker Gwynne, a partner in the securities firm, Gwynne Brothers. His paternal grandfather was an Episcopal priest born in Camus, County Tyrone, Ireland, and his maternal grandfather was an immigrant from London, England. Gwynne attended the Groton School, and went on to graduate from Harvard University in 1951. Gwynne spent most of his childhood in South Carolina, Florida, and Colorado because his father travelled extensively. At Harvard he was a member of the Fly Club, sang with the a cappella group the Harvard Krokodiloes, was a cartoonist for the Harvard Lampoon, (eventually becoming its president), and acted in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals shows. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and studied art on the G.I. Bill.

Gwynne joined the Brattle Theatre Repertory Company after graduation, then moved to New York City. To support himself, Gwynne worked as a copywriter for J. Walter Thompson, resigning in 1952 upon being cast in his first Broadway role, a gangster in a comedy called Mrs. McThing, which starred Helen Hayes.

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