Topic: Harold Gould

Harold V. Goldstein (December 10, 1923 – September 11, 2010), best known by his stage name Harold Gould, was an American actor best known for playing Martin Morgenstern in the 1970s sitcoms Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show and as Miles Webber on The Golden Girls. Gould acted in film and television for nearly 50 years, appearing in more than 300 television shows, 20 major motion pictures, and over 100 stage plays, and received Emmy Award nominations five times. He is known for playing elegant, well-dressed men, and he regularly played Jewish characters and grandfather-type figures on television and film.

Gould was born to a Jewish family in Schenectady, New York to Louis and Lillian Goldstein. Louis was a postal worker, and Lillian was a homemaker who did part-time work for the state health department. Gould was raised in Colonie, New York and was valedictorian of his high school class. He enrolled at Albany Teachers College upon graduation (now known as University at Albany, SUNY), and studied to become a social studies or English teacher.

After two years in college, Gould enlisted in the army, during World War II, and saw combat in France in a mortar company. He developed trenchfoot, and was sent to England to recover. After convalescence, Gould served in a rail transport unit in France.