Old man 'Seinfeld' actor Bill Erwin dies at 96

[January 05, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Character actor Bill Erwin, whose nearly seven-decade Hollywood career included his memorable role as the grumpy old man on television's "Seinfeld," has died. He was 96.

Erwin, also known for his memorable role as Arthur the bellman in the 1980 fantasy film "Somewhere in Time," died Dec. 29 at his suburban Los Angeles home.

His son Mike Erwin told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his father died of age-related causes.

His death was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Erwin's career dated to 1941, when he appeared in the movie "You're in the Army Now." He had many TV credits but his old-man character Sid Fields on "Seinfeld," which got him an Emmy nomination in 1993, is perhaps his most memorable role.

[Associated Press]

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