6 Crazy Careers That ‘Munsters’ Star Al Lewis Had Before (and After) TV

Al Lewis, The Munsters, Everett Collection — Everett Collection

Al Lewis, who was born 102 years ago on April 30, 1923*, will be forever remembered for the classic 1960s TV series Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters — but he was also well known for his ability to tell a great tale. The man lived a life that was full of adventure, and he was always willing to share a story or two with anyone who was willing to lend an ear. Among his best stories were those that covered the various jobs that he’d held over the years — and some of them are really crazy. And though Lewis passed away in 2006, his tales still live on.

So, without further ado, here are six crazy careers claimed by the one and only Al Lewis.

1 He was a circus performer

According to Al, his very first job was with the circus, when he was around the age of 12 or 13. (Al could always recall approximately when things happened, but often struggled to provide an exact age when recounting an adventure.) While working in the circus, Al performed in a trapeze act and also provided comic relief as a clown.

2 He worked in vaudeville and … burlesque

Everett Collection

Following Al’s stint with the circus, he found employment with a vaudeville troupe and in a house of burlesque. It was here that Al developed much of the sharp comedic timing that we would later see him employ on television.

3 He had a Ph.D. in Child Psychology

Wow, this one came out of left field! Perhaps one of the most surprising things about Al was his claim that he held a Ph.D. in Child Psychology from Columbia University. According to Al, he used that degree to teach in schools and write a couple of children’s books during the 1940s. It’s worth noting that Columbia University has been unable to verify that Al attended school there.

4 He claimed to have been a basketball scout

CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU?, Al Lewis, 1994. ph: Alan Markfield / © Orion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Credit: Alan Markfield / © Orion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Adding another layer to Al’s eclectic resume, he often spoke about his love for basketball, frequently sharing stories from when he was a basketball star at Thomas Jefferson High School in East New York. However, a more surprising claim was that he had worked as a talent scout for various colleges and even some NBA teams during the 1950s. Like some of his other claims, verification is hard to find — but no one can argue that he wasn’t passionate about the sport itself.

5 He owned a restaurant in Greenwich Village

MUNSTER, GO HOME, Al Lewis, Yvonne De Carlo, 1966

Courtesy of Everett

In 1987, Al capitalized on his Grandpa Munster persona by opening Grampa’s Bella Gente Italian, an Italian restaurant in New York City’s Greenwich Village. It became a local favorite, known for its welcoming atmosphere and Al himself often holding court, greeting diners and sharing fanciful stories from his colorful past.

6 Just like Arnold, he wanted to be a governor

During the late ’90s, Al ran for governor of New York as the Green Party candidate, campaigning against Republican incumbent George Pataki and Democrat Peter Vallone. This wasn’t just some publicity stunt; Al’s platform had stances and proposals related to social justice, as well as healthcare and education reforms. On election night, he got over 52,000 votes!

*One more thing: Al liked to tell everyone that his birth year was 1910. However, official records, including his Social Security application and New York driver’s license, list his birth date as April 30, 1923 … which means that he was actually younger than Yvonne De Carlo, who played his daughter, Lily Munster!