 Hank Garrett is an actor and producer, known for Death WishĀ (1974), The Amityville HorrorĀ (1979)Ā and Three Days of the CondorĀ (1975). He has been married toĀ Deanna Marie SmithĀ since July 23, 2017.
Hank was born in Harlem, New York City, to Sam and Ida Greenberg, both Jewish Russian immigrants. He began powerlifting, bodybuilding, and karate at the age of 13 as a means of self-protection in a rough neighborhood. He was the 1958 winner of the Junior Olympic Powerlifting competition.
This led to an extended stintĀ (1957-1966)Ā in professional wrestling under the name ofĀ The Minnesota Farm Boy. InĀ  one of his last matches, he fought a young Jimmy Snuka; he mentioned this during his hall of fame speech with Jimmy Snuka in attendance. In June 2009, he was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
After several years in pro wrestling, Hank turned to comedy and performed a regular routine in the Borscht Belt, using anecdotes from his childhood years in Harlem.
As well as his regular role onĀ Car 54, Where are YouĀ (as Office Ed Nicholson), Hank has acted in a number of television productions including episodes ofĀ The Dukes of Hazzard,Ā Knots Landing,Ā Max Headroom,Ā Santa Barbara,Ā Three’s Company,Ā Airwolf,Ā Knight Rider,Ā Columbo,Ā Dragnet,Ā Kojak, andĀ Alien Nation. He is also known for his voiceover work onĀ GarfieldĀ andĀ GI Joe.
Among his film credits, are notable roles inĀ SerpicoĀ (As Muscles Malone),Ā Death WishĀ (As Andrew McCabe), andĀ Lovely Way to DieĀ (as a Mobster). Hank tends to be cast as the “heavy” in many roles.
InĀ Three Days of the Condor, he played a hitman dressed as a postman who tries to kill Robert Redford’s character. During the filming of the fight scene, he broke Robert Redford’s nose. Hank won the New York Film Criticsā Award for that role.
Hank has co-starred with television and film notables including Peter Falk, Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd, Al Pacino, Sophia Loren, James Coburn, Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, James Earl Jones, and many others.
Hank Garrett is active in philanthropic causes, and is on the Screen Actors Guild board. He lives in the San Fernando valley and is working on production of a one-man show. |
