- Broke his neck in six places falling from a ladder while working on a house. After extensive rehabilitation, he could walk a little with difficulty, but generally used a wheelchair.
- Through his one man stage act, titled "The Accidental Comedy", he has been able to raise close to $300,000 for Project Support for Spinal Cord Injury to help buy crutches, wheelchairs and supplies for others with spinal injuries.
- Appeared frequently on variety shows in the early 1970s as a magician performing absurd tricks (such as making his fingers "jump" from one hand to another) while constantly humming his inane theme song.
- Best known to fans as Captain Mauser from the Police Academy movie series.
- Passed away two weeks before his 85th birthday.
- His surname at birth was Mesistrano, but was later changed by his father to Metrano.
- Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes scattered at sea.
- Owned a yogurt shop after he retired from acting.
- Worked as a comic in the Catskills and studied acting with Stella Adler and John Cassavetes.
- When performing his magic act on The Tonight Show (1970), he used the moniker 'The Amazing Metrano'.
- Survived by his children Harry, Zoe, Roxanne, and Howard and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
- Retired from acting until his death.
- He was a lifelong Democrat.
- He was of Turkish Jewish and Greek Jewish descent.
- Son of a garment manufacturer and a housewife, he grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content