Thanks!

"The lesson i want you to learn is it doesn't matter what you look like. You can be tall or short or fat or thin or ugly or handsome, like your father, or you can be black or yellow or white. It doesn't matter. What does matter is the size of your heart and the strength of your character." - Herman Munster

I was a limousine driver in the 1980s and one night I saw grandpa Al Lewis coming in to laguardia walking past me in the terminal... He had a wrinkled Dusty overcoat on.. his luggage was a gym bag like we used to have for our gym clothes in elementary school just a bag with a string flung over his shoulder! And he had a stogie in his mouth... He looked just like Grandpa Munster he didn't really need makeup.. I yelled.." hey Grandpa!" .. he turned to me and said " how you doing" .. I yell back to him.." I'm a big fan of yours Grandpa great to see you!"

All I can say is nobody else could have played the beloved Herman Munster character better than Fred. He was exceptional!

I was 8 in 1964. I didn’t miss a show. We all loved Herman Munster. His laugh was monumental. He made the show. A wonderful part of my childhood. ❤

That smile, That voice and iconic laugh, Rest in peace Fred you were one of a kind.

I new Fred personally. He's was always a very friendly person. He took life on a daily basis. He was always funny. I miss his friendship.

It's a shame that Harvard doesn't turn out students like Fred now. Thank you for your service Mr Gwynne.

Fred Gwynne was a national treasure. He left us too soon.

Wow. I didn't know Fred Gwynne's personal life had such tragedy. To endure so much, but to keep a sunny attitude toward life, is amazing. I'm glad that he, much like Leonard Nimoy, learned to stop viewing his iconic role as a hindrance but as the blessing it surely was. I knew he did _The Munsters,_ but I'm much more familiar with his roles in _My Cousin Vinny_ and _Pet Semetary._ His deep baritone voice saying, "Sometimes, dead is better," is haunting, even today. I'm intrigued he wrote children's books. I should look them up and read a few. I hope his kids are doing well, wherever they are.

Fred Gwynne was underappreciated as an actor. He really was held back by his role as Herman. When given a chance he was so good in so many roles .

This video made me cry like a baby. I always knew Fred Gwynne was a stand up guy. This video confirmed it. I'm happy that Fred owned himself, dying happy man. What made Fred so lovable as Herman is Herman was a big innocent gentle working man. Frankenstein was supposed to be a BIG scary Monster. Herman was anything but a Frankenstein type. Fred was a big sweetheart in many of his roles and in real life. Fred brought levels of realness, genuine approach-ability and innocence to his roles that could not be faked. When I saw Fred drew the Herman pictures with inspirational sayings is when I lost it! The man was just plain all out lovely!

This is a truly wonderful story. I had no idea that this guy who I loved watching as a child and later on was such a beautiful person. We need more people like him in this world.

I’m a 69yo disabled veteran and retired pilot and I remember Car 54 and the Munsters and most of all the other things he was in. You did a great job here and thank you very much.

I attended a Rangers hockey game in Madison Square Garden as a teen, when I heard this unmistakable baritone voice behind me criticizing the refereeing. It was Fred Gwynn, and for the rest of the game he cheerfully signed programs for fans who'd shyly come up to him in twos and threes. I still remember chills on hearing Herman Munster yelling at the ref to wear glasses.

Nobody else could have reached us with a comical Frankenstein character like Fred Gwynne. Salute to an incredibly talented and interesting man with a great heart. Rest in Power and Peace, Fred

My youngest brother, Mike and I were such fans of the Munsters. Fred Gwynne is truly missed, and I loved the other projects that he did as well.

I remember hearing about his life years ago. He’s definitely a legend! I loved his role as the Judge in “My Cousin Vinny” .

His life was anything but easy, yet he carried on. And he was a Navy WWII veteran as well. A great man, no doubt.

What a wonderful story. Never knew his life history. Thank you for sharing with us!

I'm in shock that he was only 66 when he passed. I had always imagined he lived to a ripe old age. So glad he was able to do children's books and brighten up their lives with his stories. I never saw any of his books when I was a kid. Now I'll have to search for them to read.

This video about Fred is by far the best I've seen on KZfaq. The only thing I may add is that he was buried without a headstone. I'm guessing that was his decision, to not be identified after death. Bless his heart, I can't imagine the heartache he went thru losing siblings, his Father at a young age and then the tragedies of his own children. I'm hoping he found the peace in death that he didn't find in life. Rest in peace Mr. Gwynne, and thank you for the many years of entertainment you gave us. I plan to buy his books for my granddaughter.

I worked with Fred's cousin, Gary Gwynne. He was our city manager at The City of Grand Prairie Texas for 4 years. Gary could pass as Fred's twin including his height, etc. He was a good person to work for. It was intimidating to sit on the other side of his desk from him, but he was a good person.

Wow Fred was an incredibly talented, intelligent, and warm hearted man. I have so much love and respect for him!

This was a great biography of Fred Gwynne. I always wondered what he was like and this was very respectful. It's sad that he had so many tragedies with his children.

Hollywood doesnt make celebrities like him anymore. What an amazing story. I didnt know there was so much tragedy in his life!!!

That poor man. God bless him for bringing so much joy to so many people. As a haunt and creature actor, I have so much admiration and respect for him, and Herman Munster, a monster with a heart of purest gold.

I love Herman Munster! His laugh was iconic!!! 😂😂😂❤❤❤ What a sweet and talented guy! I'm so sorry for ALL the heartache he endured during his lifetime. It seems so wrong ... 😢😢😢

Thank you so much for telling us about Fred's life. What a wonderful person he was. So sad he's already gone.

What a man! Life handed him lots of challenges and he rose to all the occasions. Amazing lifetime!

What a sweet, lovable man. The ending of the video has my watery-eyed, how he got to realize people liked him for him. Every time I've ever seen him in anything, I've always been excited to see him.

That show taught me to look beyond appearances. Herman and Lily were the kindest, most unconditionally loving couple on TV. Thank you for this!

I knew nothing of his life!!???😢 It certainly explains his immense gravitas, which made his understated humor so effective; and his sentimental moments so touching. He was a small part of my childhood and emerging character and I was fascinated by him in general, thank you for this very well edited and respectful presentation.🌤💚🐾🐾🐾 ...without a headstone.😔💙🖤 Rest In Peace fellow human.

I always liked Fred in his roles, but this video renews and expands my appreciation of him as a performer, an artist, an author and a family man. Rest in peace, sir.

Wow, I grew up watching reruns of The Munsters and absolutely loved Herman, I had no idea Fred was also an accomplished artist and writer! He certainly did make Herman loveable. It's astounding how much tragedy he had to face from a young age, almost in direct contrast to how much joy his work has brought to others.

I really loved this, thank you! Fred was a great man , he will forever be missed!

I think Fred's idea to channel his Mother into his character of Herman Munster was brilliant. I had never heard that before, but it totally worked, you just don't expect that character to act as he did. He was so likable and funny as Herman.

To have experienced so much tragedy in his life and to be able to create such a kind and gracious character as Herman Munster is remarkable. The daily ordeal of the make-up and costume must have required incredible focus and self-control. Many of his indoor scenes relied on "Bull in a china shop" comedy, however the show where he "tried out" for the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium (with Leo Durocher) really displayed his grace and athleticism while basically wearing a suit of armor. Thanks for sharing details of the life of this very talented and interesting man.

I never knew much about Fred Gwynne's life other then his roles in The Muensters, Car 54 and My Cousin Vinny. I loved his acting skills and his ability to keep me entertained as a young child and through adulthood. It's fascinating to learn about his years growing up, his education, his jobs, family and so on.. So sad to know that he died from pancreatic cancer and too young. His legacy will always live on!!!

That was a great little biography on Fred Gwynne. I never knew any of those little details in his life. What an amazing journey for him.

This was excellent. Fred Gwynne has been one of my absolute favourites from the first time I saw him (way back). Great in every role and especially brilliant in My Cousin Vinny. Thanks for the memories.

It's a wonder and a shame to only know Fred from the Munsters. Turns out he's a real renaissance man. Really nicely told; enjoyed it a lot. Thanks.

Rest In Peace Fred. Thank you for the quality entertainment.

Wow!!! awesome story; he lived his life to the fullest and always had the courage to keep moving forward after so many tragedies.

He brought us so much joy, happiness and laughter. Life was better because of him. I love him.... he played the part of Herman like nobody else could. RIP Fred.

A great performer and a fantastic human being! R.I.P. Fred, your kind heart and your acting legacy will not be forgotten.

I was 5 when the Munsters debuted. I loved this show and especially Herman! Thank you for showing us that Fred Gwynne was so much more the just a Munster. He deserves to be better known for his life. It's a shame they were cancelled so soon. One thing I've never understood, why networks would sabotage another series by running a show in the same time slot? We had no way to record a show so it was one or the other and we were the ones who lost out because we couldn't watch both shows. I know it never created any network goodwill or loyalty in me when they used these tactics. And there were only 3 channels to watch anyway, so there wasn't really that much selection and there should have been plenty of room for all 3 network schedules. It made so much more sense to me to put a show against something people aren't watching and they could have gotten so many more viewers that way.

I *REALLY* enjoyed this video! I didn't know anything about Fred Gwynne's background, and it shows how multi-faceted he was and how that arose from the love of his mother and the loss of his father at an early age. The descriptions of the loss of his two children was absolutely heartbreaking. It seems he ended up living his life pretty much on HIS terms, was made aware of the lasting impact he had on others, and was surrounded by love when he died. A person simply could not ask for more.

I loved the Munsters! He seemed like a really good guy. My mom was born the year TV got weird and I grew up with all those shows. Fred had a pretty amazing life, thanks for telling us about it! RIP Fred

Really great tribute to the great Fred Gwynne! One of my big regrets is that I could have arranged to enjoy getting to know Fred, since I worked with and was quite friendly with his wife at a design firm in NYC on 18th St where she worked as an editor. She was known to us by her "alias" Debbie Loveless, but I now see her surname is Flater. One Monday, Debbie said she worked over the weekend and Fred visited and sat at my drafting desk to draw frogs! I now learn more about his past, see that he had a good background in art, illustrated childrens books, so it is no wonder that one of his interests was drawing frogs, etc. I would love to have worked that weekend and spent a few hours around this great actor. Debbie was a very fun person to talk to at work. She would tell fun stories about summers in New England where actors would congregate for summer stock. They lived down in a nice historical building in the West Village. The more I learn about Fred, the more I admire and respect him. Also I had a friend who worked in the then famous art supply store Pearl Paint downtown, and he said that Fred came in to buy special art papers for his drawings. Fred gave us all so many wonderful memories of his remarkable acting roles!

I read Fred Gwynn’s book about dogs who looked like their owners to my son when he was little. Great book. Thank you for such an in depth look into Fred’s life, I never knew his story before, well done presentation!

Thank you. It was one of the best I’ve ever seen. What a great man. Wish I’d met him. So deep. It broke my heart to hear about his losses.

Wow, I'm teared up in feels. This was an amazing video. I grew up watching all these old shows reruns. Every single ep. Munsters was always one of my favs. this really hits home. He did so much for us, think about that, never having met us, to bring so many years of joy. rip big guy. will always love that man. he truly was a chad and genuinely wholesome dude, which always came through while watching him in the show. one of the rare things that brought me happiness in life was his acting and the characters in this show. then always on late at night again, on reruns, years later, and laughing so hard, so many hours having that nostalgia was the best.

Wow! Not only a biography but a tribute to one of our most beloved television persons to be blest with! What a life he had ! After 55 years I learned so much more about him . He really is quite a human being and this documentary sure measures up to tell about him! You did a great job. It is well thought out and develops perfectly like the opening of a fan!

Fred was absolutely wonderful as Herman Munster. What a talented man he was.

What a great human being he was. So much more to him than just... Herman Munter 🙂👍

You have to admire his strength to not give up or quit on life, especially after so much tragedy he experienced. He was a great actor and "My Cousin Vinny" was hilarious with him and Joe Pesci going at it 😂 Ps. well done on this video my friend

Huge childhood memory of this show. The one time my brother and I got along was when we watched The Munsters. Fred was truly a gentleman.

My God, I never knew about what had happened to his sons! That, that is so horrible! To come through that and still find comfort in comedy and to be so amazing as Herman Munster...my respect for his craft just went through the roof! This might be a little TMI, but I grew up without a dad, so I clung to TV characters growing up. I always wished Herman was my dad, and Gomez would be my husband. 😅 His role in Pet Semetary suddenly makes a lot more sense...that had always surprised me, that he would be in a horror movie but now it makes a lot of sense. I can see why he'd be drawn to be in a movie about a man trying to bring his dead son back to life... Excellent research for this one. I legit teared up. 😥

A tale of talent and tragedy! THANK YOU! And to you Fred whereever you are, RESPECT!

What a wonderful tribute. Once I started to watch I could not stop. I agree that he was pivotal in My Cousin Vinnie.

Thanks for taking the time to put this biography together. Very well done. I knew Mr Gwynne for a short period of time when he lived at his last residence. He was just a normal guy. Not in height of course. Occasionally you would see him at the local store. Small town near by where everyone knew everyone. He was just another neighbor and a good one to have. RIP Fred. Thanks for the memories.

I never realized Fred Gwyn was such an amazing man!! Thank-you for the information on this amazing man!!

Fred was an amazing talent, grew up watching him, sad to know all his troubles. But what a legacy he left !!!!

I don’t often comment on videos but I want to thank you for such a well curated video essay on Fred! The Munsters got me through some dark times thanks to its whimsy and especially thanks to Fred. We can really feel the pleasure you get from some of this research! Thank you!

He lived in Bedford, NY in the late 60s when I was a kid and lived in the next town. He opened the door and listened politely when my sister and I went Christmas caroling at his house.

I was fortunate enough to see Fred gwynn in the production of Shakespeare's 12th night.. performed here in Connecticut at the Shakespeare theater when I was in elementary school..RIP Fred ..

What a great tribute to Fred!!! Anyone who truly "hits the nail on the head" at character development will be followed by the success of that role. This is not something to be despised, like some Hollywood actors will do. Could you imagine anyone else in the world playing "Granny" but Irene Ryan? Thanks for this loving tribute to Fred Gwyn.

I’m a huge fan of “The Munsters”. I bought the complete seasons on DVD and binged watched every episode back-to-back. The funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life is when Herman thought Lily had a baby that turned out to be a toy. I know I must have laughed, kicking and screaming, with tears in my eyes for about 45 minutes straight. There was a brief clip at the beginning of this video.

A gentle giant, a giant heart, a heartly actor and father, he was amazing in ''pet sematary''

As I was ten years old when The Munsters was on TV and loved the show, I cannot thank you enough for this video. I will never see Mr. Gwynne the same again. Absolutely wonderful!!!

I was born in the early 50s and used to watch Car 54, first airing in 1961. Except for the tragic deaths of his first two children, he had a great life, and was such a multi-talented person. This video bio was fascinating from beginning to end.

very good compilation. we underestimate good artistry so much. fred was a polymath in arts. he understood how to entertain people in a good, funny, and harmless way. he added some very positive messages. herman munster looked so easy, but it took this guy as an actor to make him real.

He was one of my all-time favorite actors, it was just something about him that came across real. I remember hearing when he passed away and it was a sad day for comedy.

I loved Fred in everything he did. The only television I didn’t see was “Car 54 Where are you?” Fred was the most endearing individual, no matter what part he was playing. I loved him in “My cousin Vinny” and when “The Munsters” went off the air I was heartbroken. Thank you for this creation. So beautiful.

! It's nice to see a life story, especially one that gave me joy. I grew up watching him, now I know him in a way. His determination and love for his family was unprecedented.

Thank you so much. The Munsters show meant so much to me when I was a small child. I could never believe it got canceled only two years that’s ridiculous. Thank you again for this outstanding piece.

Bravo- wonderfully presented in every way. Love Fred Gwynne even more now. I had no idea he was a writer/author/artist & graduate of so many prestigious schools. Thanks for an escape back to the days when life was innocent.

I love these biographies. Wonderful work on a remarkable man.

Thanks for sharing his story. I love this guy. I only wish he wasn’t taken from us when he was. I guarantee you we would’ve had a lot more movies of his, that we would still be enjoying. ❤

Wow. This was an absolute treat to watch. I swear, this really is the most detailed, warm, respectful & loving tribute to Fred Gwynne i have ever seen so far. It really shows that this one comes from a true fan and admirer of him and his work. Thank you so much for having made this lovely feature and not cutting it down to a 10 minute bite-sized video but giving it the proper time. It really shows what a ride a human life can be, full of ups and downs, achievements and losses. And it doesn't matter how long a life can be, when you can make a positive difference in the lifes of others so people always remember you, even nearly 30 years after your death.

Brilliant man, actor & writer

Thank you for the flashback! I had no idea of the trials and tribulations that Fred had to overcome to bring such joy to the world. Fred/Herman is the surrogate father for many generations of the past and future.

What a heck of a story and what a loving guy Fred was.. Thank you for sharing this its warmed my heart...

How heartbreaking......so very sad. No wonder he was such a gental soul. Thank you for posting this.

Well done! I got to see him in person when I was living in NYC. He was filming a movie with Ryan O'Neal in my dormitory. He seemed like a nice guy.

Thank you so much. I always knew Fred Gwynn was an accomplished artist, but I was not aware of the depth of his skills. You did a wonderful biography celebrating his life.

A testament to what an amazing actor he was, “My cousin Vinny” is one of my favorite movies ever and I never put two and two together. Also your videos are amazing, top to bottom one of the best I’ve watched.

Exceptional biography. I learned so much about this amazingly talented man. Well done!

I absolutely loved Fred Gwynne in all his rolls!! You could see how kind he was!!! RIP!!! Loved this story and I learned a lot of things I did not know about him! Thanks for this great look back at a wonderful person!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

Oh my goodness! Who knew!! I'm 64 and grew up with the Munsters! The show became more hilarious to me when I became an adult. It's funny that as a child, so much goes right over your head and you don't understand the hilarity of the situation until you see it again as an adult. Fred was such a fantastic actor, and Herman Munster will live in the hearts of millions forever I had never known he wrote so many children's books or was a wonderful artists! Thank you for educating so many about the extraordinary talents of so many of our classic great celebrities!

GREAT job! I had NO idea he was an artist and author-and most everything else you mentioned. What an incredible life. As an actor, writer and filmmaker ( and Big "Vinny" fan) I've grown a new admiration and level of respect for the the man. Thanks Cool Guy

I didn't find the Munsters until the mid 80s and was instantly hooked then I started looking for other shows and movies he was in..such a talented entertainer

You are Great NARRATOR . THANKS For Keeping Alive THE COOL ... CLASSICS 👍🏻👍🏻

Very well done biography of Fred. He sounds like a wonderful person.

Just come across your channel, and a better subject you couldn't have picked. The Munsters is one of my all time favourite shows and I sit and watch it with my son, we absolutely love it. Fred was such a character, and his absolute sparkle in the Munsters could never have been portrayed by anyone else. I really enjoyed your informative portrayal of a wonderful man and actor, thank you. I have also just subscribed, how could I not when you get to see such golden oldies, there will never be another era like it.

This is such a well-researched documentary! Thanks! I learned so much! The tragedy of his personal life is actually quite shocking to me. He gave us so much job despite all of that. But as another commenter mentioned, many comedians are really quite sad inside. But I imagine his books gave him great pleasure... another detail of his life I was unfamiliar with. Thanks again!

What a beautiful and sad story. I admire the fact that he did not let the times between his acting work get him depressed. He had a lot of self confidence.

The Munsters was world wide. Fred was loved internationally. He was part of our childhood in Australia along with Max Smart Ed Clampart and so many other characters. Thanks for showing this video. It was informative and a lovely tribute.

My Cousin Vinnie is one of my very favorite movies, in no small part because of the delightful character played by Fred Gwynne. I appreciate the work you have done on this particular actor, thank you. I will add that your channel has rapidly become one of my very favorite youtube channels, too, so just like Mr. Gwynne . . . don't give up! You have lots of fans!