# Ned Wertimer > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ned_Wertimer > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ned_Wertimer.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Wertimer > Source revision: 1336865562 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American actor (1923–2013) Ned Wertimer Wertimer as Ralph Hart on The Jeffersons Born (1923-10-27)October 27, 1923 Buffalo, New York, U.S. Died January 2, 2013(2013-01-02) (aged 89) Valley Village, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Education Bachelor of Business Administration Alma mater University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Occupation Actor Years active 1950–2007 Known for Ralph Hart, the doorman on The Jeffersons Spouse Skyne Uku-Wertimer ​ (m. 1971)​ **Edward "Ned" Wertimer** (October 27, 1923 – January 2, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Ralph Hart, the doorman on the [sitcom](/source/Sitcom) *[The Jeffersons](/source/The_Jeffersons)*.[1] ## Life and career ### Early years Wertimer was born on October 27, 1923, in [Buffalo, New York](/source/Buffalo%2C_New_York).[1] He served as a Navy pilot in [World War II](/source/World_War_II),[2] and later received a [Bachelor of Business Administration](/source/Bachelor_of_Business_Administration) degree from [University of Pennsylvania](/source/University_of_Pennsylvania)'s [Wharton School](/source/Wharton_School_of_the_University_of_Pennsylvania). While at the school, he became a member of its [Mask and Wig Club](/source/Mask_and_Wig), an all-male comedy and musical troupe. He was also a member of the fraternity of [Phi Gamma Delta](/source/Phi_Gamma_Delta).[1] ### Theater, television, and film After graduating college, Wertimer went to New York City to perform [Broadway theatre](/source/Broadway_theatre) in such shows as *Texas Li'l Darlin'*, a 1949 musical by [Robert E. Dolan](/source/Robert_E._Dolan) and [Johnny Mercer](/source/Johnny_Mercer); 1950's *The Live Wire* by [Garson Kanin](/source/Garson_Kanin); 1950's *The Disenchanted*, by [Budd Schulberg](/source/Budd_Schulberg), with [Jason Robards](/source/Jason_Robards); and 1963's *All in Good Time* by [Bill Naughton](/source/Bill_Naughton). He also began performing in small roles in television, a new medium at the time. He was able to show his [improvisational](/source/Improvisation) skills as a regular guest on *[The Shari Lewis Show](/source/The_Shari_Lewis_Show)*.[1] In the mid-1960s, Wertimer moved to Los Angeles to continue his burgeoning television career. He had over 100 guest-star credits on such shows as *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)*, *[McMillan & Wife](/source/McMillan_%26_Wife)*, *[Car 54, Where Are You?](/source/Car_54%2C_Where_Are_You%3F)*, *[The Debbie Reynolds Show](/source/The_Debbie_Reynolds_Show)*, *[Hogan's Heroes](/source/Hogan's_Heroes)*, *[The Mary Tyler Moore Show](/source/The_Mary_Tyler_Moore_Show)*, *[A Touch of Grace](/source/A_Touch_of_Grace)*, *[WKRP in Cincinnati](/source/WKRP_in_Cincinnati)*, *[Mork & Mindy](/source/Mork_%26_Mindy)*, *[He & She](/source/He_%26_She)*, *[Family Law](/source/Family_Law_(American_TV_series))* and Happy Days. He also appeared in such films as *[Mame](/source/Mame_(film))*, *[Santa Claus Conquers the Martians](/source/Santa_Claus_Conquers_the_Martians)*, *[The Impossible Years](/source/The_Impossible_Years)*, *[Pinocchio](/source/Pinocchio_(1968_film))*, *[The Strongest Man in the World](/source/The_Strongest_Man_in_the_World)*, *[The Pack](/source/The_Pack_(1977_film))* and *[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End](/source/Pirates_of_the_Caribbean%3A_At_World's_End)*.[1] He had a role in the 1970 film *[C.C. and Company](/source/C.C._and_Company)*. He was a longtime member of the performers' [trade unions](/source/Trade_union)—[Screen Actors Guild](/source/Screen_Actors_Guild) and [American Federation of Television and Radio Artists](/source/American_Federation_of_Television_and_Radio_Artists), which merged in 2012.[1] #### *The Jeffersons* Wertimer appeared as doorman Ralph Hart in a 1975 *[All in the Family](/source/All_in_the_Family)* episode titled "The Jeffersons Move on Up", which was the [pilot](/source/Television_pilot) for the [spin-off](/source/Spin-off_(media)) series *The Jeffersons*. The Hart character carried over and Wertimer appeared as the doorman (in 57 of the series' 253 episodes) who always sought a [gratuity](/source/Tip_(gratuity)) for his services.[1] ## Personal life and death Wertimer loved traveling around the world, from riding a camel in [Egypt](/source/Egypt) to riding an elephant in [Thailand](/source/Thailand) to swimming in [Australia](/source/Australia)'s [Great Barrier Reef](/source/Great_Barrier_Reef).[3] In addition to his performers' union work, Wertimer was also a voting member for the [Academy of Television Arts & Sciences](/source/Academy_of_Television_Arts_%26_Sciences)' [Emmy Awards](/source/Emmy_Award). Soon after moving to California in the mid-1960s, he met and married Dr. Skyne Uku, professor emeritus at [California State University, Long Beach](/source/California_State_University%2C_Long_Beach).[3] Wertimer died on January 2, 2013, at the Sherman Village Health Care Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 89. According to his manager, Wertimer had never recovered from a fall at his [Burbank, California](/source/Burbank%2C_California), home in November 2012.[1] ## Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1958 Let's Rock Studio Manager Uncredited 1964 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Andy Henderson 1968 What's So Bad About Feeling Good? Marshall legal aide Uncredited 1968 The Impossible Years Dr. Bodey 1968 Pinocchio Vito Whale / Farmer TV movie 1969 Some Kind of a Nut Larry Uncredited 1970 C.C. and Company Motorcycle Salesman 1972 Bad Company Mr. Dixon 1974 Mame Fred Kates 1975 The Strongest Man in the World Mr. Parsons 1975 At Long Last Love First Man (Nightclub) 1977 The Pack Walker 1979 Hometown U.S.A. Mr. Duckworth 2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Singing Gallows Pirate #6 (final film role) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-THR_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-THR_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-THR_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-THR_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-THR_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-THR_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-THR_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-THR_1-7) Barnes, Mike (January 8, 2013). ["Character Actor Ned Wertimer Dies at 89"](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/character-actor-ned-wertimer-dies-410163). *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*. Retrieved January 9, 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Ned Wertimer, Doorman on 'Jeffersons,' Dies at 89"](https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ned-wertimer-doorman-jeffersons-dies-89-18166518). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Broad_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Broad_3-1) ["*The Jeffersons* Co-Star Ned Wertimer Passes Away at Age 89"](http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-JEFFERSONS-Co-Star-Ned-Wertimer-Passes-Away-at-Age-89-20130108-page2). *tv.broadwayworld.com*. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013. ## External links - [Ned Wertimer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0921624/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [Ned Wertimer](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/100994) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States Other SNAC --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ned Wertimer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Wertimer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Wertimer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.