{{Short description|American actor (1921–2001)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Ralph Tabakin | image = Ralph Tabakin.jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1921|9|22}} | birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2001|5|13|1921|9|22}} | death_place = Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. | burial_place = Judean Memorial Gardens, Olney, Maryland | occupation = Actor | years_active = | spouse = {{marriage|Madolyn Doress|1942|1996|end=d.}} | children = Two daughters, one granddaughter | relatives = Two sisters | module = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |embed_title = Military service |allegiance = {{Flagicon|USA|size=20px}} United States |branch = 20px U.S. Army 20px |service_years = <!-- 1942–1945 --> |rank = 25px Staff sergeant |battles = World War II, D-Day |awards = Two Bronze Stars and five Purple Hearts }} }} '''Ralph Tabakin''' (September 22, 1921 – May 13, 2001) was an American actor.
==Career== In his acting career, Tabakin is most associated with the work of Barry Levinson, as he appeared in fifteen of Levinson's films from ''Diner'' onward. His appearance in ''Diner'' began after a visit to the set where he impressed Levinson. Considered a lucky charm of Levinson,{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Tabakin is perhaps best known for playing medical examiner Dr. Scheiner on the Levinson-produced TV series ''Homicide: Life on the Street'', a recurring character from the first episode through all seven seasons and the follow-up ''Homicide: The Movie''.
==Personal life== Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was the middle child in a family of five. They would also live in New Orleans, Louisiana, before moving and settling in Richmond, Virginia. He was a World War II veteran, being decorated with five Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|title=Ralph Tabakin; Actor, 79|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E5D9153AF935A25756C0A9679C8B63|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=May 16, 2001}}</ref> He also worked as a Federal Aviation Administration engineer for several years.<ref name="sun" /> He died in 2001 due to heart disease.<ref name="NYT" /> He is buried in Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney, Maryland.<ref name="sun">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Jacques |title=Ralph Tabakin, 79, actor who appeared in movies, 'Homicide' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2001-05-16-0105160064-story.html |access-date=January 31, 2021 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=2001-05-16}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1982|| ''Diner'' || TV Customer || |- |1984|| ''The Natural'' || Al's Customer || |- |1985|| ''Young Sherlock Holmes'' || Policeman in Shop Window || |- |1987|| ''Tin Men'' || Mr. Hudson || |- |1987|| ''Good Morning, Vietnam'' || Chaplain Noel || |- |1988|| ''Rain Man'' || Shift Boss || with Dustin Hoffman |- |1990|| ''Avalon'' || Principal Dunn || |- |1991|| ''Bugsy'' || Elevator Operator || |- |1992|| ''Toys'' || Fred || |- |1994|| ''Jimmy Hollywood'' || Fan in Hospital || |- |1994|| ''Disclosure'' || Elevator Attendant || |- |1996|| ''Sleepers'' || Warden || with Dustin Hoffman |- |1997|| ''Wag the Dog'' || Southern Man || with Dustin Hoffman |- |1998|| ''Sphere'' || O.S.S.A. Official || with Dustin Hoffman |- |1999|| ''Liberty Heights'' || Phil, Spotlight Man at the Gaitey || |}
==See also== *Late bloomer
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0845863}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tabakin, Ralph}} Category:1921 births Category:2001 deaths Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:People from Silver Spring, Maryland Category:20th-century American male actors Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:United States Army soldiers