Sam Menning
Encyclopedia
Sam Menning was an American
character actor
and photographer.
Menning began his career in the 1950s as a photographer in New York City
before switching to acting
during the 1980s. His talent agent
, Bonnie Howard, made him her first professional client. Howard noted that Menning was the last person to photograph pin-up model Bettie Page
before her retirement from the modelling industry.
Before becoming a professional actor in the 1980s, Menning worked in a number of positions within the entertainment industry, including a still photographer
, grip
, gaffer
and lighting technician
. His television credits included Yes, Dear
, In Case of Emergency
and portrayed a homeless man called Pickled Egg Guy in My Name Is Earl
. In film, Menning appeared in Mel Brooks
' 1991 movie Life Stinks
, portrayed another homeless man in Speedway Junky
, and a blind stagehand
in the 2006 thriller, The Prestige
, directed by Christopher Nolan
.
Sam Menning died of emphysema
at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California
, on March 29, 2010, at the age of 85. He was survived by his girlfriend-campanion Karina Von Wattidel, who were together for 48 years; his daughter, Sherree Casusol, and her four children; his brother, Rod Menning. His memorial service was held at Angeleno Valley Mortuary in North Hollywood.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
and photographer.
Menning began his career in the 1950s as a photographer in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
before switching to acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
during the 1980s. His talent agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
, Bonnie Howard, made him her first professional client. Howard noted that Menning was the last person to photograph pin-up model Bettie Page
Bettie Page
Bettie Mae Page was an American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. She has often been called the "Queen of Pinups"...
before her retirement from the modelling industry.
Before becoming a professional actor in the 1980s, Menning worked in a number of positions within the entertainment industry, including a still photographer
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, grip
Grip (job)
In the U.S. and Canada, grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the filmmaking and video production industries. They constitute their own department on a film set and are directed by a key grip. Grips have two main functions...
, gaffer
Gaffer (filmmaking)
A gaffer in the motion picture industry and on a television crew is an electrician that can be head of the electrical department, responsible for the execution of the lighting plan for a production. Gaffer, outside of the motion picture industry, is a traditional British English word for an older...
and lighting technician
Lighting technician
Lighting technicians are involved with rigging and controlling electric lights for art and entertainment venues or in video, television, or film production. In a theater production, lighting technicians work under the lighting designer and master electrician...
. His television credits included Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
, In Case of Emergency
In case of emergency
In case of emergency is a programme that enables first responders, such as paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and Hospital personnel, to contact the phone owner's next of kin to obtain important medical/support information...
and portrayed a homeless man called Pickled Egg Guy in My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
. In film, Menning appeared in Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
' 1991 movie Life Stinks
Life Stinks
Life Stinks is a 1991 comedy-drama directed by and starring Mel Brooks. It is known as one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall. It co-stars Lesley Ann Warren, Howard Morris and Jeffrey Tambor...
, portrayed another homeless man in Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky is a 1999 film written and directed by Nickolas Perry. It stars Jesse Bradford, Jordan Brower, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Daryl Hannah.-Plot:The film stars Jesse Bradford as Johnny, a young man with dreams of becoming a stock car racer...
, and a blind stagehand
Stagehand
A stagehand is a person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their duties include setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.-Types of stagehand:...
in the 2006 thriller, The Prestige
The Prestige (film)
The Prestige is a 2006 mystery thriller film written, directed and co-produced by Christopher Nolan, with a screenplay adapted from Christopher Priest's 1995 novel of the same name. The story follows Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, rival stage magicians in London at the end of the 19th century...
, directed by Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Jonathan James Nolan is a British-American film director, screenwriter and producer.He received serious notice after his second feature Memento , which he wrote and directed based on a story idea by his brother, Jonathan Nolan. Jonathan went to co-write later scripts with him,...
.
Sam Menning died of emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, on March 29, 2010, at the age of 85. He was survived by his girlfriend-campanion Karina Von Wattidel, who were together for 48 years; his daughter, Sherree Casusol, and her four children; his brother, Rod Menning. His memorial service was held at Angeleno Valley Mortuary in North Hollywood.