Harry Holcombe
Harry John Holcombe (November 11, 1906 - September 15, 1987) was an American commercial, film, radio, television, theatre actor and radio director. He was perharps best remembered as "Grandpa" in the Country Time commercials, playing the role for ten years. Holcombe was also known for playing the recurring role of "Dr. J.P. Martin" in the western television series "Bonanza". Life and career. Born in Malta, Ohio. Holcombe began his career, as a radio director in Chicago, Illinois, in which he directed for radio programs including, Benny Goodman's program "Camel Caravan". He later worked as the poetry reader for  the radio program "Moon River" at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. After that, he moved to California, where he had begun his film and television career, appearing in the 1943 film "The Purple V". Later in his career, Holcombe guest-starred in numerous television programs, including, "The Andy Griffith Show", "Harbor Command", "77 Sunset Strip", "Perry Mason", "The Farmer's Daughter", "That Girl", "The Law and Mr. Jones", "Leave It to Beaver", "Here's Lucy" and "Bewitched". He also appeared and co-starred in films, such as, "The Fortune Cookie", "Birdman of Alcatraz", "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown , Kisses for My President", "When the Boys Meet the Girls" and "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round". Holcombe had also starred in the television program "Barefoot in the Park", where he played the role of "Arthur Kendricks". Death. Holcombe died in September 1987 at his son's home in Valencia, California, at the age of 80.