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March 22, 1927 - September 22, 2007 PITTSBURGH (September 28, 2007) This has been a bad year for AFTRA Pittsburgh. We lost Bob Tracey in January, George Eisenhauer in April, Ray Tannehill just a couple of weeks ago, and now Karl Hardman. Karl died of pancreatic cancer on September 22nd. He was 80.
Hardman's long multi-layered career included acting as a contract player at RKO in Hollywood in the 30's, an Army combat photographer in World War II and memorable years as a member of Radio's Cordic and Company, from 1951 at WWSW through 1965 at KDKA — a show which pioneered much of the comedy team-centric radio which is prevelant today. Although Cordic's name was on the door and his contributions wre inestimable, it was his company of players like Karl Hardman and Bob Trow that made the show truly special. Hardman provided the voices and personalities of Roquefort LaFarge, Periwinkle, Louie the Garbageman and Col. Beauregard Cornpone. Hardman's career in radio continued after Cordic's departure in 1965. It may be his film legacy that's remembered by most today. Karl Hardman was a zombie. Hardman was one of the investors in the horror cult classic Night of the Living Dead; he was the film's producer and he also starred as Harry Cooper, with his real-life partner Marilyn Eastman, and his daughter Kyra Schon as the Cooper family. Hardman went on to co-own Hardman-Eastman Associates, writing, producing, recording and appearing in many industrial films and radio/tv commercials at his South Side studios. Karl Hardman is survived by his daughter, Kyra Schon, and his partner Marilyn Eastman. The funeral was private. Our deepest sympathies to Marilyn and Kyra are public. |
