Harry Anderson: An appreciation

UPROXX

The magician-turned-sitcom star only appeared on Cheers as Harry the Hat six times, yet it felt like more because he made the character "feel so assured and lived-in," says Alan Sepinwall. He adds: "What’s impressive about Anderson’s transition from Harry the Hat to Night Court judge Harold T. Stone is that he wasn’t a master thespian. Anderson was again playing a fedora-wearer fond of close-up magic, yet the characters were emotional opposites: Harry the Hat a cool and ruthless hustler (even on behalf of the good guys on occasion), Harry Stone a warm and gentle overgrown kid basking in his dream job and finding a way to enjoy every minute of it. Stone was that rare sitcom beast: the straight man character who was just as funny as the lunatics he was there to tether to reality. He was almost always having a good time on the bench, which in turn made Night Court itself even more fun to watch."

ALSO:

• John Laroquette tweeted a lengthier tribute overnight: "He was wicked smart. He was wicked funny. He had a big laugh. He had a big heart"
• Watch a collection of Anderson's Letterman appearances from the 1980s
• How to watch Night Court online: You can pay to download whole seasons, but the NBC sitcom isn't available on a streaming service
• Anderson experienced highs and lows with his New Orleans magic shop, pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina