Obituaries : Ben Frommer; Publicist and Veteran Actor

Ben Frommer, a longtime character actor and more recently a publicist for his fellow actors, who appeared on such television shows as “The Odd Couple” and “Hawaii Five-O” has died. He was 78.

His son, Ed Frommer, said over the weekend that his father died Tuesday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

Over the years, Frommer appeared in more than 100 films and an even greater number of TV shows. His was a frequently seen face on the comic Western “F Troop,” which aired on ABC from 1965 to 1967.

His more recent movie appearances included the 1983 “Scarface” starring Al Pacino and “The Four Deuces,” a 1975 gangster film starring Jack Palance. His other pictures include “Crazy Over Horses,” “Arson for Hire,” “Let’s Live a Little,” “Doctor Detroit” and “Psycho II.”

Born in Poland, Frommer came to New York with his parents as a youth. He got his first taste of the entertainment business as a page in local New York clubs, Ed Frommer said. Frommer moved to Los Angeles in the late 1930s.

Frommer later established himself as a successful independent publicist whose clients included Forrest Tucker and Lee Majors.

In addition to his son, Frommer is survived by another son, Gary, a brother and sister and two granddaughters. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hillside Mortuary in Los Angeles.