Thanks to the magic of movies and television, they are thankfully immortal, from Nosferatu to all the incarnations of Dracula. Even Barnabas Collins will be with us forever, after Jonathon Frid has long given up the ghost. So of course the same must be true of Al Lewis, Grandpa of the 1960's sitcom, The Munsters. Thanks to the magic of TVLand, he will be with us always.
Many people are doubtless unaware that "Grandpa", as he was always affectionately known, was a politician as well, and in his later years even made a run for the office of Governor of New York. He was never a real factor in the race, more of a curiosity than anything, and his standing in the polls pretty much were a reflection of the final results, which is to say, dismal. Come to find out, Al Lewis was a staunch conservative, an old style Barry Goldwater style conservative, you might say. An economic as well as a social conservative.
I guess some people never do grow beyond their signature roles.
