Oliver
Carol's nephew, Oliver came to live with the family for what became the final six episodes. He was introduced in "Welcome Aboard." When Carol said there would be an addition to the family, the kids and Alice thought she was pregnant. Oliver was a nerdy kid who sported a bowl shaped haircut and round wire framed glasses. He looked up to Bobby and Cindy, and his main purpose was to help them with their endeavors. He helped Cindy in her effort to be "discovered" by a talent agent, helped Bobby spy on Sam and Mr. Gronsky when they thought the men were secret agents, and hung around Bobby when he was pool shark. Oliver had trouble fitting in with the kids at first. They thought he was a jinx. We didn't know Oliver's last name or exactly how he was related to Carol. All we know is that his parents were on some kind of expedition in another country, and that's why Oliver came to live with the Bradys.
Sam Franklin
Sam was Alice's boyfriend. He appeared in eight episodes starting with #9 "Sorry, Right Number." Sam was on the bowling team and owned the local butcher shop. Alice was ready for marriage, but evidently Sam wasn't. Alice helped him hang curtains in his place once. He was going to take Alice to the Meat Cutters ball before she sprained her ankle. He gave Greg a part time job as a delivery boy at his shop. Greg and Bobby got locked in Sam's meat freezer. Sam wanted Mike to design plans to expand his shop. Bobby and Oliver thought that Sam was a spy. Sam's cousin eloped, and Sam and Alice were the witnesses. Sam inadvertently hit Mark Millard with a side of beef. He thought Alice was having an affair with the postman. He played Dopey in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." He once insulted Bobby by calling him "shrimpo." Sam escorted Alice to the Family Frolics at Westdale High. He was locked in the meat locker with his landlord Mr. Gronsky by Bobby and Oliver. Sam and Alice were married by the time "The Brady Brides" aired in 1981. Allan Melvin did not return for any of the reunions. Sam was played by Lewis Arquette in "A Very Brady Christmas," and it was alluded that Sam cheated on Alice.
Melvin died January 17, 2008 at the age of 84.
January 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Allan Melvin, a character actor with countless credits best known for playing Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch," has died. He was 84.
Melvin died of cancer Thursday at his home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, said his wife of 64 years, Amalia Melvin.
The jowly, jovial Melvin spent decades playing a series of sidekicks, second bananas and lovable lugs, including Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on "All in the Family," and Sgt. Bilko's right-hand man Cpl. Henshaw on the "Phil Silvers Show."
But his place in pop culture will be fixed as butcher and bowler Sam Franklin, the love interest of Brady family maid Alice Nelson, played by Ann B. Davis. Melvin played the role from 1970 to 1973.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1923, Melvin grew up in New York and attended Columbia University.
He was appearing on Broadway in "Stalag 17" when he began his decades-long television career with "The Phil Silvers Show," playing a role his wife said was always his favorite.
"He was proudest of that show," Amalia Melvin said. "I think the camaraderie of all those guys made it such a pleasant way to work. They were so relaxed."
He saw steady employment as a voice actor from the early 1960s to the early 1990s, most famously providing the voice of "Magilla Gorilla" for the Hanna Barbera cartoon of the same name.
His other credits include several guest appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gomer Pyle: USMC," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
In addition to Amalia, Melvin is survived by daughter Jennifer Hanson and grandson Jon Hanson Jr. A daughter, Mya, died in 1970.
