Harold V. Goldstein (best known stage name
Harold Gould) (born
December 10,
1923) is an
American actor best known for playing Martin Morgenstern in the 1970s sitcom
Rhoda, a role he reprised from his earlier recurring role in
The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Gould has acted in film and television for nearly 50 years, appearing in more than 300 television shows, 20 major motion pictures, and over 100 stage plays, and received
Emmy Award-nominations five times.
[ Harold Gould, New York State Writers Institute. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.] He is known for playing elegant, well-dressed men, and he regularly plays Jewish characters and grandfather-type figures on television and film. He had a major recurring role as Miles on
The Golden Girls as well as a major role in the
1973 Academy Award-winning
Best Picture The Sting.
Early life
Gould was born in
Schenectady, New York to Louis and Lillian Goldstein. Louis was a postal worker, and Lillian was a homemaker who did part-time work for the state health department. Gould was raised in
Colonie, New York and was
valedictorian of his high school class. He enrolled at Albany Teachers College upon graduation (now known as
University at Albany, SUNY), and studied to become a social studies or English teacher. After two years in college Gould enlisted in the
army, during
World War II, and saw combat in
France in a
mortar company.
He developed
trenchfoot, and was sent to England to recover. After convalescence, Gould served in a
rail transport unit in France.
[ Harold Gould, What A Character!. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.]
After the war, Gould returned to Albany Teachers College to study drama, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1947.
[Harold Gould @ Filmbug, Misja.com, retrieved on 2006-08-13.] He performed in
summer stock theatre on
Cape Cod, then decided to enroll at
Cornell University to study drama and speech. Gould earned a master of arts degree in 1948 and a Ph.D. in theatre in 1953 from Cornell, and also met his future wife, Lea Vernon.
