Don Brockett

• Born — 30 January 1930 • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US • Died — 2 May 1995 • Place of death — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US • Resting Place — Allegheny Cemetery • Occupation — * Actor • comedian • producer • director • Years Active — 1966–1995

Born Richard Donald Brockett, Jr., Brockett was a son of Richard Donald Brockett, Sr., a salesman, and Regina Krumenacker, a homemaker. He was the youngest of four children. He had two older sisters and an older adopted brother (his biological cousin). Brockett is of German and English ancestry. Brockett was stricken with polio as a child. As a result, he walked with a noticeable limp throughout his lifetime and often wore braces on his legs.

Heavily influenced by Pittsburgh's arts and entertainment scene during the 1930's and 1940's, Brockett began his entertainment career in the 1950's as a stage actor in Pittsburgh theater. This led him to team up in 1959 with Barbara Mazziotti, billing themselves as "Brockett and Barbara", performing musical comedy revues in Pittsburgh. In 1968, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" made its television debut. Produced locally and broadcast nationally, Brockett became a household name on the show, portraying "Chef Brockett". Brockett delved into his own family's background in cooking to shape the character, an affable baker who taught life lessons through his culinary creations. He played the character until March 1995, two months before his death. Brockett made his film debut in 1983's "Flashdance", which was filmed in Pittsburgh. This was followed by the 1985 George A. Romero film Day of the Dead. Brockett in 1993 had a bit part in the movie Houseguest, also filmed in Pittsburgh. In all, Brockett appeared in 15 feature films.

Brockett married his wife Leslie in 1986. Though the couple had no children, Brockett loved children and became heavily involved in child-focused charity work, most notably with polio research, having been a patient of the disease himself. Barely six months after the release of Houseguest, his final film role, Brockett died of a heart attack. His grave is located at Allegheny Cemetery.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1983 — Flashdance — Pete • 1985 — Rappin — Store Manager • 1985 — Day of the Dead — Featured Zombie • 1985 — Walls of Glass — Van Driver • 1987 — Lady Beware — Locksmith • 1988 — Tiger Warsaw — Carl • 1988 — The Prince of Pennsylvania — Tony Minetta • 1989 — Fletch Lives — Sheriff • 1990 — Night of the Living Dead — Zombie — Uncredited • 1991 — The Silence of the Lambs — Friendly Psychopath • 1991 — Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh — Police Chief 'Buzz Saw' Ryan • 1991 — Mobsters — Irish Politician • 1992 — Passed Away — Froggie • 1992 — Bob Roberts — Chairman • 1992 — Hoffa — Police Captain • 1993 — Money for Nothing — Beer Belly • 1995 — Houseguest — Happy Marcelli