Born Name:  Harry Laverne Anderson

Born Date:  October 14, 1952

Born Place:  Newport, Rhode Island

Died Date:  April 16, 2018

Died Place:  Asheville, North Carolina

Occupations:  Actor, comedian, magician

Brief Biography:  Harry Anderson was an American actor, comedian, and magician best known for starring as Judge Harold T. Stone on the sitcom Night Court (1984–1992). A talented magician, he brought a whimsical, fast-talking style to television, later starring in Dave's World and appearing in the1990 miniseries IT.

Early Life and Career:
He spent much of his youth performing magic on the streets of Chicago, New York, St. Louis and New Orleans before landing in California at the age of 16. After moving to Los Angeles, he joined the Dante Magic Club and worked as a street magician in San Francisco when he was 17.
Upbringing: Had a transient childhood, moving frequently and living in various states before settling in places like Las Vegas and Chicago.
Magic Roots: Before his acting career, Anderson worked as a street magician and stand-up comic, developing a "Harry the Hat" persona.

Television Career:
Night Court (1984–1992): His breakout role was the unconventional Judge Harry Stone, which earned him Emmy nominations.
Other Roles: He appeared as a con artist named "Harry the Hat" on Cheers and starred as newspaper columnist Dave Barry in the CBS sitcom Dave's World (1993–1997).
IT (1990): Played the adult Richie Tozier in the television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s IT.

Personal Life:
Magician Persona: Anderson was a lifelong magician and even owned a magic shop at one point.
Later Life: He moved to Asheville, North Carolina, in his later years.
Anderson was known for blending his comedic talents with his passion for magic, often bringing sleight-of-hand tricks into his television roles.