Night Court's Harry Anderson had a tough start to his success
Harry Anderson's first venture into acting was literally a gamble. Before Night Court, he had a less-than-average start to success, performing as a street magician in San Francisco, Texas, New Orleans, and other cities across the country.
According to a 1985 interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Anderson said working on the streets helped him land a role on the NBC series Cheers, where he appeared as a guest star in four episodes.
"The gambling got a little rough, so I turned it into a magic act," Anderson said. "I made it into an expose of the shell game, which led to the con man role I did on Cheers. They thought maybe I could be a silly magician, but I suggested the con man."
Anderson wasn't exactly sure what led the producers of Cheers to give him the role. He figured someone saw him performing as a street magician and decided he had the magic touch. As it turned out, he was perfect for the role, which eventually led to his character on Night Court.
Anderson said he owed a lot to magic for helping him jumpstart his acting career. According to the interview, he was a child of divorce and learned magic by the time he was 18. He took up magic to pass the time while being shuttled back and forth between his parents.
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"I started street performing when I was 15, but I didn't make a living at it until I was 17," Anderson added.
He developed his magic act into a comedy routine, which helped him launch his acting career. On Night Court, his character, Harry Stone, was described as unorthodox, and so was Anderson. The character and the actor had that in common.
"With Harry Stone, the keyword is fun," Anderson said. "He sees court as not a place where someone is going to solve your problems, but as a forum where you can come and work them out. It's a romper room for adults."
Even while Night Court was still on the air and rising in the Nielsen ratings, Anderson continued practicing magic on TV, in comedy clubs, on college circuits, and in Vegas. He was dedicated to both parts of his life. He loved it too much to give it up, and it made him who he was.
A little magic goes a long way.
"I think I overestimated the challenges of acting in the beginning," Anderson said. "I made it too hard for myself. I realized this season the best thing I could bring to the show is myself."
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