The Odd Couple changed Tony Randall's outlook on life
Tony Randall was best known for playing Felix Unger, one-half of TV's most memorable roommate duo, in the hit series The Odd Couple (1970). He was like the original Jess from New Girl, with his quirky behavior, strange habits, and all.
His character was known for his obsessive compulsiveness and need to be neat and tidy all the time—traits that were crucial to the household, given who his roommate was.
He was paired with one of the biggest slobs on television, Oscar Madison, played by Jack Klugman. Fans fell in love with both of them, and their sharp contrast was at the core of The Odd Couple's humor.
After five successful seasons of The Odd Couple, Randall finally felt as if he had made it in his acting career, becoming one of the most successful neat freaks on television.
According to a 1974 interview with The Times Herald, Randall said that before The Odd Couple, he was often mistaken for other people—whether it was a used car salesman or a cashier. He was used to playing many roles at once.
"I can't walk into Brooks Brothers without somebody trying to buy a shirt from me," Randall said.
All of that changed when he began his role in The Odd Couple. Suddenly, he was in the spotlight. He said he couldn’t go anywhere without both children and adults yelling, "It’s Felix! There’s Felix!"
With his new fame came a lot of recognition, awards, and money. He had come a long way since 1945, when he left the Army after serving as a lieutenant.
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Since the start of his series, Randall had been nominated for three Emmys and said his career had never been brighter. However, there were times his success almost came to a halt.
For example, in 1974, The Odd Couple went through a time slot change and was pitted against The Waltons, which was also a massive hit. The competition between the two shows led fans to switch channels or choose one over the other. Randall despised when networks did this.
"Often you cannot fathom why they insist on putting two good shows against eachother," Randall said. "It's simply not fair to the public."
Even with the time slot change, the dynamic of the TV duo remained too strong. The series was a hit no matter when it aired or who it was up against.
Randall said working with Klugman over the past five years had been a rewarding experience. By chance, both characters represented the actors quite well. It was almost as if he was getting paid to play himself on TV. He couldn't have been happier.
"Jack is a wonderful person and a dedicated pro," Randall said. "We work together beautifully. It's just that we have different lives and interests. And when a day's work is over with, we go on our separate ways."
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