Paul Hartman, a renowned American dancer, vaudevillian, and character actor, was born into a family deeply rooted in the show business. His father, Ferris Hartman, was a prominent impresario, known as "the Ziegfeld of the Pacific Coast." Paul's early life was marked by a strong connection to the performing arts, as he began performing as part of a family act at just six weeks old. By the age of two, he had already toured Japan as part of the cast of "The Mikado."
After completing high school, Paul attended the University of California, but his academic pursuits were short-lived. He soon left to pursue a career in journalism, working as a copy boy and reporter for a San Francisco newspaper. However, his ambition soon turned to the entertainment industry, where he gained recognition as a dancer in nightclubs alongside future stars Ginger Rogers, Faye Emerson, and Nancy Walker.
Paul's most notable partnership was with his wife, Grace Hartman (née Barrett),with whom he formed a famous ballroom-dancing duo. They toured the United States on the vaudeville circuit and appeared on Broadway, earning a huge hit with the revue "Angel in the Wings" in 1948. The couple won Tony Awards for Best Leading Players in a Musical, solidifying their status as a popular act.
In the late 1940s, Paul and his wife were invited to star in one of the earliest TV sitcoms, "The Hartmans" (1949). Although the show received indifferent scripting, it marked the beginning of their transition to television work. After Grace's passing from cancer in 1955, Paul largely retired from stage work, except for a final performance on Broadway in the comedy "Drink to Me Only" in 1958.
Lured by the financial stability of television work, Paul continued to act in supporting roles on the small screen for the remainder of his career. He appeared in a handful of feature films and had several notable recurring roles, including family patriarch in "The Pride of the Family" (1953),handyman Emmett Clark in "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960),and barber Bert Smedley in "Petticoat Junction" (1963).
Paul Hartman passed away on October 2, 1973, at the age of 69, in Los Angeles.
