Philip McKeon, Actor on ‘Alice,’ Dies at 55

He played the son on the CBS sitcom, which starred Linda Lavin as an aspiring singer turned waitress.


The child actor Philip McKeon as Tommy in the television show “Alice” in 1979. Others in the cast, from left, were Polly Holliday, Vic Tayback, Linda Lavin and Beth Howland. CBS, via Getty Images

By Johnny Diaz
Published Dec. 11, 2019 Updated Dec. 12, 2019

Philip McKeon, a former child actor best known for playing the son on the CBS sitcom “Alice,” died on Tuesday morning in a hospital in Texas. He was 55. ... A family spokesman, Jeff Ballard, said he died after a long illness, which he declined to specify.

From 1976 to 1985, Mr. McKeon, the older brother of the actress Nancy McKeon, played Tommy Hyatt on “Alice.” The show, loosely based on the movie “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” starred Linda Lavin as a widow and aspiring singer who works as a waitress at a roadside diner in Phoenix. Viewers watched Mr. McKeon grow up on the show as he played the smart and loving preteen son with a toothy grin who went on to play basketball in college. He appeared in more than half of the show’s 202 episodes.

The show’s cast also included Vic Tayback as the diner’s owner and Polly Holliday, Beth Howland, Diane Ladd and Celia Weston as waitresses.

Mr. McKeon was born on Nov. 11, 1964, in Westbury, N.Y. In addition to “Alice,” he appeared in other prime-time series, including “CHiPS,” “Fantasy Island” and “The Love Boat” in the late 1970s and ’80s. He also had roles in the films “Return to Horror High” and “Ghoulies IV.”


Mr. McKeon in 2018. In addition to “Alice,” he appeared in other popular primetime series including “CHiPS,” “Fantasy Island” and “The Love Boat.” Bobby Bank/Getty Images

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Philip McKeon
Updated on Sep 21, 2024

Occupation: actor
Name: Philip McKeon
Role: Actor
Siblings: Nancy McKeon



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CHiPs "Roller Disco" – The most Seventies scene in 1970s TV
183,172 views • Jan 22, 2016

MeTV
24.6K subscribers

Ponch and Jon hit the roller disco in this incredible scene from 'CHiPs' in 1979. Every TV celebrity of the era is in here, from Tina Louise to Cindy Williams.

Catch 'CHiPs' each weeknight at 5PM | 4C on MeTV!
Show CHIPS : Roller Disco, Part II

CHIPS S3 • E2
Roller Disco, Part II
CC
Mar 2, 2015

CHIPS
3.01K subscribers

When Jon and Ponch help organize a "Skate With the Stars" roller skating fund raiser, they encounter a new problem--pickpockets on skates! Bringing celebrities into the benefit, the duo winds up riding herd on famous rock star, Jimmy Tyler (LEIF GARRETT), and his manager, Frank Balford.
Show: CHIPS
Season: S3
Episode: E2
Release date: 9/22/79
Running time: 48:25

Actors: Larry Wilcox, Erik Estrada, Robert Pine, Paul Linke, Brodie Greer, Lou Wagner, Randi Oakes

Genres: Drama
Support: YouTube Help Center

MeTV runs a few episodes of "CHiPs" every afternoon, it seems.

https://nocable.org/tv-listings/zip/20500-washington-dc/

A few days ago, they ran a two-parter, the first two episodes of the third season.

There was a tall blond kid who showed up at 1:04 and again at 1:27. He looked familiar, but I just couldn't place him. I looked up the episode at IMDB. The boy was Philip McKeon. He died in December.