March 15, 1949 - December 26, 2018
Bradford Randall (Brad) Blaisdell has died, at the age of 69, after a long battle with cancer. Born in Baltimore, MD, to Walter Osgood Blaisdell, a singer in the Big Band era (who used the stage name, Jimmy Blair) and Mary Frances Burnett Blaisdell, a homemaker and runner up to Miss Massachusetts, Brad was an actor and singer, working in film, theatre and television in LA and New York for almost 50 years. He starred on Broadway in "Going Up" and "I Love My Wife." Off-Broadway he starred in a revival of "Tenderloin," and "Bukowsical," as Charles Bukowski (2007 NY Fringe Festival's best musical award winner). He won an LA Drama-Logue Critics Award, starring with Woody Harrelson in Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story." He guest starred on countless TV shows, but the three seasons he spent as Mike the bartender on "Three's Company," always got him recognized. His more than 40 film credits included roles opposite Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Debra Winger, Dana Carvey, Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper, and Dabney Coleman. Brad was a decorated Vietnam veteran, served for two terms on the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild, and was an active member of the Global Truth Center Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife of 30 years Merilee Magnuson Blaisdell, daughter Hannah Mariel Magnuson Blaisdell, sister Barbara Anne Blaisdell Cooke, brother Gary Francis Blaisdell and his wife Virginia L. Blaisdell, sister Bonnie Louise Johnston and her husband Gary Johnston, nieces and nephews, many dear friends and will be missed by his cats Lulu, Ducky and Chip. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to one of his favorite charities: Operation Smile.