Michael Alaimo, a theater and film actor known for his roles in “Space Jam” and the Oscar-nominated “The China Syndrome,” died Friday, May 2, in Burbank, Calif. He was 86.
Alaimo’s death was confirmed to Variety by Alaimo’s daughter, longtime TV PR and communications executive Gabriella Alaimo Thomas. While a cause of death was not disclosed, an official statement said that he “passed away peacefully.”
As a multifaceted artist who worked in avant-garde theater and appeared in dozens of films and shows, Alaimo notably had roles in “Space Jam,” “Mr. Mom,” “The China Syndrome” and “All I Want for Christmas.” In “Space Jam,” he played a doctor, where he appeared alongside Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight and Bill Murray. He also had a long TV career with roles in “Cheers,” “The Wonder Years,” “Scrubs,” “Barney Miller,” “Mr. Belvedere,” “Hill Street Blues” and “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.”
Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Alaimo got his start studying theater at Brooklyn College. From 1961 to 1964, he participated in Joseph Papp’s NY Shakespeare in Central Park, where he led a commedia dell’arte troupe and was involved in political activism with East Harlem’s highly influential Gut Theatre.
Alaimo eventually moved to San Francisco, where he toured with the anti-war show “F.T.A.” before landing in Los Angeles in 1973. There, his career took off with early roles in “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Cannon” and “Harry O.”
Alaimo is survived by his wife, Louise, daughters Gabriella and Giovanna, son-in-law David and granddaughters Isabella and Malia.
