Exclusive
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Danny Goldman — the actor best known for voicing Brainy Smurf in “The Smurfs” — has died … TMZ has learned.
Goldman died at his home Sunday night in front of friends and family while in hospice after suffering a couple of strokes around New Years … this according to his longtime agent, Doug Ely. His death is not related to COVID-19. Ely took to Facebook to give his decades-long friend a touching tribute.
Ely wrote, “Danny was truly one of a kind. He always had strong opinions and didn’t mind telling you about them. He was incredibly funny. He loved to root for the little guy and help wherever he could. He had a huge heart. We lost a good one today. He will be missed.”
Goldman’s acting credits date back all the way to 1963 with a stint in “General Hospital.” He later landed roles in “Young Frankenstein” as a young medical student who questioned Gene Wilder.
Goldman also landed roles in “MASH” and “Busting Loose” but he reached stardom voicing Brainy Smurf when “The Smurfs” debuted in 1981 as a Saturday morning cartoon series on NBC. Brainy Smurf — easily one of the most identifiable characters with his trademark thick glasses — was known to never back down from sharing his smarts.
He’d hold on to that role until the series ended in 1989 but the show’s popularity kept the series on the air via USA Network, the Cartoon Network and now the Boomerang channel.
Goldman would go on to land a ton of small roles on other shows including “Criminal Minds” in 2012. He was 80. RIP
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