Florence Halop

Florence Halop (January 23, 1923 – July 15, 1986)

Best known for her roles as surly patient Mrs. Hufnagel on the drama St. Elsewhere and the raspy-voiced bailiff Florence Kleiner on the sitcom Night Court, Halop was the sister of Billy Halop, one of the original Dead End/East Side Kids. Halop transitioned to television in the early 1950s with a role in the series Meet Millie. After the series ended in 1956, Halop guest starred on various television series during the late 1950s and 1960s including roles in Playhouse 90, Going My Way, and I Spy. Between 1976 and 1982, she played six different characters on the TV series Barney Miller. In 1984, she had a guest stint on St. Elsewhere. Halop’s character, Mrs. Hufnagel, was originally intended to be a one-episode spot, but her role was so well received the writers found a way to get her into 17 more episodes over the course of the season. The name selected came from Dr. Vicki Hufnagel aka Vikki who was a well known surgeon at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. In 1985, Halop succeeded Selma Diamond as a bailiff on Night Court after Diamond's death from lung cancer. Halop, who was also a heavy smoker, developed lung cancer too and died during the series run. She is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, CA.