Stars Of The ’80s Sitcom Webster—Where Are They Now—30 Years Later!

Susan Clark as Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis in Webster

Susan Clark as Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis in Webster

Susan Clark had already done a number of films and TV shows before getting the offer to star in her own TV series with real-life husband Alex Karras. A few years after their wedding, the Canadian beauty was given the role of Webster Long’s adoptive mom, Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis—an uppity socialite with zero housekeeping skills. She is called “Ma’am” by Webster, who chose to call her that because he thought it was the closest he could get to calling her “Mom” without disrespecting his birth mother.

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Susan Clark—Now

Clark continued working as an actress after Webster, starring in a few TV movies and the award-winning Canadian film Butterbox Babies. Then, from 1998 to 1999, she starred in the Canadian TV series Emily of New Moon. Susan has not done any acting work since then, aside from participating in two stage productions in Canada.

Henry Polic II as Jerry Silver in Webster

Henry Polic II as Jerry Silver in Webster

Another permanent fixture of the show was Henry Polic II’s character, Jerry Silver—Katherine Papadapolis’ sarcastic personal secretary and confidant, who is widely believed to be gay (or maybe he was just really effeminate). Silver appears in the entire series.

Henry Polic II as Jerry Silver in Webster and as Michael Osbourne in She Lies (2003)

Henry Polic II as Jerry Silver in Webster and as Michael Osbourne in She Lies (2003)

After Webster, Polic did some voice acting—most notably as Scarecrow in Batman: The Animated Series—and stage plays. In 1996, he participated in the Florida State University’s School of Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol.

Cathryn Damon as Cassie Parker in Webster

Cathryn Damon as Cassie Parker in Webster

Damon starred as Cassie Parker, the wife of Bill Parker (played by Eugene Roche) and the Papadapolis family’s landlady (and downstairs neighbor) in the second season of Webster. Prior to the role, she appeared in a variety of films and TV shows. In 1980, she won an Emmy Award for her role in the sitcom, Soap.

Cathryn Damon as Cassie Parker in Webster and as Gayle Bainbridge in She’s Having a Baby (1988)

Cathryn Damon as Cassie Parker in Webster and as Gayle Bainbridge in She’s Having a Baby (1988)

The actress left Webster after the third season, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She passed away in May 1987.

Jack Kruschen as George “Papa” Papadapolis, Sr. in Webster

Jack Kruschen as George “Papa” Papadapolis, Sr. in Webster

“Papa” Papadapolis, George’s sweet and jolly father, was played by Oscar nominated actor Jack Kruschen from 1985 to 1987. White-haired, rotund, and perpetually cheerful, “Papa” was the epitome of the perfect grandfather.

Jack Kruschen as George “Papa” Papadapolis, Sr. in Webster and with his Wife

Jack Kruschen as George “Papa” Papadapolis, Sr. in Webster and with his Wife

Kruschen died on April 2, 2002 at the age of 80 after a long, prolific career in American film, TV, stage and radio.

>Alex Karras as George Papadapolis in Webster

>Alex Karras as George Papadapolis in Webster

Following his retirement from the NFL, celebrated athlete Alex Karras went on to become an actor. His first role was in the sports-themed film Paper Lion, in which he played himself. He then starred in a few movies (most notably Blazing Saddles and Babe) and TV shows, playing “tough guy” roles that fit in with his burly athlete appearance. It wasn’t until he became one of the stars of Webster that he was able to show his “softer side,” as little Webster’s adoptive father, George Papadapolis.

Alex Karras as George Papadapolis in Webster and in 1996

Alex Karras as George Papadapolis in Webster and in 1996

Sadly, Alex Karras died of kidney failure last year, on October 8, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Susan Clark, their daughter, Katie, and his children with his first wife, Joan Jurgensen.

Eugene Roche as Bill Parker in Webster

Eugene Roche’s character, Bill Parker, first appears in the second season of Webster. He and his wife, Cassie (played by Cathryn Damon), are the owners of the house the Papadapolises move into after little Webster accidentally burns down their apartment. Being the lovable landlord, he eventually becomes good friends with George Papadapolis and grows especially fond of Webster, who often visits him and his wife in the basement of their house, where they moved into after leasing their property to the Papadapolises.

Eugene Roche as Bill Parker in Webster and in 2002

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Eugene Roche as Bill Parker in Webster and in 2002

Eugene Roche starred in a few movies and TV shows after his two-year stint on Webster, including ‘90s movies Executive Decision and When a Man Loves a Woman, and sitcoms Perfect Strangers, Night Court, and Julie. Three years after appearing in his last film, Dancing at the Harvest Moon, Roche died from a heart attack on July 28, 2004.

Emmanuel Lewis as Webster Long in Webster

Emmanuel Lewis as Webster Long in Webster

Thanks to his obvious similarities to Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman, Emmanuel Lewis was plucked from obscurity (after appearing in a Burger King commercial) to star in a sitcom that had pretty much the same premise as Coleman’s hit show. Lewis was given the role of the title character, Webster Long—an adorable and extremely lovable 6-year-old (although Lewis was 12 years old at the time) who became orphaned after his parents died in a car accident and was adopted by a white married couple, played by Alex Karras and Susan Clark.

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Emmanuel Lewis—Now

A few years after Webster was cancelled, Lewis made guest appearances in a handful of ‘90s TV shows such as Family Matters, Moesha, and Malcolm & Eddie. In 2003, he starred in the first season of The Surreal Life, a reality series about celebrity “has-beens” living together in one mansion for two weeks. At present, the diminutive Webster star is keeping busy with his record label, Flex Floss Entertainment.

Chad Allen as Rob Whitaker in Webster

Chad Allen had already starred in a number of TV shows—including the sitcom Punky Brewster—before appearing on the third season of Webster as Rob Whitaker (one of Webster’s friends) for four episodes. Chad even got to be the focus of the storyline in the episode Borrowed Time, where his father kidnaps him and Webster–-as well as his adoptive parents—mobilize the community to help find him.

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Chad Allen—Now

Since being outed as a gay man 1996, Chad Allen has been a fierce activist for the LGBT community. After his stint on Webster, he has continued to do guest roles on TV shows, most recently in the serial killer drama Dexter. Chad also played the starring role in the 2007 Sundance Film Festival film Save Me, in which he played a drug-addicted gay man.