Adolphus Jean Sweet (July 18, 1920 – May 8, 1985) was an American actor credited with nearly 60 television and film roles and more than 50 roles in stage productions, including performances on Broadway. He often played policemen throughout his career, and may be best known for his portrayal of police chief and father Carl Kanisky on the sitcom Gimme a Break! from 1981 until his death in May 1985.
Early life
Sweet was born in New York City. In 1939, he attended the University of Alabama but interrupted his studies to serve a tour of duty in World War II with the 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the Eighth Air Force as a second lieutenant and navigator on B-24 Liberator bomber aircraft. His plane was downed over Romania during Operation Tidal Wave and he subsequently spent two years as a prisoner of war. He joined other prisoners in staffing short plays in the camp, sparking his interest in acting when he returned from the war. His Gimme a Break! co-star, Nell Carter, gave the eulogy at his funeral on May 11, and recorded a short eulogy to air that same night, at the start of the show's final episode for the season.
Filmography
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1961 || The Young Doctors || Police Car Driver ||
|-
| 1966 || You're a Big Boy Now || Patrolman Francis Graf ||
|-
| 1967-1968 || The Edge of Night || Harry Constable ||
|-
| 1968 || A Lovely Way to Die || Captain Haver ||
|-
| 1968 || The Swimmer || Henry Biswanger ||
|-
| 1968 || Finian's Rainbow || Sheriff ||
|-
| 1969 || The Lost Man || Police Captain ||
|-
| 1970 || Colossus: The Forbin Project || Missile Commander ||
|-
| 1970 || The Out-of-Towners || Police Sergeant ||
|-
| 1971 || The Telephone Book || Obscene-Caller ||
|-
| 1972-1977 || Another World || Gil McGowan ||
|-
| 1972 || The New Centurions || Sergeant Runyon ||
|-
| 1972 || Sisters || Detective Kelly ||
|-
| 1972 || Fear Is the Key || Jablonsky ||
|-
| 1973 || Cops and Robbers || George ||
|-
| 1974 || The Lords of Flatbush || Mr. Rosiello ||
|-
| 1974 || Amazing Grace || Mayor Scott ||
|-
| 1974 || The Taking of Pelham One Two Three || Police Captain Costello || Uncredited voice
|-
| 1977 || The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training || Mr. Manning ||
|-
| 1977 || Which Way Is Up? || The Boss ||
|-
| 1978 || Go Tell the Spartans || General Harnitz ||
|-
| 1978 || Heaven Can Wait || Head Coach ||
|-
| 1978 || Angie || The Sheriff ||
|-
| 1979 || The Wanderers || "Chubby" Galasso ||
|-
| 1980 || Below the Belt || LeRoi ||
|-
| 1980 || When the Whistle Blows || Norm Jenkins ||
|-
| 1981 || Reds || Bill "Big Bill" Haywood ||
|-
| 1981 || Hart to Hart || Ed Perkins ||
|-
| 1981-1985 || Gimme a Break! || Carl Kanisky ||
|}