Paul Lee Willson (born December 25, 1945) is an American actor, most notable for his television work.
Willson has played numerous guest characters on a variety of shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boston Public, Caroline in the City and Star Trek: Voyager. He is perhaps most famous for his repeated guest character of "Paul" on the television show Cheers (which he also reprised in an episode of the Cheers' spin-off, Frasier). His character was originally called "Tom" because Paul Vaughn was already playing a character named "Paul" on Cheers. For five years (1986-1990) he was Garry Shandling's neighbour "Leonard Smith" on It's Garry Shandling's Show. Willson also appeared on Garry Shandling's The Larry Sanders Show playing Larry's accountant, and the brother of Sid the cue card holder. He played Ed, a neighbour, in a few episodes of Malcolm in the Middle. He also starred in the comedy film Office Space as one of "The Bobs". He was recently in a promotional video for the Nintendo DS game Personal Trainer: Cooking with Fred Willard.
Although primarily recognized for his television work, he has been noted as a "great improv player" by Garry Shandling as a result of their time working together doing improv in the late 1970s.
Willson was born in Fairmont, Minnesota, the son of Doris Geraldine and Lee Wilford Willson.
Famous quotes containing the word paul:
“That for which Paul lived and died so gloriously; that for which Jesus gave himself to be crucified; the end that animated the thousand martyrs and heroes who have followed his steps, was to redeem us from a formal religion, and teach us to seek our well-being in the formation of the soul.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)