Harold Gould earned a Ph.D. in theatre and taught speech and drama at Cornell University. Pursuing some off-Broadway work in the 1950s, he decided to practice what he preached, and became a full-time professional actor in the 1960s. He has appeared in hundreds of TV shows since, usually playing a father, grandfather or other authority figure.


On the TV series "Love, American Style" (1969), Gould originated the role of "Howard Cunningham" in a segment called "Love and the Happy Days" in 1972. When "Happy Days" (1974) became an actual series with Ron Howard and Henry Winkler, Gould was replaced in the dad role by Tom Bosley. Also originated the role of Marlo Thomas' father in the first pilot of "That Girl" (1966); however, Lew Parker got the role in the series.