Skip to content

Norman Grabowski

Norman Grabowski

10 movies on Netflix

Biography

Norm Grabowski was an American actor and hot rod builder. Born in New Jersey, he built a shortened Model T hot rod that gained attention after appearing in Hot Rod and other magazines. The car became known as the Kookie Kar and was driven by the character Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip. The magazine exposure led to offers to rent the car for films and television, and those contacts led him into acting. He played small parts in movies from Albert Zugsmith and Walt Disney, among them Girls Town (1959), Roustabout (1964), The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964), The Monkey's Uncle (1965), Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) and Hooper (1978). He also appeared on television shows including Batman and The Monkees, carved skull gearshift knobs for hot rods, and retired from acting in the 1980s. He died in 2012.

79years old at death

Born February 5, 1933Irvington
Died October 12, 2012Cassville
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18

Movie Career

Films: 10
Career span: 19 years1959 to 1978

Genres

Comedy70%, 7 films
Family50%, 5 films
Drama40%, 4 films
Fantasy20%, 2 films
Sci-Fi20%, 2 films

First and latest

Share

Did you know?!

Big break
Magazine exposure of his hot rod led to offers to rent the car for movies and television, and the contacts Grabowski made through this led to his acting career.
A change of course
Grabowski earned a reputation as a wood carver. His unique hand-carved skull gearshift knobs can be found in many hot rods and custom cars.

Norman Grabowski movies on Netflix

Hooper1978IMDb rating 6.4as Hammerhead
Zabriskie Point1970IMDb rating 6.9as Man in Deli
Blackbeard's Ghost1968IMDb rating 6.8as Virgil
The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit1968IMDb rating 6.3as Truck Driver
The Gnome-Mobile1967IMDb rating 6.5as Male Nurse
The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9as Norman
Roustabout1964IMDb rating 6.0as Sam
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2as Norman, Midvale Football Player
The Honeymoon Machine1961IMDb rating 6.1as Shipboard Signalman
Girls Town1959IMDb rating 3.9as Skin

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Blackbeard's Ghost1968 Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Virgil
IMDb rating 6.87.6K votes
Hooper1978 Action, Comedyas Hammerhead
IMDb rating 6.49.0K votes
Roustabout1964as Sam
IMDb rating 6.03.7K votes
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964as Norman, Midvale Football Player
IMDb rating 6.2946 votes
The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit1968as Truck Driver
IMDb rating 6.31.2K votes
The Gnome-Mobile1967as Male Nurse
IMDb rating 6.52.7K votes
The Monkey's Uncle1965as Norman
IMDb rating 5.91.1K votes
Girls Town1959as Skin
IMDb rating 3.91.1K votes

Most often with

Robert Stevenson directed four of these films. Alan Hewitt appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Alan Hewitt

Kenner G. Kemp

Richard Deacon

Connie GilchristRobert StevensonDirector, 4 films

Films together

Alan Hewitt3 films together, 1964 to 1968
Alan Hewitt's page
- The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit1968IMDb rating 6.3Grabowski as Truck DriverHewitt as Harry Tomis
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Grabowski as NormanHewitt as Professor Shattuck
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Grabowski as Norman, Midvale Football PlayerHewitt as Professor Shattuck
Leon Ames2 films together, 1964 to 1965
Leon Ames's page
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Grabowski as NormanAmes as Judge Holmsby
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Grabowski as Norman, Midvale Football PlayerAmes as Judge Holmsby / Lex Fortas
Kenner G. Kemp2 films together, 1961 to 1970
Kenner G. Kemp's page
- Zabriskie Point1970IMDb rating 6.9Grabowski as Man in DeliKemp as Departing Plane Passenger
- The Honeymoon Machine1961IMDb rating 6.1Grabowski as Shipboard SignalmanKemp as Casino Patron
Richard Deacon2 films together, 1967 to 1968
Richard Deacon's page
- Blackbeard's Ghost1968IMDb rating 6.8Grabowski as VirgilDeacon as Dean Wheaton
- The Gnome-Mobile1967IMDb rating 6.5Grabowski as Male NurseDeacon as Ralph Yarby
Dean Jones2 films together, 1968
Dean Jones's page
- Blackbeard's Ghost1968IMDb rating 6.8Grabowski as VirgilJones as Steve Walker
- The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit1968IMDb rating 6.3Grabowski as Truck DriverJones as Fredrick 'Fred' Bolton
Connie Gilchrist2 films together, 1964 to 1965
Connie Gilchrist's page
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Grabowski as NormanGilchrist as Mrs. Gossett
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Grabowski as Norman, Midvale Football PlayerGilchrist as Mrs. Gossett
Robert StevensonDirector, 4 films, 1964 to 1968
All films by Robert Stevenson
- Blackbeard's Ghost1968IMDb rating 6.8Grabowski as Virgil
- The Gnome-Mobile1967IMDb rating 6.5Grabowski as Male Nurse
- The Monkey's Uncle1965IMDb rating 5.9Grabowski as Norman
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones1964IMDb rating 6.2Grabowski as Norman, Midvale Football Player
Also two films together3 more actors
- Tommy KirkThe Monkey's Uncle (1965) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964)
- Annette FunicelloThe Monkey's Uncle (1965) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964)
- Gil LambBlackbeard's Ghost (1968) and The Gnome-Mobile (1967)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.