Florence Halop

Florence Halop (January 23, 1923 – July 15, 1986) was an American actress. Best known for her role as the raspy-voiced bailiff Florence Kleiner on the sitcom Night Court, Halop was the sister of Billy Halop, one of the original Dead End/East Side Kids.

Career
Born in Queens, New York, Halop had a long career on radio and got her start at age 4 when she appeared on Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre. She transitioned to television in the early-1950s with a role in the series Meet Millie. After the series ended in 1956, Halop guest starred on various television series during the late 1950s and 1960s including roles in Playhouse 90, Going My Way, and I Spy.

Between 1976 - 1982, she played six different characters on the TV series Barney Miller. In 1984, she had a guest stint on St. Elsewhere. Halop’s character, Mrs. Hufnagel, was originally intended to be a one-episode spot, but her role was so well received the writers found a way to get her into 15 more episodes over the course of the season.

In 1985, Halop succeeded Selma Diamond as a female bailiff on Night Court after Diamond's death from lung cancer. Halop herself developed breast cancer and died during the series run. (She was replaced on Night Court by Marsha Warfield, who played Roz Russell until the series ended in May 1992).

Family
Halop was married to George Gruskin, who died in 1976. They were the parents of two daughters, Georgeanna and Benita. She is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.