The actor who is best known for playing “Mel” on the sitcom Alice (and for being asked to kiss Flo’s grits) would have been 83 today, January 6, 2013.

Tayback also appeared in many commercials, including ads for Aqua-Velva, AMC Javelin, and Parkay. In this commercial for Winkels pantyhose, he plays a bank robber who wears Winkels on his head when doing his job because they have a tighter fit than other brands.

Winkels pantyhose commercial featuring Vic Tayback (1971)