Fred Gwynne, who died in 1993 and would have turned 99 this July 10, is best known for starring in the classic TV sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters … but did you know he was also a military veteran and an accomplished illustrator? And that he wrote a successful series of children’s books?

If you only know Gwynne from his roles as Car 54’s Officer Muldoon and The Munsters’ Frankenstein-ish Herman Munster — or from his roles in films like Pet Sematary and My Cousin Vinny — read on for biographical details about this towering talent. (And we do mean towering — the guy was 6-foot-5.)