Norman, the pipe-smoking, bearded Beatnik intellectual, was played by James Frawley (1936-2019), who began directing television and films beginning with 28 episodes of The Monkees (1965). His best-known works include The Muppet Movie (1979), the disaster movie spoof The Big Bus (1976), and the biopic The Three Stooges (2000). Frawley's resume of television directing includes episodes of Columbo (1971), Magnum, P.I. (1980), and Cagney & Lacey (1981). Frawley closed out his illustrious career directing the medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2005).
Alvie, the bushy-haired painter who panted after Genie, was played by John G. Avildsen (1935-2017), who went on to tremendous fame as the Academy Award-winning director of Rocky (1976). He also directed to great acclaim Save the Tiger (1973), The Karate Kid (1984), and Lean on Me (1989), among others. Avildsen's first directorial effort was on this film, where in addition to playing Alvie he served as assistant director and production assistant.
Melinda Cordell's debut.
A decade later, John G. Avildsen rounded up a couple castmates from this film for his detective spoof Cry Uncle (1971): Mel Stewart (Art) played Lt. Fowler and Aaron Banks (Franko) played a cop.
Reunited and it feels so good. Twenty years later Mel Stewart (Art) worked again with Robert Hogan (Brian) and James Frawley (Norman) in The Long Christmas Eve (1983). Stewart was a series regular, Hogan a guest star, and Frawley the director.