American actor
Educated at Syracuse University.
Born in New York and worked as a nightclub comic and TV actor. In his early TV days, also worked behind the scenes on "Captain Kangaroo" . Directed episodes for more than 80 different TV series over four decades, stretching from the "The Dick Van Dyke Show" to cable-ACE award-winning stint as director on "Its Garry Shandlings Show." .
As an inside joke, the producers of "Too Close for Comfort" used the name Rafkin as the Transvestite neighbor.
His great-nephew is actor Jonah Hill (Jonahs grandmother was Alans sister, Claire).
His parents, Tillie (Bernstein) and Victor Rafkin, were Russian Jewish immigrants.
