Harold E. (Hal) Blankenship, Actor 75, husband of actress/comedienne Joan Jaffe, died of cancer Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 in New York. Burial was Sept. 8th in Lynchburg, Virginia, his hometown.

He served in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Blankenship was a member of Actors Equity and served on the Equity Council. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Besides a long career as a Broadway, Off-Broadway and film actor, he was often seen on TV, notably on "Saturday Night Live" and "Late Night with Conan O’Brien,  plus many commercials. He did cabaret shows where he often partnered with his wife. A true "working actor," he was educated at Ferrum College, Virginia and American University in Washington, D.C. Hal is survived by two brothers, Ray, Jr. and William. There will be a memorial service in New York in the fall, date to be announced. In lieu of flowers friends are requested to make donations to: V.N.S. Hospital Care, 1250 Broadway (7th floor) N.Y.C. 10001 or to The Actors Fund 729 Seventh Ave. ,N.Y.C. 10019.