Sandy Helberg (born May 28, 1949) is an American actor. Helberg was born to Tonia and Sam Helberg, both were Holocaust survivors. They soon emigrated to the United States where his father, originally a barber, eventually became a successful real estate developer in Toledo, Ohio, where Helberg grew up. Helberg was the original Gopher Smith in The Love Boat pilot. He has been married to Harriet Helberg since April 6, 1975, and has 2 sons, Mason and actor Simon Helberg.