Though called Slim, Fred's character in On the Waterfront answers to the name Malden Sekulovich when called to testify in front of the crime commission. Malden Sekulovich was the real name of On the Waterfront co-star Karl Malden. Director Elia Kazan threw this bit into the film as an inside joke.
Joe Pesci(on the late Fred Gwynne): It takes somebody who's very serious to pull off a character like 'Herman Munster.' It's not simple to play the goof. Fred was not Herman. He was an intelligent, quiet gentleman.
Fred Gwynne: (On his most famous role, 1979) Funny thing, yesterday morning I found my youngest son and daughter watching the rerun of an old [Munsters] episode and I said, 'My God, THAT'S not still on, is it?' Well, even so, I was very lucky and it was great fun to be as much of a household product as something like Rinso. I almost wish I could do it all over again.