Howard Platt (born June 5, 1938) is an American stage and television actor, singer and director, best known for his role as "Officer Hopkins", or "Hoppy" in the hit NBC-TV comedy series Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1976. Platt, a veteran of nearly four decades, has appeared in at least 100 plays assuming the roles of everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Santa Claus to Frank McCourt and brother, Malachy.