Walk into the Dental Arts Center at 5426 N. Academy Blvd., and you’ll see a typical waiting room with comfortable couches and photos on the walls. 

However, upon closer inspection, you’ll recognize television and movie stars in those photos, all sharing the frame with a young boy sporting a mop of brown hair and a wide smile. If you’re of a certain age, the boy’s face may be vaguely familiar from TV and movie screens of the 1960s. 

Upon meeting the dentist, Dr. Sheldon Golomb, you’ll see that same smile. The mop of hair is mostly gone, though.

CHILDHOOD GAMES TO STAR-STUDDED FAME

Golomb, 68, grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Like many actors, he fell into the profession by chance.

His mother, an aspiring actress, nabbed an audition for an off-Broadway play. But there was one problem: she couldn’t find a babysitter for her 7-year-old son—so Sheldon tagged along. They soon discovered the production needed a kid around his age for a featured role in the musical “King of the Whole Damn World!” The director asked if Sheldon could audition for the role.

“I’d never even thought about acting. I was just a kid on the street playing stickball and things like that,” Golomb said.

The musical opened April 12, 1962, and ran for 43 performances in a theater about two miles from The Great White Way. And as fate would have it, the kid had talent.

“I got very, very good reviews in the New York papers,” he said. “And it pretty much went nonstop after that.”

Golomb joined the cast of the soap opera “Guiding Light,” which was produced in New York City. He appeared in more plays on and off-Broadway until his agent urged him to make the move out west.

“He said, ‘You have to move to L.A. because I've already got three or four television shows lined up,’” Golomb recalled.

These shows included episodes of “The Big Valley,” where the 11-year-old had a crush on Linda Evans, and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Then came the big call for a movie: “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.” This Cold War comedy hit screens in 1966 and starred Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint.

The cast spent three or four months in Northern California, and Golomb said they became a family.

He also acted in nine episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show” from 1966-1968, playing Opie’s pal Arnold. By that time, his last name had been Hollywoodized to “Collins”. 

He became friends with Ronny Howard, who was a little older. Both boys liked playing basketball, so a court was built near the set where they could shoot hoops when they weren’t on camera. 

Golomb appeared on many popular TV shows of the 1960s, including “My Three Sons,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Daniel Boone” and “Mod Squad.” 

But his favorite role was on “Star Trek” when he was 13. Golomb was already a fan, with a poster of the Starship Enterprise adorning his bedroom wall.

“When I got a chance to audition for ‘Star Trek,’ I was psyched,” he said.

His character was billed simply as “Tough Kid” in an episode called “A Piece of the Action.” It was the 17th episode of the beloved show’s second season and involved the Enterprise crew’s visit to a planet with a 1920s gangster culture.

 CONFESSIONS OF A CHILD STAR

Golomb admitted he’d get nervous while on stage, but the fact that film directors could simply re-shoot scenes made movie work less stressful. However, he seldom required additional takes.

“I hardly ever made mistakes, and that is one of the things directors appreciated,” he said. 

When most of us hear the term “child actor,” we imagine spoiled, minimally talented kids who grow up to be troubled teens and even more troubled adults.

Throughout his career, Golomb avoided entanglements in addiction, scandal or divorce.

“I could see where I could have gotten into a situation like that,” Golomb acknowledged, “because when you were a child star and you get to be into your late teens, the work slows down.” 

Fortunately, he remained in engaged in other pursuits, such as playing sports at Hollywood High School.  

His only regret about his acting career is that he broke his wrist playing football about a week before he and his mother were heading to a movie set in Hawaii.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, DENTISTRY!

Golomb considers himself fortunate to have developed an interest in science. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from California State University and a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. For him, it was a logical choice because he loves working with his hands.

Upon returning to Los Angeles after four years in Iowa, the bustling city no longer felt like a good fit. But small-town life didn’t appeal to him either. 

In 1986, with no specific destination in mind, he and his girlfriend, a doctor, hit the road. They fell in love with Colorado and were able to get their licenses to practice here. 

The allure of outdoor recreation in Colorado was an added bonus. Golomb loves to go camping, ride his bike and enjoy nature. 

Occasionally he comes across an old TV show or movie he was in. If he has visitors, they insist on watching.

Golomb took over the Dental Arts practice in 1996. He married a former patient and together, they have a 12-year-old daughter. 

Golomb said he’s very content with how his life turned out and has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“I just feel fortunate that I got to work with some pretty premier actors who made an impact,” Golomb said. “I’m glad to be part of that story.”