When actor Woody Harrelson came to Pittsburgh to star in the 1996 bowling movie "Kingpin," he quickly made friends with former bowling entrepreneur Robert Wissman, recalled Mr. Wissman's son, Robert Jr.

Striking up friendships was nothing unusual for Mr. Wissman, who spent much of his life around the sport, favored Iron City Beer and contributed to charitable causes.

"He made friends with everybody," said Jim Scott, a former news manager at KDKA-Radio and a weekend anchor at WTAE-TV in the 1970s.

He also was a practical joker, Mr. Scott said, noting that Mr. Wissman once made him a bowling ball that wouldn't roll straight.

"Everything was kind of fun for him," said another friend, Mike Lange, an announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network.

"He just bonded with whoever he met and made everybody smile and everybody laugh," his son said.

Mr. Wissman, of Forest Hills, died Tuesday. The cause was cancer, his son said. He was 84.

Born in Garfield, the son of Howard F. "Turk" Wissman and Helen Abraham Wissman, Mr. Wissman started early in the bowling business. He resurfaced bowling lanes with his father and three brothers, and the family also owned Coral Lanes in Garfield.

The day after the bombing at Pearl Harbor, the 18-year-old dropped out of high school to enlist in the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific.

After World War II, he resumed bowling lane resurfacing and also owned Hazelwood Lanes in the 1950s and Auditorium Lanes in East Liberty in the 1960s. He also owned billiard parlors in Oakland and East Liberty.

In 1967, he moved his business to Forest Hills and opened Wissman Bowling Supplies on Ardmore Boulevard, which he operated with his son James. It became a hangout for notable bowlers, his son Robert said.

After selling his business, he earned his General Educational Development certificate in 1990, his son said. He also worked as a part-time bartender at Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill.

Among his charitable activities, Mr. Wissman built a recreation center, including bowling lanes and boxing rings, for inmates at a county work facility in Aspinwall, his son said, noting that Pittsburgh Pirates star Willie Stargell and the local All Air Products bowling team attended the grand opening.

Other charitable causes included Special Olympics, the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, the Allegheny Valley School and Mr. Stargell's charity to battle sickle cell anemia.

Mr. Wissman was recognized by the Dapper Dan Club in 1976 for his contributions to bowling and charities.

He also donated time to prepare the lanes for Greater Pittsburgh Championship Bowling, a show in the 1960s and '70s on WTAE-TV, his son said.

His bowling supply company also provided the equipment used on the station's popular "Bowling for Dollars" show. After its host, Nick Perry, served prison time for his role in a lottery scandal, Mr. Wissman hired him as a salesman.

Beside his sons, both of Forest Hills, survivors include his wife of 56 years, Isabelle Vitullo Wissman ; sisters Jane Kirby of Penn Hills and Jean Kellman of Baldwin Borough; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow and Tuesday at Wolfe Memorial Forest Hills Chapel, 3604 Greensburg Pike, Forest Hills, where funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Allegheny Cemetery, Lawrenceville.

Memorial donations may be made to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, 201 N. Bellefield Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213.