Jack Albertson

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Jack Albertson
Birth name Jonathan George Albertson
Born June 16 1907(1907-06-16)
Malden, Massachusetts
Died November 25 1981 (aged 74)
Hollywood, California
Other name(s) Jackie Alberts
Official site http://www.jackalbertson.com

Jonathan George "Jack" Albertson (June 16, 1907 – November 25, 1981) was an Academy Award, Emmy Award and Tony Award-winning American actor (dating back to Vaudeville), comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, and he performed on stage, radio, movies, and television.

Contents

[edit] Early life and career in Vaudeville

Albertson was born in Malden, Massachusetts, U.S., to Jewish parents - Flora Craft, a Russian immigrant, and Leo Albertson, a Polish immigrant. He had an older sister, Mabel Albertson. The actor Frank Albertson is sometimes said to be Jack Alberton's brother, but this is not the case. Albertson dropped out of high school and traveled to New York City in an attempt make it big in show business. He was too poor to get a room in a flophouse, so in the winter he would sleep on the IRT subway for a nickel, and hide out when the transit workers would clear out the train at the end of the line. In the summer he would sleep in Central Park. His first real job in show business was with a vaudeville road troupe, the Dancing Verselle Sisters. He was considered a complete entertainer from the old school.

[edit] From Vaudeville to Broadway

Albertson soon worked in burlesque as a hoofer (soft shoe dancer) and straight man to Phil Silvers on the Minsky's Burlesque Circuit. Besides vaudeville and burlesque, he appeared on the stage in many Broadway plays including High Button Shoes, Top Banana, The Cradle Will Rock, Make Mine Manhattan, Show Boat, Boy Meets Girl, Girl Crazy, Meet the People, The Sunshine Boys (for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor), and The Subject Was Roses (for which he won a Tony for Best Supporting Actor). He was also known for two radio programs, Just Plain Bill and The Jack Albertson Comedy Show.

[edit] Albertson's move to the movies

Jack Albertson had a prolific movie career as well, mostly playing supporting roles.

Notable among these were:

Other films he appeared in include:

Albertson said that his one regret was that he was not asked to reprise his role in the movie version of The Sunshine Boys.

[edit] Albertson's career on television

Television also saw much of Albertson's talent. He had recurring or starring roles on:

  • The Burns and Allen Show
  • The Thin Man
  • Room for One More
  • Ensign O'Toole
  • Doctor Simon Locke: A cheaply made syndicated medical drama starring Albertson, who was so appalled by the production values of the final product that he quit after the first season in disgust. (Show was later renamed Police Surgeon the following season, after Albertson left.)
  • Chico and the Man, probably his most famous television role, Albertson won an Emmy (for his portrayal of Ed Brown, "the Man"--Chico's boss), making him one of the few entertainers to win the triple crown of entertainment (a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy). The tragedy of his success was that his co-star, Freddie Prinze, committed suicide during a bout of depression in what several news sources described at the time as "an accidental shooting."[citation needed]
  • Grandpa Goes to Washington

He also guest starred on numerous TV shows, including:

[edit] Personal life and death

Albertson was married to Wallace (Wally) Thompson and had one daughter, Maura. He resided for years in West Hollywood, California. In 1978, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but kept this information from the public so he could continue to act. He made one movie, My Body, My Child (1982) and one TV movie, Grandpa, Will You Run With Me? (1982) that were released posthumously.

Jack Albertson died on November 25, 1981, at 1:30 p.m. from colorectal cancer. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Awards
Preceded by
George Kennedy
for Cool Hand Luke 		Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1968
for The Subject Was Roses 		Succeeded by
Gig Young
for They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

es:Jack Albertson fr:Jack Albertson it:Jack Albertson he:ג'ק אלברטסון no:Jack Albertson sh:Jack Albertson

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Jack_Albertson"
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