Jack Klugman

Jack Klugman

Klugman in November 2009
Born Jacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman[1][2][3]
(1922-04-27)April 27, 1922
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died December 24, 2012(2012-12-24) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death Prostate cancer
Resting place Westwood Village Memorial Park[4][3]
Nationality American
Alma mater Carnegie Mellon University
Years active 1950–2012
Spouse(s) Brett Somers (m. 1953–77)(divorced)[5]
Peggy Crosby (m. 2008–12)
Children Adam Klugman
David Klugman
Awards Emmy Award (1964, 1971, 1973)[6][7]
Golden Globe Award (1974)[8]

Jacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman (April 27, 1922 – December 24, 2012) was an American stage, film, and television actor.[2]

Klugman began his career in 1950. He later moved on to television and film work with roles in 12 Angry Men (1957) and Cry Terror! (1958). During the 1960s, he guest-starred on numerous television series. Klugman won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his guest-starring role on The Defenders, in 1964. He also made a total of four appearances on The Twilight Zone from 1960 to 1963.

In 1970, Klugman reprised his Broadway role of Oscar Madison in the television adaptation of The Odd Couple, opposite Tony Randall. The series aired from 1970 to 1975. Klugman won his second and third Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his work on the series. From 1976 to 1983, he starred in the title role in Quincy, M.E. for which he earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. In 1985, he appeared in an episode of The Love Boat entitled "Scandinavian Cruise" parts one and two.

Early life

Klugman was born in Philadelphia, the son of Rose, a hat maker, and Max Klugman, a house painter.[9] His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. Klugman served in the United States Army during World War II.[10] He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1948.[2] While there, his drama teacher told him, "Young man, you are not suited to be an actor. You are suited to be a truck driver."[11] After the war, he pursued acting roles while living in New York City with fellow actor Charles Bronson.[10]

Career

1950s and 1960s

Klugman in a publicity photo for The Twilight Zone, September 1963

During the 1950s and 1960s, Klugman was active in numerous stage, television, and film productions. In 1950, he had a small role in the Mr. Roberts road company at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. Later that same year, he made his television debut in an episode of Actors Studio. In March 1952, Klugman made his Broadway debut in Golden Boy, as Frank Bonaparte.

In 1954, he played Jim Hanson on the soap opera, The Greatest Gift.[12] The following year, he appeared in the live television broadcast of Producers' Showcase, in the episode "The Petrified Forest" with Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda. Klugman later said the experience was the greatest thrill of his career. Klugman went on to star in several classic films, including 12 Angry Men (1957) as juror number five. Of the 12 actors to play a juror in the film, Klugman was the last survivor. In 1959, he returned to Broadway in the original production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable. In 1960, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor (Musical) for his role in the show, but lost to Tom Bosley in Fiorello!.[13] He remained with Gypsy until it closed in March 1961.

From 1960 to 1963, Klugman appeared in four episodes of the The Twilight Zone series: "A Passage for Trumpet" (1960), "A Game of Pool" (1961), "Death Ship" (1963), and "In Praise of Pip" (1963). Klugman tied with Burgess Meredith for the most appearances in a starring role on the series. In 1964, Klugman won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his guest starring role on The Defenders. That same year, Klugman landed the starring role in the sitcom Harris Against the World. The series was a part of an experimental block of sitcoms that aired on NBC entitled 90 Bristol Court. Harris Against the World, along with the other sitcoms that aired in the block, were canceled due to low ratings the following year.

Klugman continued the decade with multiple guest roles on television including The F.B.I., Ben Casey, The Name of the Game, and Insight. He also appeared on Broadway in Tchin-Tchin, from October 1962 to May 1963. From 1960 to 1963, Jack Klugman appeared in two episodes of the The Untouchables series: "Loophole" (1961), and "An Eye for an Eye" (1963).

The Odd Couple

Klugman (right) with Tony Randall in the publicity photo of The Odd Couple, 1972

In 1965, Klugman replaced Walter Matthau in the lead role of Oscar Madison in the original Broadway production of The Odd Couple.[14] He reprised the role when the play was adapted as a television series which premiered on ABC in 1970. Over the course of the show's five-year, 114-episode run, Klugman won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on the series. The series ended in 1975. In 1973, during the run of the show, Klugman and Odd Couple co-star Randall recorded an album titled The Odd Couple Sings for London Records. Roland Shaw and The London Festival Orchestra and Chorus provided the music and additional vocals.[15]

1970s and 1980s

Following the end of The Odd Couple, Klugman returned to television in 1976 in Quincy, M.E. on NBC. Klugman portrayed Dr. Quincy, a forensic pathologist who worked for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and solved crimes. He was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on the series and also wrote four episodes. Quincy aired for a total of 148 episodes over seven seasons, ending in 1983. In 1986, Klugman starred in the sitcom You Again?, co-starring John Stamos as Klugman's character's son. The series aired on NBC for two seasons before being canceled. During the show's run, Klugman also appeared on Broadway in I'm Not Rappaport. The show closed in 1988. The following year, he co-starred in the television miniseries Around the World in 80 Days.

1990s to 2010s

In 1989, Klugman's throat cancer (with which he was first diagnosed in 1974) returned. His illness sidelined his career for the next four years. He returned to acting in a 1993 Broadway revival of Three Men on a Horse.[16] That same year, he reunited with Tony Randall in the television film The Odd Couple: Together Again. The next year, Klugman co-starred in the television film Parallel Lives.

In 1993, he appeared on a special "celebrity versus regulars" version of the British quiz show Going for Gold, emerging as the series winner.[17]

In 1996, he co-starred in The Twilight of the Golds and the comedy film Dear God. He resumed his television career with guest spots on Diagnosis: Murder. He also starred in The Outer Limits episode "Glitch," and appeared in an episode of the TV series Crossing Jordan. In 1997 Klugman starred in the Broadway revival of The Sunshine Boys, his last stage production.

In 2005, Klugman co-starred in the comedy film When Do We Eat?. That same year, he published Tony and Me: A Story of Friendship, a book about his long friendship with his The Odd Couple co-star Tony Randall.[18][19] Klugman gave the eulogy at Randall's memorial service in 2004.[18] Klugman, who liked the same New York Mets whose cap he wore as Oscar Madison, started an MLB.com PRO Blog called Klugman's Korner to talk baseball and Randall.

Klugman in August 2005

In 2008, he sued NBC Television concerning missing profits from his show Quincy M.E.[20] The lawsuit was filed in California Superior Court, with Klugman requesting NBC to show him the original contract.[20] Klugman stated that his production company, Sweater Productions, should have received 25% of the show's net profits. NBC Universal and Klugman settled the lawsuit on undisclosed terms in August 2010.[20] His last on-screen role was in the 2010 horror film Camera Obscura.

Klugman's final acting job was in a stage production of Twelve Angry Men at the George Street Playhouse. It opened on March 13, 2012.[21]

Health

Cancer battle

Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1974. In 1989, he lost a vocal cord to cancer, but continued to act on stage and television, though he was left with a quiet, raspy voice.[22] In later years subsequent to his operation, he regained limited strength in his voice.

Personal life

Marriage and children

Klugman married actress Brett Somers in 1953. The couple had two children, Adam (who had a cameo as Oscar Madison as a child in a flashback on The Odd Couple) and David, before separating in 1974. It was long reported that Somers and Klugman separated in 1974 but remained legally married until her death.[23] However, California records indicate the couple divorced in 1977.[5] Somers died at age 83 from cancer in 2007.[24]

Klugman began living with Peggy Crosby[25] in 1988. They married in February 2008, shortly after Somers' death.[26][27]

Business interests

Death

Klugman died at the age of 90 in Woodland Hills, California from prostate cancer, on December 24, 2012.[2] The New York Times referred to him and actor Charles Durning, who died the same day, as "extraordinary actors ennobling the ordinary."[30] The Huffington Post compared the two men, calling them "character actor titans".[31]

Broadway credits

Date Production Role
March 12 – April 6, 1952 Golden Boy Frank Bonaparte
November 14–17, 1956 A Very Special Baby Carmen
May 21, 1959 – March 25, 1961 Gypsy: A Musical Fable Herbie
Apr 22, 1963 – May 18, 1963 Tchin-Tchin Caesario Grimaldi (Replacement)
November 8, 1965 – July 2, 1967 The Odd Couple Oscar Madison (Replacement)
December 18, 1968 – December 21, 1968 The Sudden & Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson Horse Johnson
November 19, 1985 – January 17, 1988 I'm Not Rappaport Nat (Replacement)
April 13 – May 16, 1993 Three Men on a Horse Patsy
December 8, 1997 – June 28, 1998 The Sunshine Boys Willie Clark

Selected filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1952 Grubstake Alternative title: Apache Gold
1956 Time Table Frankie Page
1957 12 Angry Men Juror #5
1958 Cry Terror! Vince, a thug
1962 Days of Wine and Roses Jim Hungerford
1963 I Could Go On Singing George
1963 The Yellow Canary Lt. Bonner
1963 Act One Joe Hyman
1965 Hail, Mafia Phil Alternative title: Je vous salue, mafia!
1968 The Detective Dave Schoenstein
1968 The Split Harry Kifka
1969 Goodbye, Columbus Ben Patimkin
1971 Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! Barney
1976 Two-Minute Warning Sandman
1996 The Twilight of the Golds Mr. Stein
1996 Dear God Jemi
2005 When Do We Eat? Artur
2010 Camera Obscura Sam (Last appearance)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1950 Suspense Louie Episode: "Murder at the Mardi Gras"
1953 Colonel Humphrey Flack 2 episodes
1954 Rocky King, Inside Detective Episode: "Return for Death"
1954 Inner Sanctum Various roles 3 episodes
1954–1956 Justice 3 episodes
1955 Producers' Showcase Jackie Episode: "The Petrified Forest"
1955 Treasury Men in Action Episode: "The Case of the Betrayed Artist"
1955–1956 Goodyear Television Playhouse 2 episodes
1955–1956 Armstrong Circle Theatre 2 episodes
1957 Alfred Hitchcock Presents George Benedict Episode: "Mail Order Prophet"
1958 Gunsmoke Earl Ticks Episode: "Buffalo Man"
1958 General Electric Theater Murphy Episode: "The Young and Scared"
1957 General Electric Theater Peter Tong Episode: "A New Girl In His Life"
1959 The Walter Winchell File Allie Sunshine Episode: "Death Comes in a Small Package: File #37"
1960–1963 The Twilight Zone 4 episodes
1961 Follow the Sun Steve Bixel Episode: "Busman's Holiday"
1961 Straightaway Buddy Conway Episode: "Die Laughing"
1962 The New Breed Floyd Blaylock Episode: "All the Dead Faces"
1962 Cain's Hundred Mike Colonni Episode: "Women of Silure"
1962 Naked City Peter Kannick Episode: "King Stanislaus and the Knights of the Round Stable"
1963 The Untouchables Solly Girsch Episode: "An Eye for An Eye"
1963 Naked City Arthur Crews Episode: "Stop the Parade! A Baby Is Crying!"
1963 Arrest and Trial Celina Episode: "The Quality of Justice"
1963 The Fugitive Buck Harmon Episode: "Terror at High Point," Season 1, Episode 13
1964 The Virginian Charles Mayhew Episode: "Roar from the Mountain"
1964 The Defenders Joe Larch Episode: "Blacklist"
1964 The Great Adventure John Brown Episode: "The Night Raiders"
1964–1965 Harris Against the World Alan Harris 13 episodes
1965 Kraft Suspense Theatre Ozzie Keefer Episode: "Won't It Ever Be Morning? "
1965 Ben Casey Dr. Bill Justin Episode: "A Slave Is on the Throne"
1965 The Fugitive Gus Hendricks Episode: "Everybody Gets Hit in the Mouth Sometimes," Season 2, Episode 24
1966 Fame Is the Name of the Game Ben Welcome Television film
1967 Garrison's Gorillas Gus Manners Episode: "Banker's Hours"
1969 Then Came Bronson Dr. Charles Hanrahan Episode: "The Runner"
1970 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Leland Rogers Episode: "The Diamond Millstone"
1970 The Name of the Game Captain Garrig Episode: "The Time Is Now"
1970–1975 The Odd Couple Oscar Madison 114 episodes
1972 Banyon Episode: "The Lady Killers"
1973 Poor Devil Burnett J. Emerson Television film
1974 The Underground Man Sheriff Tremaine Television film
1976 One of My Wives Is Missing Inspector Murray Levine Television film
1976–1983 Quincy, M.E. Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. 147 episodes
1979 Insight Packy Rowe Episode: "Rebirth of Packy Rowe"
1986–1987 You Again? Henry Willows 26 episodes
1989 Around the World in 80 Days Capt. Bunsby Miniseries
1993 The Odd Couple: Together Again Oscar Madison Television film
1994 Parallel Lives Senator Robert Ferguson Television film
1995 Shining Time Station: Second Chances Max Okowsky Television film
1997 Diagnosis: Murder Dr. Jeff Everden Episode: "Physician, Murder Thyself"
1999 Diagnosis: Murder Lt. Harry Trumble Episode: "Voices Carry"
1999 Brother's Keeper Jack Episode: "An Odd Couple of Days"
2000 The Outer Limits Joe Walker Episode: "Glitch"
2000 Third Watch Stan Brandolini Episode: "Run of the Mill"
2002 Crossing Jordan Dr. Leo Gelber Episode: "Someone to Count On"

Awards

Year Award Category Title of work
1974 Golden Globe Award Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy The Odd Couple
1964 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role The Defenders
(For episode: "Blacklist")
1971 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series The Odd Couple
1973 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series The Odd Couple
2004 TV Land Award Quintessential Non-Traditional Family The Odd Couple
(Shared with Tony Randall)

References

  1. ↑ "Jack Klugman Interview Part 1 of 5 - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 1998-05-01. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bruce Weber (reporter) (December 24, 2012). "Jack Klugman, Actor of Everyman Integrity, Dies at 90". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-03-02. Jack Klugman, the rubber-mugged character actor who leapt to television stardom in the 1970s as the slovenly sportswriter Oscar Madison on “The Odd Couple” and as the crusading forensic pathologist of “Quincy, M.E.,” died on Monday at his home in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles. He was 90. ... Mr. Klugman’s path to success was serendipitous. He was born in Philadelphia on April 27, 1922, the youngest of six children of immigrants from Russia. Most sources indicate that his name at birth was Jacob, though Mr. Klugman said in an interview that the name on his birth certificate is Jack.
  3. 1 2 Feinberg, Scott (2012-05-08). "Jack Klugman Turns 90, Reflects on Life and Legendary Stage, Film and TV Career (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
  4. ↑ C and N Rasmussen (contributor) (December 24, 2012). "Jack Klugman, Actor of Everyman Integrity, Dies at 90". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-03-02. Jack Klugman, the rubber-mugged character actor who leapt to television stardom in the 1970s as the slovenly sportswriter Oscar Madison on “The Odd Couple” and as the crusading forensic pathologist of “Quincy, M.E.,” died on Monday at his home in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles. He was 90. ... Mr. Klugman’s path to success was serendipitous. He was born in Philadelphia on April 27, 1922, the youngest of six children of immigrants from Russia. Most sources indicate that his name at birth was Jacob, though Mr. Klugman said in an interview that the name on his birth certificate is Jack.
  5. 1 2 "California Divorce Index/1966-1984 (Jack Klugman)". Ancestry.Com/State of California. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Primetime Emmy Award Database". Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ McLellan, Dennis (December 24, 2012). "Jack Klugman dies at 90; star of TV's 'The Odd Couple,' 'Quincy'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  8. ↑ "Awards Search". HFPA. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Jack Klugman Biography (1922?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Jack Klugman dies at 90". Associated Press. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ TV Guide. January 7-13, 2013 pg. 8.
  12. ↑ TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. p. 264. ISBN 0-7607-5634-1.
  13. ↑ The Tony Award Book by Lee Allen Morrow, Abbeville Press, 1987
  14. ↑ "The Odd Couple by Neil Simon (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture Summary)". Retrieved February 20, 2009. ... 1965 play The Odd Couple and the subsequent 1967 movie, starring Walter Matthau as the sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison. ... In the television series, Oscar was played by Jack Klugman (who had taken over the role from Matthau on Broadway)...
  15. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. The Odd Couple Sings at AllMusic. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Vereran actor Jack Klugman dies in Los Angeles". USA Today. December 24, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Daily Telegraph Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London. December 25, 2012.
  18. 1 2 Friedman, Roger (May 31, 2004). "Klugman, Family and Friends Say Goodbye to Tony Randall". Fox News Channel. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  19. ↑ Jack Klugman (May 31, 2004). "Eulogy: Tony Randall". Time. 163 (22): 24.
  20. 1 2 3 Belloni, Matt (August 9, 2010). "Klugman, NBC Universal settle 'Quincy' profits lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  21. ↑ Gans, Andrew (17 February 2012). "Jack Klugman, Gregg Edelman, David Schramm, Jonathan Hadary, James Rebhorn Will Be George Street's Angry Men". Playbill. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  22. ↑ Gliatto, Tom (May 31, 2004). "A Neat Guy". People. 61 (21). Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Jack Klugman dies", cnn.com, December 24, 2012; accessed July 9, 2015.
  24. ↑ "'Match Game's' Brett Somers dies at 83". CNN. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  25. ↑ December 25, 2012. "Peggy J. Crosby-Klugman is Odd Couple Actor Jack Klugman's Wife". Showbizdaily. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Jack Klugman Gets Married – at 85". People.com. People. February 8, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Jack Klugman Is a Newlywed". TV Guide. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  28. ↑ Legged, William (March 24, 1980). "The Odd Couple: A Hot Tip". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  29. ↑ "AND NOW THERE'S EVEN PIZZA POPCORN". The New York Times. August 18, 1983.
  30. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (December 26, 2012). "AN APPRAISAL; Remembering Jack Klugman and Charles Durning". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Charles Durning, Jack Klugman Deaths Bring New Appreciation For Character Actor Titans". The Huffington Post. December 25, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
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