| Jack Albertson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jonathan George Albertson |
| Born | June 16 1907 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.
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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.
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.
Albertson's move to the movies
Jack Albertson had a prolific movie career as well, mostly playing supporting roles. Notable among these were:
- a bit part as the postal worker who redirected all of Santa Claus' mail to the New York Courthouse in Miracle on 34th Street (1947);
- a film version of Top Banana (1953), teamed again with his friend Phil Silvers;
- The Subject Was Roses (1968), for which he won a best supporting actor Oscar;
- Charlie Bucket's Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), from which younger fans might recognize him;
- The Poseidon Adventure (1972), where he was the husband who encouraged his wife, the former swimming champion (played by Shelley Winters in her Oscar-nominated role) to swim for safety.
Other films he appeared in include:
- Big Business Girl (1931)
- Don't Go Near the Water (1957)
- Monkey on My Back (1957)
- Teacher's Pet (1958)
- Period of Adjustment (1962)
- Who's Got the Action? (1962)
- Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
- Kissin' Cousins (1964)
- The Patsy (1964)
- How to Murder Your Wife (1965)
- The Flim-Flam Man (1967)
- How To Save A Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968)
- Justine, Changes, The Monk (all 1969)
- Squeeze A Flower (1970)
- Rabbit, Run (1970)
- Once Upon A Dead Man (1971)
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- The Late Liz (1971)
- Pickup on 101 (1972)
- Where Eagles Fly (1972)
- Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase (1978)
- The Comedy Company (1978)
- Marriage is Alive and Well (1979)
- Charlie's Balloon (1981)
- The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- Dead and Buried (1981)
Albertson said that his one regret was that he was not asked to reprise his role in the movie version of The Sunshine Boys.
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."
- Grandpa Goes to Washington
He also guest starred on numerous TV shows, including:
- Bachelor Father
- Mister Ed
- The Twilight Zone
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- Run for Your Life
- I Love Lucy
- The Andy Griffith Show
- Bonanza
- Land of the Giants
- Marcus Welby, M.D.
- Daniel Boone
- Nanny and the Professor
- The Virginian
- Love, American Style
- McMillan and Wife
- Night Gallery
- The Streets of San Francisco
- Charlie's Angels
- Donny & Marie
- Gunsmoke
- Have Gun, Will Travel
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? |
See also
- Vaudeville
- Broadway theatre
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- Chico and the Man
