Al Waxman

Albert Samuel Waxman, (March 2, 1935 – January 18, 2001) was a Canadian actor and director of over 1,000 productions on radio, television, film, and stage. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series King of Kensington (CBC), Cagney & Lacey (CBS) and Twice in a Lifetime (CTV).

Early life Waxman was born in Toronto, Ontario to Jewish immigrants from Poland. His parents operated and owned Melinda Lunch, a small restaurant. His father, Aaron Waxman, died when Al was nine. Waxman attended Central Technical School in Toronto.

Career Waxman's career began at the age of twelve on CBC Radio, but it was not until 1975, when he began playing the role of Larry King on CBC's King of Kensington, that he became a Canadian icon.

In the 1980 award-winning film Atlantic City, starring Burt Lancaster, Waxman appeared as a rich cocaine buyer with a seemingly endless amount of cash.

Waxman, who attended Central Technical School in Toronto, returned to play Detective Stewiski in Class of 1984 (1982).

During the 1980s, Waxman starred as the gruff but endearing Lt. Bert Samuels in the highly successful CBS television drama Cagney & Lacey.

During the 1990s, Waxman appeared in a variety of films and television shows, but began spending more time acting and directing in the theatre. In 1991, Al hosted Missing Treasures: The Search for Our Lost Children, a TV show which profiled missing children in Canada. He was also a founding member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

In 1997, he was awarded the best actor Gemini Award for his performance in the television film Net Worth.

Waxman also appeared at the Stratford Festival, beginning with his critically acclaimed performance as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman in 1997. He also directed The Diary of Anne Frank at the Stratford Festival in 2000. He was to return to Stratford for his highly anticipated portrayal of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in 2001. In the wake of Waxman's death, one month before rehearsals were to begin, Paul Soles accepted the part of Shylock and the play was performed in honour of Waxman.

In 1999, he published a memoir, That's What I Am, which received a Canadian Jewish Book Award.

Community activism

Waxman was a spokesperson for organizations such as United Appeal, United Jewish Appeal, Israel Bonds, Variety Club, Children's Miracle Network, and Big Brothers (also becoming an honorary member). From June 1979 to August 1981, he was the National Campaign Chairman for the Canadian Cancer Society, and from 1988 to 1989, he was an official spokesperson for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Together with his wife, Sara, he created the Sara and Al Waxman Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Al Waxman was accorded many tributes for his volunteer and philanthropic work. In 1978, he was honoured with the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. In 1989, he was the recipient of the B'nai B'rith of Canada Humanitarian Award. In 1996, Waxman was inducted into the Order of Ontario and, in 1997, into the Order of Canada.

Death and legacy Waxman died in Toronto during heart surgery on January 18, 2001, at the age of 65. He was buried at Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Maple, Ontario.

Following his death, a statue of him, created by Ruth Abernethy, was erected in Kensington Market, the Toronto neighbourhood where King of Kensington takes place. The inscription in front of the statue reads "There's lots to do down the road, there's always more. Trust your gut instincts. In small matters trust your mind, but in the important decisions of life – trust your heart."

Musician Jaymz Bee started the Al Waxman Fan Club while in high school, and started a punk band with his pals Bazl Salazar, Clay Tyson and Graham Leethat performed only songs about Waxman and his life: "'We ended up with an hour-long show, just about Al Waxman.'" What began as a publicity stunt became a long association between Bee and Waxman. Waxman attended some of the fan club events as organized by Bee, most of which raised money for charities such as the Canadian Cancer Foundation and Big Brother. Bee attended Waxman's funeral and, with his fan club, held a wake in Toronto on January 25, 2001.

Filmography

Movies

1959: Sun in My Eyes 1961: The Hired Gun 1962: The War Lover as Prien: Crew of 'The Body' 1963: The Victors as 'The Squad' Member 1964: Man in the Middle as Cpll. Zimmerman 1967: Do Not Fold, Staple, Spindle or Mutilate 1968: Isabel as Herb 1970: The Last Act of Martin Weston 1971: The Crowd Inside as Director 1972: When Michael Calls as Sheriff Hap Washbrook 1973: The Sloane Affair as Hogan 1974: Child Under a Leaf as Storekeeper 1974: Sunday in the Country as Sergeant 1974: A Star Is Lost! as Inspector Bruno 1975: My Pleasure Is My Business 1975: The Heatwave Lasted Four Days as Harry 1976: The Clown Murders as Police Sergeant 1979: Wild Horse Hank as Jay Connors 1980: Atlantic City as Alfie 1980: Double Negative as Dellassandro 1981: Heavy Metal as Rudnick (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice) 1981: Tulips as Bert Irving 1982: Class of 1984 as Detective Stewiski 1983: Spasms as Warren Crowley 1986: Meatballs III: Summer Job as Peter 1988: Switching Channels as Berger 1988: Malarek as Stern 1989: Collision Course as Dingman 1989: Millennium as Dr. Brindle 1989: Mob Story as Sam 1991: Scream of Stone as Stephen 1991: The Hitman as Marco Luganni 1991: White Light 1991: I Still Dream of Jeannie as Gen. Wescott 1992: Quiet Killer as Mayor Andy Carmichael 1992: Live Wire as James Garvey 1992: The Diamond Fleece 1994: Operation Golden Phoenix as Chief Gordon 1994: Death Junction as Captain Jenkow 1994: Cagney & Lacey: The Return as Lt. Bert Samuels 1995: Iron Eagle on the Attack as Maj. Gen. Brad Kettle 1995: Net Worth as Jack Adams 1996: Gotti as Bruce Cutler 1996: Bogus as School Principal 1996: Holiday Affair as Mr. Corley 1997: The Assignment as Carl Mickens - CIA 1997: Critical Care as Sheldon Hatchett (a Lawyer) 1998: At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story as John Hofsess 1999: A Saintly Switch as Coach Beasily 1999: Summer's End as Grandpa Trapnell 1999: The Hurricane as Warden 2000: The Thin Blue Lie as Art Zugler 2001: Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows as Louis B. Mayer (released posthumously) 2001: What Makes a Family as Frank Cataldi (released posthumously)

Television series 1975–1980: King of Kensington as Larry King 1981: Circus International 1981–1988: Cagney & Lacey as Lt. Bert Samuels 1990–1991: Missing Treasures 1997: Simply Wine and Cheese 1999–2001: Twice in a Lifetime as Judge Othniel / Judge Jepthah / M.C.

Television appearances 1965: For the People as Berkowitz 1969: Adventures in Rainbow Country 1979, 1983–1984: The Littlest Hobo as Vic Carrano / Vernie Davis 1979: The Winnings of Frankie Walls as Frankie Walls 1985: Night Heat 1986: Philip Marlowe, Private Eye as Trimmer Waltz 1988: My Secret Identity 1988: Street Legal as Judge John R. Caldwell 1988: Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Dale Linseman 1989: Hard Time on Planet Earth 1989: Murder, She Wrote as Carl Wilson 1993: Sweating Bullets as Brennan 1993: Scales of Justice 1994-1998: Due South as Nicholas Van Zandt / Vince Leggett 1995-2000: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective as Aguado (voice) 1998: Twitch City as Bum 1998–2000: Power Play