Jack Albertson

Harold "Jack" Albertson (June 16, 1907 – November 25, 1981) was an American actor, comedian, dancer and singer who also performed in vaudeville. Albertson was a Tony, Oscar, and Emmy winning actor, which ranks him among a rare stature of 24 actors who have been awarded the "Triple Crown of Acting".

For his performance as John Cleary in the 1964 play The Subject Was Roses and its 1968 film adaptation, he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This again places him among a select status as one of eleven peers who have won both awards for the same role. His other roles include Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Manny Rosen in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), and Ed Brown in the television sitcom Chico and the Man (1974–1978), for which he won an Emmy. For his contributions to the television industry, Albertson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977 at 6253 Hollywood Boulevard.

Early life Albertson was born on June 16, 1907, in Malden, Massachusetts, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants Flora (née Craft) and Leopold Albertson. His older sister was actress Mabel Albertson. Their mother, a stock actress, supported the family by working in a shoe factory.

Career Broadway Albertson joined the vaudeville road troupe known as the Dancing Verselle Sisters. He then 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 and musicals, 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.

Albertson said that his one regret was that he did not reprise his role in the movie version of The Sunshine Boys. When producer Ray Stark acquired the film rights from Neil Simon in 1973, Albertson was expected to play the part, but by the time MGM had bought the rights in 1974 and was preparing to begin filming in February 1975, Albertson was not available because he was appearing on Chico and the Man on TV.

Radio Albertson was a radio performer early in his career. Among the shows he appeared on were Just Plain Bill, Lefty, That's My Pop and The Jack Albertson Comedy Show. In the late 1940s he was for a time a regular on the Milton Berle Show.

Television Albertson had a recurring role as the neighbor Walter Burton in eight episodes of the 1962 ABC sitcom Room for One More, with Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay. He had recurring roles in Ensign O'Toole (1962–63).

Other 1960s series on which Albertson appeared were: NBC's sitcom Happy, starring Ronnie Burns, and Glynis, starring Glynis Johns, and Keith Andes, which aired for 13 weeks in the fall of 1963. Albertson appeared in two episodes of The Twilight Zone.

Albertson, Avery Schreiber, and Freddie Prinze on Chico and the Man (1975) From 1971 to 1972, he co-starred, with actor Sam Groom, in the Canadian TV series Dr. Simon Locke. He then co-starred as "The Man" Ed Brown on the popular series Chico and the Man with Freddie Prinze. He stayed for its entire run from 1974 to 1978. He earned an Emmy Award for that role in 1976, which was his second; his first was for an appearance on the variety show Cher in 1975. who is married to actor Wes Studi.

Death On the morning of November 25, 1981, Albertson died at his Los Angeles home in the Hollywood Hills at the age of 74 from colon cancer. He and his elder sister, Bewitched actress Mabel Albertson (who died 10 months later from Alzheimer's disease), were cremated and their ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series 1980 Charlie's Angels Edward Jordan Episode: "Angel in Hiding" 1981 Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase Charlie Bartlett TV movie

My Body, My Child Poppa MacMahon TV movie; filmed in 1981; released posthumously; final television roleNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special Terror at Alcatraz George 'Deacon' Wheeler TV movie, (final film role)

Theater Year Title Role Notes 1940 Meet the People 1942 Strip for Action Eddie 1944 Allah Be Praised! Caswell / Emir 1945 A Lady Say Yes Dr. Bartoli 1947 High Button Shoes Mr. Pontdue (replacement) The Cradle Will Rock Yasha 1950 Tickets, Please! Roller Derby 1951 Top Banana Vic Davis 1964 The Subject Was Roses John Cleary Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1972 The Sunshine Boys Willie Clark Drama Desk Award for Outstanding PerformanceNominated – Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref. 1968 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor The Subject Was Roses 1973 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Performance The Sunshine Boys 1975 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music Cher Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Chico and the Man 1976 1977 1982 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special My Body, My Child † 1965 Tony Awards Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play The Subject Was Roses 1973 Best Leading Actor in a Play The Sunshine Boys