Vic Tayback

Victor Tayback (January 6, 1930 – May 25, 1990) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as diner owner Mel Sharples in both the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and on the television sitcom Alice (1976–1985) that was based on it, as well as his multiple guest appearances on The Love Boat (1977–1987). The former earned him two consecutive Golden Globe Awards (for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series) and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Early life Tayback was born on January 6, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, to Syrian Catholic immigrant parents Helen (née Hanood; ) and Najeeb James Tayback . Both of his parents had emigrated to the United States from Aleppo, Syria. He moved with his family to Burbank, California during his teenage years and attended Burbank High School, from which he graduated in 1948. He also attended Glendale Community College and the Frederick A. Speare School of Radio and TV Broadcasting.

Career Tayback served in the United States Navy before beginning his acting career at the age of 25. A lifetime member of the Actors Studio, he was a familiar face on television in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on numerous series, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Star Trek, Bonanza, Here Come the Brides, That Girl, Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Partridge Family, All in the Family, Fantasy Island, Columbo, Bewitched and The Love Boat. He also appeared in many films such as Bullitt (1968), Papillon (1973), The Gambler (1974), The Cheap Detective (1978), and All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), as well as more than 25 stage productions, including Twelve Angry Men, The Diary of Anne Frank, Death of a Salesman, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. He was the co-founder of the theatre troupe Company of Angels. He also appeared in television commercials, notably in 1968 with Richard Dreyfuss for the AMC Javelin.

Tayback's most famous role was as diner owner Mel Sharples in both the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and the television series Alice (1976–1985). He was the only actor in the original film to reprise his role for the rest of the series. For the role, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1978 and won two consecutive Golden Globe Awards in 1980 and 1981. In 1971, he made a guest appearance as Dirks in season 16, episode 19 of the long-running CBS Western series Gunsmoke.

Personal life Tayback was married to Sheila Maureen Barnard (1932–2001) from March 16, 1963, until his death on May 25, 1990. They had one son.

Death Tayback died of a heart attack at age 60 on May 25, 1990. Tayback was pronounced dead at 1:56 a.m. at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where he was taken after his wife called paramedics. She said he had climbed out of bed, taken a few steps and collapsed. Tayback was a lifelong smoker and had a history of heart problems. He underwent a triple bypass in 1983.

He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

Filmography Film

The Power of the Resurrection (1958) – Simon the Canaanite T-Bird Gang (1959) – Cop #1 at gas station Gangster Story (1959) – Norm, Resort Guard (uncredited) North to Alaska (1960) – Roustabout (uncredited) Five Minutes to Live (1961) – Fred Dorella With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) – Truck Driver Bullitt (1968) – Pete Ross Blood and Lace (1971) – Calvin Carruthers Emperor of the North Pole (1973) – Yardman The Blue Knight (1973) – Neil Grogan The Don Is Dead (1973) – Ralph Negri Papillon (1973) – Sergeant Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) – Mario Pinski The Gambler (1974) – One Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) – Mel Sharples Report to the Commissioner (1975) – Lieutenant Seidensticker Lepke (1975) – Lucky Luciano No Deposit, No Return (1976) – Big Joe The Big Bus (1976) – Goldie Special Delivery (1976) – Wyatt Mansion of the Doomed (1976) – Detective Simon The Shaggy D.A. (1976) – Eddie Roschak The Choirboys (1977) – Zoony The Cheap Detective (1978) – Lieutenant DiMaggio Treasure Island (1986) – Silver Weekend Warriors (1986) – Sergeant Burdge The Underachievers (1987) – Coach Loverboy (1989) – Harry Bruckner Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989) – Lou All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) – Carface Caruthers (voice) Horseplayer (1990) – George Samsa (final film role)

Television

Alice (1976–1985) as Mel Sharples Griff as Captain Barney Marcus Khan! (1975) as Lieutenant Gubbins I Dream of Jeannie as Turhan (episode: "This Is Murder") Buckskin (episode: "The Battle of Gabe Pruitt") – Claude Alfred Hitchcock Presents (season 4 episode 7: "A Man with a Problem") (1958) – Man Talking to Cab Driver 77 Sunset Strip (episode: "Trouble in the Middle East") (1960) - Bearded Rebel Rawhide (episode: "The Gray Rock Hotel") (1965) – Monte F Troop (episode: "Corporal Agarn's Farewell To The Troops") (1965) – Bill Colton The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (episode: "The Re-Collectors Affair") (1965) – Sargent Daniel Boone (episode: "Onatha") (1966) – Hongas Family Affair (episode 8 season 1: "Who's Afraid of Nural Shpeni?") (1966) – Policeman Gunsmoke (episode: "Ladies From St. Louis") (1967) – Gaines; (episode: "The Fugitives S18E7") (1972) – Bill Hankins Get Smart (episode: "Appointment in Sahara") (1967) – Jamal The Monkees (1966-1967) - George / Rocco / Chuche Here Come the Brides (1968–1970) Star Trek: The Original Series (1968) (episode: "A Piece of the Action") – Jojo Krako That Girl (season 3 episode 12) (1968) – Max Lancer (episode: "Devil's Blessing") (1969) – Porter The Bill Cosby Show (episode: "The Fatal Phone Call") (1969) – Calvin Bonanza (episode: "Caution, Easter Bunny Crossing") (1970) – Everett Gaskell The Partridge Family (episode: "Danny and the Mob") (1971) – Rocco The Mary Tyler Moore Show (episode: "Second Story Story") (1971) – Officer Jackson Bewitched (episode: "The Good Fairy Strikes Again") (1971) – Officer #1 Columbo (episode: "Suitable for Framing") (1971) – Sam Franklin The F.B.I. (1971-1972) – Ed Larch / Neil Parks Arnie (episode: "Boom or Bust") (1972) – Sergeant The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (episode: "Is This Operation Necessary?") (1972) – Frank Wells The Rookies (episode: The Commitment) (1972) - Gus Caldwell Emergency! (episode: "Boot") (1973) – Truck Driver All in the Family (episode: "Et Tu, Archie?") (1974) – Joe Tucker The Rookies (episode: Take Over) (1974) - Brakow Barney Miller (episodes: "Stakeout", "The Social Worker") (1975) – Mr. Savocheck / Master Forger The Practice (episode: "The Choice") (1976) – Frankie Nyles Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (episode 29, season 1) (1976) Hawaii Five-O (episodes: "Bones of Contention"; "Angel in Blue") (1975–1978) – Martin Lynch / Parmel The Eddie Capra Mysteries (episode: "How Do I Kill Thee?") (1978) – Logan Getting Married (1978) – Burt Carboni $weepstake$ (episode: "Billy, Wally and Ludmilla, and Theodore") (1979) – Sergeant Yarbrough Flo (episode: "What Are Friends For?") (1981) – Mel Sharples Fantasy Island (1979–1983) – George Walters / Laura Walters / Norman Atkins / Chet Nolan / Melvyn Mews T. J. Hooker (episode: "Hooker's War") (1982) – Lieutenant Pete Benedict Hotel (episode: "Relative Loss") (1983) – Wallace Egan Finder of Lost Loves (episode: "Maxwell Ltd: Finder of Lost Loves Pilot") (1984) – Thomas Velasco Murder, She Wrote (episode: "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder") (1986) – Sal Domino Crazy Like a Fox (episode: "The Duke Is Dead") (1986) – Pete Ross The Love Boat (1977–1987) – Himself / Jack Hamilton / Shelley Sommers / 'Dutch' Boden / Sergeant Harry Beluski / Harry Stewart Adderly (1987) – Gregorin Tales from the Darkside (episodes: "The New Man" (as Alan Coombs), Season 1, 1984, and "Basher Malone" (as Tippy Ryan), Season 4, 1988) MacGyver (1990, episode: "Jenny's Chance") – George Henderson (final television appearance)

Awards and nominations Award Year Category Work Result Golden Globe Award 1980 Best Supporting Actor in a Television SeriesAlice 1981 Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film 1982Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film Primetime Emmy Award 1978 Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series