Jack Albertson

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Jack Albertson

Grandpa Joe as portrayed in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Birth name Jonathen George Albertson
Born June 16, 1907
Malden, Massachusetts, United States of America
Died November 25, 1981
Hollywood, California, United States of America
Other name(s) Jackie Alberts
Official site Official Website of Jack Albertson
Notable roles Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Ed Brown in Chico and the Man
John Cleary in The Subject Was Roses
Manny Rosen in The Poseidon Adventure
Vic Davis in Top Banana
Dr. J. Wilson Shields in Man of a Thousand Faces
Academy Awards
Won: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1968) for The Subject Was Roses
Emmy Awards
Won: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special (1974) for Chico and the Man
Tony Awards
Won: Best Supporting Actor (1968) for The Subject Was Roses
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (1975) for The Sunshine Boys

Jonathen 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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[edit] Early life and career in Vaudeville

Albertson was born in Malden, Massachusetts to Jewish parents - Flora Craft, a Russian immigrant, and Leo Albertson, a Polish immigrant. He had an older sister, Mabel Albertson, and a brother, Frank Albertson, who were also actors. 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Albertson's move to the movies

Jack Albertson had a prolific movie career as well, mostly playing supporting roles.

Notable among these were:

Other films he appeared in include:

Albertson said that his one regret was that he was not asked to reprise his role in the movie version of The Sunshine Boys.

[edit] 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
  • 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.
  • 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."[citation needed]
  • Grandpa goes to Washington

He also guest starred on numerous TV shows, including:

Have Gun, Will Travel

[edit] 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) before his death that were released posthumously.

Jack Albertson died on November 25, 1981, at 1:30 P.M. at the age of 74 from colorectal cancer, survived by his wife, daughter and his older sister, actress Mabel Albertson (who later passed on in 1982). He was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

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?

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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