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.
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:
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.
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." [citation needed]
- Grandpa Goes to Washington
He also guest starred on numerous TV shows, including:
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.
See also
External links
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