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Vic Tayback

 
Actor: Vic Tayback
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Jan 06, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York
  • Died: May 25, 1990 in Glendale, California
  • Occupation: Actor, Director
  • Active: '60s-'80s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Drama
  • Career Highlights: All Dogs Go to Heaven, L'Ile Au Trésor, Moviola: This Year's Blonde
  • First Major Screen Credit: Griff (1973)

Biography

Born to a Syrian-Lebanese family in Brooklyn, Victor Tayback grew up learning how to aggressively defend himself and those he cared about, qualities that he'd later carry over into his acting work. Moving to California with his family, the 16-year-old Tayback made the varsity football team at Burbank High. Despite numerous injuries, he continued his gridiron activities at Glendale Community College, until he quit school over a matter of principle (he refused to apologize to his coach for breaking curfew). After four years in the navy, Tayback enrolled at the Frederick A. Speare School of Radio and TV Broadcasting, hoping to become a sportscaster. Instead, he was sidetracked into acting, working as a cab driver, bank teller and even a "Kelly Girl" between performing gigs. Shortly after forming a little-theatre group called the Company of Angels, Tayback made his movie debut in Door-to-Door Maniac (1961), a fact he tended to exclude from his resumé in later years. His professional life began to improve in 1967, when he won an audition to play Sid Caesar's look-alike in a TV pilot. Throughout the early 1970s the bulging, bald-domed actor made a comfortable living in TV commercials and TV guest-star assignments, and as a regular on the detective series Griff (1973) and Khan (1975). In 1975, he was cast in the secondary role of Mel Sharples, the potty-mouthed short-fused owner of a greasy spoon diner, in the theatrical feature Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. When the film evolved into the weekly TV sitcom Alice in 1976, Tayback was engaged to recreate his "Mel" characterization. He remained with the program for the next nine years. In contrast to his gruff, abusive screen character, Tayback was dearly loved by the rest of the Alice cast, who regarded him a Big Brother and Father Confessor rolled into one. Five years after Alice's cancellation, Vic Tayback died of cancer at the age of 61; one of his last screen assignments was the voice of Carface in the animated feature All Dogs Go to Heaven. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Vic Tayback
Born Victor Tayback
January 6, 1930(1930-01-06)
Brooklyn, New York City,
United States
Died May 25, 1990 (aged 60)
Glendale, California,
United States
Other name(s) Vic Tabback
Vic E. Tayback
Victor Tayback
Vic Taybeck
Spouse(s) Sheila McKay Barnard (1962-1990; by his death)

Victor "Vic" Tayback (January 6, 1930 – May 25, 1990) was an American actor.

Life and career

Tayback was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, the son of Helen (née Hanood) and Najeeb James Tayback.[1] His parents were immigrants from Aleppo, Syria.[2] Tayback moved with his family to Burbank, California, during his teenage years and attended Burbank High School. He ended up living in the city for the rest of his life.

His most famous role was diner owner Mel Sharples in the 1974 movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, followed up by his reprisal of the role on the related television series, called Alice, which ran from 1976 to 1985.

Tayback also guest starred in an episode of the fourth season of All in the Family which was called "Et tu, Archie?" In this particular episode, Tayback portrayed Archie's old friend, Joe Tucker.

Tayback's performance as the alien gangster boss Jojo Krako in the Star Trek episode "A Piece of the Action" was also memorable.

Star:

Recurring Role:

Guest Star:

Director:

  • Alice (Alice Faces the Music)

He also appeared in TV commercials including one for Aqua Velva after shave lotion as a spectator in the stands who shouts at then-Cincinnati Reds third baseman Pete Rose "Hey, Pete Rose! What does a man really want in an after-shave lotion?"

One of Tayback's last roles was in the 1989 video remake of the Buck Owens (and later The Beatles) hit "Act Naturally" which featured Owens and former Beatle Ringo Starr.

Tayback died at the age of sixty of a sudden heart attack in 1990 and was interred at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. Tayback was survived by his wife Sheila, whom he married in 1962. They had one son, Christopher Tayback, who briefly acted before attending law school. He is a partner at Quinn Emanuel in Los Angeles.

References

  1. ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/10/Vic-Tayback.html
  2. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28776188.html?dids=28776188:28776188&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+26%2C+1990&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Vic+Tayback%2C+played+cook+on+TV's+%60Alice'&pqatl=google

External links

v • d • e
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film

James Brolin (1970) · Edward Asner (1971) · James Brolin (1972) · McLean Stevenson (1973) · Harvey Korman (1974) · Edward Asner/Tim Conway (1975) · Edward Asner (1976) · Norman Fell (1978) · Danny DeVito/Vic Tayback (1979) · Pat Harrington, Jr./Vic Tayback (1980) · John Hillerman (1981) · Lionel Stander (1982) · Richard Kiley (1983) · Paul Le Mat (1984) · Edward James Olmos (1985) · Jan Niklas (1986) · Rutger Hauer (1987) · Barry Bostwick/John Gielgud (1988) · Dean Stockwell (1989)

Complete List · (1970-1989) · (1990–2009)
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