Jack Albertson
Born
June 16, 1910
in Malden, MA
Died
Nov. 25, 1981
of cancer in Hollywood Hills, CA
Jack Albertson was a one-time teenage pool hustler who learned to tap dance and eventually became an award-winning performer on Broadway, in films and on television. His career lasted half a century, beginning when a New York agent saw him going through tap dance steps with other would-be dancers in front of the Palace Theatre. After two decades in burlesque vaudeville and musical comedy, Albertson won fame — and a Tony Award — for his portrayal of an aging father in Broadway's "The Subject Was Roses." He was cast in the role on film, earning an Oscar for best supporting actor. In the years before his death, Albertson played a salty garage owner in "Chico and the Man." The series in which he costarred with Freddie Prinze [who committed suicide in 1977 during the show's run] popularized him with millions. "You kid yourself that talent is enough," Albertson said in a 1975 interview. "This business is filled with talent. I was just one of those people who went along for years doing what it is I do. Then, suddenly — zap! — you have charisma."
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Points of interest
Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Best Supporting Actor | The Subject Was Roses | Win |
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