Jack Albertson
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| Jack Albertson | |
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 Jack as 'The Man' in 'Chico and the Man' |
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| Born | June 16, 1907 Malden, Massachusetts, USA |
| Died | November 25, 1981 (aged 74) Hollywood, California, USA |
| Other name(s) | Jackie Alberts |
Jack Albertson (June 16, 1907 – November 25, 1981) was an American award-winning character actor dating to vaudeville. A comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, Albertson is perhaps best known for his role as Grandpa Joe in the 1971 version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. For contributions to the television industry, Jack Albertson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6253 Hollywood Boulevard.[1] . The actor often stated that he and fellow character actor, Arthur O'Connell, were often confused for each other.
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[edit] Early life
Albertson was born in Malden, Massachusetts, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Flora Craft and Leopold Albertson.[2][3] His sister was actress Mabel Albertson. Albertson's mother, a stock actress, supported the family by working in a shoe factory.[2] 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. Albertson's 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] Career
[edit] Broadway
Albertson 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] Film
Albertson appeared in over 30 films. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1968 film The Subject Was Roses. He appeared as Charlie Bucket's Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), and in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), where he was the husband who encouraged his wife, the former swimming champion (played by Shelley Winters in her Oscar-nominated role) to swim for safety. 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] Television
Television also saw much of Albertson's talent. He appeared in dozens of series, including Jack Sheldon's short-lived Run, Buddy, Run on CBS in 1966. He starred in Chico and the Man, for which Albertson won an Emmy, making him one of the few entertainers to win the triple crown of entertainment (a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy).
[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 private so he could continue to act. He made two television movies, My Body, My Child (1982) and Grandpa, Will You Run With Me? (1982), that were released posthumously.
Albertson died on November 25, 1981, from colorectal cancer. He was cremated and as his sisters', Mabel Albertson, would be, his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Next Time I Marry | Reporter | unconfirmed |
| 1940 | Strike Up the Band | Barker | uncredited |
| 1947 | Miracle on 34th Street | Post Office mail sorter next to Lou | uncredited |
| 1952 | Anything Can Happen | Flower Vendor | uncredited |
| 1954 | Top Banana | Vic Davis | |
| 1955 | Bring Your Smile Along | Mr. Jenson | |
| 1956 | Over-Exposed | Les Bauer | uncredited |
| The Harder They Fall | Pop | ||
| The Eddy Duchin Story | Piano tuner | uncredited | |
| The Unguarded Moment | Prof | ||
| You Can't Run Away from It | Third proprietor | ||
| 1957 | Man of a Thousand Faces | Dr. J. Wilson Shields | |
| Don't Go Near the Water | Rep. George Jansen | ||
| Monkey on My Back | Sam Pian | ||
| 1958 | Teacher's Pet | Guide | |
| 1959 | Never Steal Anything Small | Sleep-Out Charlie Barnes | |
| The Shaggy Dog | Reporter | uncredited | |
| 1961 | The George Raft Story | Milton | |
| Lover Come Back | Fred | ||
| 1962 | Convicts 4 | Art Teacher | |
| Period of Adjustment | Desk Sergeant | ||
| Who's Got the Action? | Hodges | ||
| Days of Wine and Roses | Traynor | ||
| 1963 | Son of Flubber | Mr. Barley | |
| 1964 | Kissin' Cousins | Capt. Robert Jason Salbo | |
| The Patsy | Theatergoer with Helen | ||
| Roustabout | Lou (tea house manager) | ||
| 1965 | How to Murder Your Wife | Dr. Bentley | |
| 1967 | The Flim-Flam Man | Mr. Packard | |
| 1968 | How To Save A Marriage and Ruin Your Life | Mr. Slotkin | |
| The Subject Was Roses | John Cleary | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| 1969 | Justine | Cohen | |
| 'Changes | The Father | ||
| 1970 | Squeeze A Flower | Alfredo Brazzi | |
| Rabbit, Run | Marty Tothero | ||
| 1971 | Once Upon A Dead Man | ||
| Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory | Grandpa Joe | ||
| The Late Liz | Rev. Gordon Rogers | ||
| 1972 | Pickup on 101 | Hobo | |
| The Poseidon Adventure | Manny Rosen | ||
| 1981 | The Fox and the Hound | Hunter (Amos Slade) | voice |
| Dead and Buried | William G. Dobbs | ||
| 1982 | The American Adventure | Mark Twain |
[edit] Television credits - recurrent roles
| Year | Show | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-1959 | The Thin Man | Lt. Harry Evans | 14 episodes |
| 1959-1962 | The Jack Benny Program | Reporter | 6 episodes |
| 1961-1964 | Mister Ed | Paul Fenton | 7 episodes |
| 1962 | Room for One More | Walter Burton | |
| 1971-1972 | Dr. Simon Locke | Dr. Andrew Sellers | |
| 1974-1978 | Chico and the Man | Ed Brown | 1975 - Nominated - Emmy Award 1976 - Won - Emmy Award 1977 - Nominated - Emmy Award |
| 1978 | Grandpa Goes to Washington | Sen. Joe Kelley |
