Jacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman (April 27, 1922 – December 24, 2012) was an American stage, film and television actor. He was best known as Felix Unger’s 's sloppy roommate Oscar Madison in the American television series The Odd Couple (1970–1975), for his starring role in Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983), as Juror #5 in 12 Angry Men, and his multiple appearances on The Twilight Zone.
Early Life
Klugman was born in Philadelphia, the son of Rose, a hat maker, and Max Klugman, a house painter. His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, where he graduated in 1948. He began acting after being discharged in 1945 from serving in the United States Army during World War II. As a struggling actor in New York City, he roomed with future star Charles Bronson.
Career
In 1950, Klugman had a small role in the Mr. Roberts road company at the Colonial Theater in Boston.
In 1954, Klugman played Jim Hanson on the soap opera The Greatest Gift. Also in 1954, Klugman made multiple appearances on the NBC legal drama Justice, starring Gary Merrill and Dane Clark, that was based on cases of the Legal Aid Society of New York.
On September 4, 1955, Klugman and Tony Randall appeared together with Gena Rowlands in the episode titled "The Pirate's House" of the CBS anthology series, Appointment with Adventure.
Klugman starred in several classic films, including 12 Angry Men (1957), Days of Wine and Roses (1962), and Goodbye, Columbus (1969). On television, he won an Emmy Award for his work on the series The Defenders and appeared in four episodes of the acclaimed series The Twilight Zone (tied with Burgess Meredith for the most appearances in a starring role). Klugman says his greatest thrill was appearing with Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda in a 1955 live television broadcast of The Petrified Forest. In 1963, he also appeared in The Fugitive episode titled "Terror at High Point".
Klugman also starred in the original Broadway production of The Odd Couple as a replacement for Walter Matthau. He won two Emmy Awards for the television version of The Odd Couple.
Klugman was nominated for a Tony Award in 1960 for Best Featured Actor (Musical) for his role in Gypsy, but lost to Tom Bosley ion Fiorello! During the pre-Broadway tryout tour in 1959, several of Klugman's songs were cut, including a song for his character Herbie called "Nice, She Ain't", due to Klugman's untrained singing voice.
In 1957, he appeared in the film 12 Angry Men as Juror #5. Of the twelve actors who
portrayed the jurors, he was the last survivor. He was scheduled to appear in a stage production of 12 Angry Men at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey in the spring of 2012, but on March 6 it was announced he had withdrawn from the production for health reasons.
Klugman was roasted on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast on NBC March 17, 1978.
He returned to acting in a 1993 Broadway revival of "Three Men on a Horse".
Films and Television Appearances
(not including game shows)
- Grubstake (1952)
Death
Klugman died at the age of 90 at his home in Northridge, California on December 24, 2012 with his wife, Peggy, at his side. He is survived by his sons, David and Adam, and two grandchildren.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Klugman
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