Actor who won fame as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and crimesolving medical examiner Quincy
Television was the medium that conferred stardom on the actor Jack Klugman, who has died aged 90. In a long, distinguished career that also embraced theatre and film, he was principally identified with two television characters: Oscar Madison, the slovenly, down-to-earth, cigar-smoking flatmate of the neurotically neat Felix Unger (Tony Randall) in the long-running comedy series The Odd Couple (1970-75; in the play and film, Felix's surname was spelt Ungar), and Quincy in Quincy, Me (1976-83), a crime-solving medical examiner.
Born in a poor neighbourhood of Philadelphia, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Klugman had a tough childhood. His father, a house painter, died young, forcing his mother to make hats in her kitchen to buy food and clothing for her six children. Young Jack, who worked as a street peddler, later observed: "Poverty can teach lessons that privilege cannot.
Television was the medium that conferred stardom on the actor Jack Klugman, who has died aged 90. In a long, distinguished career that also embraced theatre and film, he was principally identified with two television characters: Oscar Madison, the slovenly, down-to-earth, cigar-smoking flatmate of the neurotically neat Felix Unger (Tony Randall) in the long-running comedy series The Odd Couple (1970-75; in the play and film, Felix's surname was spelt Ungar), and Quincy in Quincy, Me (1976-83), a crime-solving medical examiner.
Born in a poor neighbourhood of Philadelphia, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Klugman had a tough childhood. His father, a house painter, died young, forcing his mother to make hats in her kitchen to buy food and clothing for her six children. Young Jack, who worked as a street peddler, later observed: "Poverty can teach lessons that privilege cannot.
- 12/26/2012
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Actor best known for playing languorous sportswriter and earnest coroner dies at his home, with family by his side
The actor Jack Klugman died late on Monday, at the age of 90, in Los Angeles, with his wife at his side. His sons called on his fans to embrace their father's tenacious and positive spirit.
"He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it, and he would encourage others to do the same," his son Adam Klugman said.
The cause of Klugman's death was not immediately known. Adam Klugman said his father had been slowing down in recent years, but was not battling cancer, which robbed him of his voice in the 1980s. Klugman taught himself to speak again, and kept working.
For many, Klugman will always be the messy one. His portrayal of sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison on TV's The Odd Couple left viewers laughing but it...
The actor Jack Klugman died late on Monday, at the age of 90, in Los Angeles, with his wife at his side. His sons called on his fans to embrace their father's tenacious and positive spirit.
"He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it, and he would encourage others to do the same," his son Adam Klugman said.
The cause of Klugman's death was not immediately known. Adam Klugman said his father had been slowing down in recent years, but was not battling cancer, which robbed him of his voice in the 1980s. Klugman taught himself to speak again, and kept working.
For many, Klugman will always be the messy one. His portrayal of sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison on TV's The Odd Couple left viewers laughing but it...
- 12/26/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
The much admired character actor Jack Klugman, who won the hearts of millions in Quincy Me and The Odd Couple, has died suddenly at the age of 90, in his home with his actress wife Peggy Crosby by his side. Alongsde his television work, he starred in classic films including Twelve Angry Men and Days Of Wine And Roses, with an impressive 60 year acting career.
Known for his enthusiasm and his ability to disappear into a character, Klugman appeared alongside a generation of stars but said that the highlight of his career was working with Humphrey Bogart. He frequently appeared in The Twilight Zone and also starred in two episodes of cult TV series The Fugitive. Of his most famous role, he said "We were the first CSI. All these other shows just took what we did and made it bloodier and sexier. Our show was actually about something, we...
Known for his enthusiasm and his ability to disappear into a character, Klugman appeared alongside a generation of stars but said that the highlight of his career was working with Humphrey Bogart. He frequently appeared in The Twilight Zone and also starred in two episodes of cult TV series The Fugitive. Of his most famous role, he said "We were the first CSI. All these other shows just took what we did and made it bloodier and sexier. Our show was actually about something, we...
- 12/25/2012
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Jack Klugman, The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E. star beloved by TV, movie and theater audiences for five decades, died in Los Angeles on Monday, one of his sons told the Associated Press. He was 90. "He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same," son Adam Klugman said of his father, who had lost his voice to throat cancer in 1980 and then taught himself to speak again through breath control. With Tony Randall on ABC's adaptation of the smash Neil Simon play and movie of the '60s,...
- 12/25/2012
- by Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
Jack Klugman, the prolific, craggy-faced character actor and regular guy who was loved by millions as the messy one in TV’s The Odd Couple and the crime-fighting coroner in Quincy, M.E., died Monday, a son said. He was 90.
Klugman, who lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s and trained himself to speak again, died with his wife at his side.
“He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same,” son Adam Klugman said.
Adam Klugman said he was spending Christmas with his brother, David,...
Klugman, who lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s and trained himself to speak again, died with his wife at his side.
“He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same,” son Adam Klugman said.
Adam Klugman said he was spending Christmas with his brother, David,...
- 12/24/2012
- by Associated Press
- EW - Inside TV
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