Jack Klugman
Jack Klugman was an American stage, film, and television actor.
He began his career in 1950, and started television and film work with roles in 12 Angry Men and Cry Terror!. During the 1960s, he guest-starred on numerous television series. Klugman won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his guest-starring role on The Defenders, in 1964. He also made a total of four appearances on The Twilight Zone from 1960 to 1963. In 1965, Klugman replaced Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison in the Broadway play, The Odd Couple. Five years later, he reprised that role in the television adaptation of The Odd Couple, opposite Tony Randall and as Henry Willows in You Again?. The series aired from 1970 to 1975. Klugman won his second and third Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his work on the series. From 1976 to 1983, he starred in the title role in Quincy, M.E. for which he earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Early life
Klugman was born in Philadelphia, the youngest of six children born to Rose, a hat maker, and Max Klugman, a house painter. His parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants.Klugman served in the United States Army during World War II. He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh. While there, his drama teacher told him, "Young man, you are not suited to be an actor. You are suited to be a truck driver." After the war, he pursued acting roles in New York City, while sharing an apartment with friend and fellow actor Charles Bronson.
Career
1950s and 1960s
Klugman was active in numerous stage, television, and film productions during the 1950s and '60s.In 1950, he had a small role in the Mr. Roberts road company at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. Later that same year, he made his television debut in an episode of Actors Studio. In March 1952, Klugman made his Broadway debut in Golden Boy, as Frank Bonaparte.
In 1954, he played Jim Hanson on the soap opera, The Greatest Gift. The following year, he appeared in the live television broadcast of Producers' Showcase, in the episode "The Petrified Forest" with Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda. Klugman later said the experience was the greatest thrill of his career. He went on to appear in several classic films, including 12 Angry Men, as juror number five. In 1959, he returned to Broadway in the original production of . In 1960, Klugman was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his role in the show, but lost to Tom Bosley in Fiorello!. He remained with Gypsy until it closed in March 1961.
From 1960 to 1963, Klugman appeared in four episodes of The Twilight Zone series: "A Passage for Trumpet", "A Game of Pool", "Death Ship", and "In Praise of Pip", tying with Burgess Meredith for the most appearances in a starring role on the series. In 1964, he won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his guest starring role on The Defenders. That same year, Klugman landed the starring role in the sitcom Harris Against the World. The series was a part of an experimental block of sitcoms that aired on NBC entitled 90 Bristol Court. Harris Against the World, along with the other sitcoms that aired in the block, were canceled due to low ratings the following year.
Klugman continued the decade with multiple guest roles on television including The F.B.I., Ben Casey, The Name of the Game, and Insight. He also appeared on Broadway in Tchin-Tchin, from October 1962 to May 1963. From 1960 to 1963, Klugman appeared in two episodes of The Untouchables series: "Loophole", and "An Eye for an Eye".
''The Odd Couple''
In 1965, Klugman replaced Walter Matthau in the lead role of Oscar Madison in the original Broadway production of The Odd Couple. He reprised the role when the play was adapted as a television series, which was broadcast on ABC from 1970 to 1975. Over the course of the show's five-year, 114-episode run, Klugman won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on the series. In 1973, during the run of the series, Klugman and Odd Couple co-star Randall recorded an album titled The Odd Couple Sings for London Records. Roland Shaw and The London Festival Orchestra and Chorus provided the music and additional vocals.1970s and 1980s
After the cancellation of The Odd Couple in 1975, Klugman returned to television in 1976 in Quincy, M.E., initially broadcast as part of the NBC Mystery Movie umbrella series, before becoming a weekly program. Klugman portrayed Dr. Quincy, a forensic pathologist who worked for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and solved crimes. He was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on the series and also wrote four episodes. Quincy aired for a total of 148 episodes over eight seasons, ending in 1983. In 1986, Klugman starred in the sitcom You Again?, co-starring John Stamos as Klugman's character's son. The series was broadcast on NBC for two seasons before being canceled. During the show's run, Klugman also appeared on Broadway in I'm Not Rappaport. The show closed in 1988. The following year, he co-starred in the television miniseries Around the World in 80 Days.1990s to 2010s
In 1989, Klugman's throat cancer returned. His illness sidelined his career for the next four years. He returned to acting in a 1993 Broadway revival of Three Men on a Horse. That same year, he reunited with Tony Randall in the television film The Odd Couple: Together Again. The next year, Klugman co-starred in the television film Parallel Lives.In 1993, he appeared on a special "celebrity versus regulars" version of the British quiz show Going for Gold, emerging as the series winner.
In 1996, he co-starred in The Twilight of the Golds and the comedy film Dear God. He resumed his television career with guest spots on . He also starred in The Outer Limits episode "Glitch", and appeared in an episode of the TV series Crossing Jordan. In 1997, Klugman starred in the Broadway, then in 2007, Off-Broadway revival of The Sunshine Boys.
In 2005, Klugman co-starred in the comedy film When Do We Eat?. That same year, he published Tony and Me: A Story of Friendship, a book about his long friendship with his The Odd Couple co-star Tony Randall. Klugman gave the eulogy at Randall's memorial service in 2004. Klugman, who liked the same New York Mets whose cap he wore as Oscar Madison, started an MLB.com PRO Blog called Klugman's Korner to talk about baseball and Randall.
In 2008, he sued NBC Television concerning missing profits from his show Quincy M.E. The lawsuit was filed in California Superior Court, with Klugman requesting NBC to show him the original contract. Klugman stated that his production company, Sweater Productions, should have received 25% of the show's net profits. NBC Universal and Klugman settled the lawsuit on undisclosed terms in August 2010.
His last on-screen role was in the 2010 horror film Camera Obscura. Klugman was originally supposed to play Juror #9 in a stage production of Twelve Angry Men at the George Street Playhouse, set to open on March 13, 2012. However, he had to withdraw from the production due to illness.
Health
Cancer battle
Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1974.In 1988, he lost a vocal cord to throat cancer surgery, but continued to act on stage and television, though he was left with a quiet, raspy voice. In later years subsequent to his operation, he regained limited strength in his voice.
Personal life
Marriage and children
Klugman married actress Brett Somers in 1953. The couple had two children, Adam and David, before separating in 1974. He had a stepdaughter, Leslie Klein, from Somers' first marriage. Klein was married to Jim Fyfe, an actor and theater director. It was long reported that Somers and Klugman separated in 1974 but remained legally married until her death. However, California records indicate the couple divorced in August 1977. In 2007, Somers died from cancer at age 83.Klugman's 18-year relationship with actress Barbara Neugass ended in 1992 and led to a palimony suit that Neugass ultimately lost.
Klugman began living with Peggy Crosby in 1988. They married in February 2008, shortly after Somers' death.
Business interests
- Klugman was an avid Thoroughbred racing fan. He owned Jaklin Klugman, which finished third in the 1980 Kentucky Derby behind the great filly Genuine Risk and Grade 1 stakes winner Akinemod. Klugman said Jaklin Klugman's success was the biggest thrill in his life.
- In the 1980s, Klugman lent his name to a popcorn franchise named "Jack's Corn Crib".
Death
Broadway credits
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | Suspense | Louie | Episode: "Murder at the Mardi Gras" |
| 1953 | Colonel Humphrey Flack | 2 episodes | |
| 1954 | Rocky King Detective | Episode: "Return for Death" | |
| 1954 | Inner Sanctum | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1954–1956 | Justice | 3 episodes | |
| 1955 | Producers' Showcase | Jackie | Episode: "The Petrified Forest" |
| 1955 | Treasury Men in Action | Episode: "The Case of the Betrayed Artist" | |
| 1955–1956 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | 2 episodes | |
| 1955–1956 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | 2 episodes | |
| 1957 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | George Benedict | Episode: "Mail Order Prophet" |
| 1958 | Gunsmoke | Earl Ticks | Episode: "Buffalo Man" |
| 1958 | General Electric Theater | Murphy | Episode: "The Young and Scared" |
| 1957 | General Electric Theater | Peter Tong | Episode: "A New Girl In His Life" |
| 1958 | Kiss Me, Kate | Gunman | Television film |
| 1959 | The Walter Winchell File | Allie Sunshine | Episode: "Death Comes in a Small Package: File #37" |
| 1960–1963 | The Twilight Zone | Joey Crown Jesse Cardiff Captain Ross Max Phillips | Episode: "A Passage for Trumpet" Episode: "A Game of Pool" Episode #108: "Death Ship" Episode: "In Praise of Pip" |
| 1961 | Follow the Sun | Steve Bixel | Episode: "Busman's Holiday" |
| 1961 | ' | Otto Dutch Kleberg, Greg Paulson | 1x02 Pier 60, 1x18 Chase the Dragon |
| 1961 | Straightaway | Buddy Conway | Episode: "Die Laughing" |
| 1962 | The New Breed | Floyd Blaylock | Episode: "All the Dead Faces" |
| 1962 | Cain's Hundred | Mike Colonni | Episode: "Women of Silure" |
| 1962 | Naked City | Peter Kannick | Episode: "King Stanislaus and the Knights of the Round Stable" |
| 1963 | The Untouchables | Solly Girsch | Episode: "An Eye for An Eye" |
| 1963 | Naked City | Arthur Crews | Episode: "Stop the Parade! A Baby Is Crying!" |
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone | Captain Ross | Episode: "Death Ship #108", duplicated above |
| 1963 | Arrest and Trial | Celina | Episode: "The Quality of Justice" |
| 1963 | The Fugitive | Buck Harmon | Episode: "Terror at High Point", Season 1, Episode 13 |
| 1964 | The Virginian | Charles Mayhew | Episode: "Roar from the Mountain" |
| 1964 | The Defenders | Joe Larch | Episode: "Blacklist" |
| 1964 | The Great Adventure | John Brown | Episode: "The Night Raiders" |
| 1964–1965 | Harris Against the World | Alan Harris | 13 episodes |
| 1965 | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Ozzie Keefer | Episode: "Won't It Ever Be Morning? " |
| 1965 | Ben Casey | Dr. Bill Justin | Episode: "A Slave Is on the Throne" |
| 1965 | The Fugitive | Gus Hendricks | Episode: "Everybody Gets Hit in the Mouth Sometimes", Season 2, Episode 24 |
| 1966 | Fame Is the Name of the Game | Ben Welcome | Television film |
| 1967 | Garrison's Gorillas | Gus Manners | Episode: "Banker's Hours" |
| 1969 | Then Came Bronson | Dr. Charles Hanrahan | Episode: "The Runner" |
| 1970 | ' | Leland Rogers | Episode: "The Diamond Millstone" |
| 1970 | The Name of the Game | Captain Garrig | Episode: "The Time Is Now" |
| 1970–1975 | The Odd Couple | Oscar Madison | 114 episodes |
| 1972 | Banyon | Episode: "The Lady Killers" | |
| 1973 | Poor Devil | Burnett J. Emerson | Television film |
| 1974 | The Underground Man | Sheriff Tremaine | Television film |
| 1976 | One of My Wives Is Missing | Inspector Murray Levine | Television film |
| 1976–1983 | Quincy, M.E. | Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. | 147 episodes |
| 1979 | Password Plus | Himself | Game Show Participant / Celebrity Guest Star |
| 1979 | Insight | Packy Rowe | Episode: "Rebirth of Packy Rowe" |
| 1986–1987 | You Again? | Henry Willows | 26 episodes |
| 1989 | Around the World in 80 Days | Capt. Bunsby | Miniseries |
| 1993 | ' | Oscar Madison | Television film |
| 1994 | Parallel Lives | Senator Robert Ferguson | Television film |
| 1995 | Shining Time Station: Second Chances | Max Okowsky | Television film |
| 1997 | ' | Dr. Jeff Everden | Episode: "Physician, Murder Thyself" |
| 1999 | Lt. Harry Trumble | Episode: "Voices Carry" | |
| 1999 | Brother's Keeper | Jack | Episode: "An Odd Couple of Days" |
| 2000 | The Outer Limits | Joe Walker | Episode: "Glitch" |
| 2000 | Third Watch | Stan Brandolini | Episode: "Run of the Mill" |
| 2002 | Crossing Jordan | Dr. Leo Gelber | Episode: "Someone to Count On" |