Albertson, Jack, 1910-1981

Jack Albertson was born in Malden, MA, 1910; he started his show business career as a vaudeville dancer and became straight man to such comics as Milton Berle, Bert Lahr and Bert Wheeler; early in his career he formed a partnership with Phil Silvers; convinced he would never become a great dancer, he concentrated on comedy and found notoriety when he stepped in for Eddie Foy in a Broadway revival of The Red Mill (1946); his film credits include Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)' Lover Come Back (1962), The Flim-Flam Man (1967), and The Poseidon Adventure (1972); he made a successful return to Broadway in Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys (1972); his numerous television credits include continuing roles on Ensign O'Toole and Chico and the Man; Albertson died of cancer in Hollywood Hills, CA, Nov. 25, 1981.

Biography

Jack Albertson was born in Malden, MA, in 1910. He started his show business career as a vaudeville dancer and became straight man to such comics as Milton Berle, Bert Lahr and Bert Wheeler. Early in his career Albertson formed a partnership with Phil Silvers, and convinced that he would never become a great dancer, he concentrated on comedy. He found notoriety when he stepped in for Eddie Foy in a Broadway revival of The Red Mill (1946).

Albertson was known for his radio work on Just Plain Bill and The Jack Albertson Comedy Show. He appeared in Broadway plays such as Top Banana, The Cradle Will Rock, Show Boat, Boy Meets Girl, 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). Albertson's film credits include Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), Lover Come Back (1962), The Flim-Flam Man (1967), and The Poseidon Adventure (1972).

He has a long list of television credits that include Chico and the Man, probably Albertson's most known television role, and one for which he received an Emmy for his performance as Ed Brown, "the Man"--Chico's boss. Other television credits includes a recurring role on Ensign O'Toole and Grandpa Goes to Washington and guest appearances on Bachelor Father, Hollywood Television Theatre, Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D, Margie, and Name of the Game, among others. Albertson is one a few entertainers to win the triple crown of entertainment: a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy. Albertson died of cancer in Hollywood Hills, CA, Nov. 25, 1981.