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Jack Albertson (June 16, 1907 - November 25, 1981)
was considered a complete entertainer from the old
school.  He was an United States|American actor,
comedian, dancer, singer, and musician.

Jack was born in Malden, Massachusetts to Flora
Craft, a Russia|Russian immigrant, and Leo
Albertson, a Poland|Polish immigrant.  He had a
sister, Mabel, and a brother, Frank, who were also
actors.

Jack dropped out of high school and traveled to
New York, New York|New York City in an attempt
make it big in show business.  He was too poor to
get a room in a flop house, so in the winter he
would sleep on the New York Subway|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 (This
was in the age before the muggers took over the
park at night).  His first real job in show
business was with a vaudeville road troupe, the
Dancing Verselle Sisters.

Jack soon 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|Tony nomination for Tony
Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play|Best
Actor), and The Subject was Roses (for which he
won a Tony for Tony Award for Best Featured Actor
in a Play|Best Supporting Actor).  He was also
known for two radio programs, Just Plain Bill and
The Jack Albertson Comedy Show.

Jack Albertson had a prolific movie career as
well, mostly playing supporting roles.
Notable among these were:
*a bit part as the postal worker who redirected
all of Santa Claus' mail to the New York
Courthouse in Miracle on 34th Street (1947 in
film|1947)
*a film version of Top Banana (1953 in film|1953),
teamed again with his friend Phil Silvers
*The Subject was Roses (1968 in film|1968), for
which he won a Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actor|best supporting actor Academy Award|Oscar
*Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 in
film|1971)
*The Poseidon Adventure (1972 in film|1972)
Other films include:
*Big Business Girl (1931 in film|1931)
*Don't Go Near the Water (1957 in film|1957)
*Monkey on My Back (1957)
*Teacher's Pet (1958 in film|1958)
*Period of Adjustment (1962 in film|1962)
*Days of Wine and Roses (movie)|Days of Wine and
Roses (1962)
*Kissin' Cousins (1964 in film|1964)
*How To Murder Your Wife (1965 in film|1965)
*The Flim-Flam Man (1967 in film|1967)
*How To Save A Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968)
*Justine, Changes, The Monk (all 1969 in
film|1969)
*Squeeze A Flower (1970 in film|1970)
*Rabbit, Run (1970)
*Once Upon A Dead Man (1971)
*The Late Liz (1971)
*Pickup on 101 (1972)
*Where Eagles Fly (1972)
*Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase (1978 in
film|1978)
*The Comedy Company (1978)
*Marriage is Alive and Well (1979 in film|1979)
*Charlie's Balloon (1981 in film|1981)
*The Fox and the Hound (1981)
*Dead and Buried (1981)
(by no means an exhaustive list)
His one regret was that he was not asked to
reprise his role in the movie version of The
Sunshine Boys.

Television also saw much of Albertson's talent. 
He had reoccurring or starring roles on:
*The Burns and Allen Show
*The Thin Man
*Ensign O'Toole
*Chico and the Man, for which he won an Emmy
Award|Emmy, making him one of the few entertainers
to win the triple crown of entertainment (Tony,
Oscar, and Emmy)
*Grandpa goes to Washington
He also guest starred on numerous shows,
including:
*Bachelor Father
*Mister Ed
*The Twilight Zone
*The Dick Van Dyke Show
*Run For Your Life
*The Andy Griffith Show
*Bonanza
*Land of the Giants
*Marcus Welby, M.D.
*Daniel Boone
*Nanny and the Professor
*The Virginian
*Love, American Style
*McMillan and Wife
*Night Gallery
*The Streets of San Francisco
*Charlie's Angels
*Gunsmoke
(again, by no means an exhaustive list)

Jack Albertson was married to Wallace (Wally)
Thompson and had one daughter, Maura. He resided
for years in a modest home in West Hollywood,
California|West Hollywood. In 1978 he was
diagnosed with colon cancer, but kept this
information from the public so he could continue
to act.  He made one movie, My Body, My Child
(1982) and one TV movie, Grandpa, Will You Run
With Me? (1982 in television|1982) before his
death that were released posthumously.

Jack Albertson died on Wednesday, November 25th,
1981 at 1:30 in the afternoon. He was 74 years
old.  He was cremated and his ashes scattered in
the Pacific Ocean.