Jack Gilford
| Jack Gilford | |
|---|---|
Jack Gilford in 1986
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| Born |
Jacob Aaron Gellman July 25, 1907 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 4, 1990 (aged 82) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Stomach cancer |
| Residence | Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, Comedian, Activist |
| Years active | 1937-1988 |
| Spouse(s) |
Madeline Lee Gilford (1949-1990; his death) |
| Children | 3 |
Jack Gilford (July 25, 1907 – June 4, 1990) was an American Broadway, film and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Save the Tiger (1973).
Gilford was born Jacob Aaron Gellman on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. His parents were Romanian-born Jewish immigrants Sophie "Susksa" (née Jackness), who owned a restaurant, and Aaron Gellman, a furrier. Gilford was the second of three sons, with an older brother Murray ("Moisha") and a younger brother Nathaniel ("Natie").
Gilford was discovered working in a pharmacy by his mentor Milton Berle. While working in amateur theater, he competed with other talented youngsters, including a young Jackie Gleason. He started doing imitations and impersonations. His first appearance on film was a short entitled Midnight Melodies where he did his imitations of George Jessel, Rudy Vallee and Harry Langdon. Gilford developed some unique impressions that became his trademarks — most notably, one of "split pea soup coming to a furious boil" using only his face. Other unusual impressions he created were a fluorescent light going on in a dark room, John D. Rockefeller Sr. imitating Jimmy Durante, and impressions of animals.
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Wikipedia