Jack Kruschen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Kruschen
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Kruschen in 1976
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| Born |
Jacob Kruschen
March 20, 1922 |
| Died | April 2, 2002 (aged 80) Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
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| Years active | 1939–1997 |
| Spouse(s) |
Marjorie Ullman
(m. 1947; div. 1961)Violet Rafaella Mooring
(m. 1962; died 1978)Mary Pender
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
Jack Kruschen (born March 20, 1922 – died April 2, 2002) was a Canadian actor. He was known for playing many different types of characters in American movies, TV shows, and radio programs. He was even nominated for an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for his role in the movie The Apartment.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Acting
Jack Kruschen was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When he was in high school in Hollywood, he acted in a play called an operetta. His performance caught the eye of CBS, a big TV and radio company.
Career Highlights
Jack Kruschen had a long career, acting for almost 60 years! He worked in radio, movies, and television.
Radio Work
Kruschen started working at a radio station in Los Angeles when he was only 16 years old. During World War II, he served in the Army and worked for the Armed Forces Radio Service. After the war, he continued to act in many radio shows.
He was a regular on shows like Broadway Is My Beat and Pete Kelly's Blues. He also appeared in many other popular radio programs, including Escape, Dragnet, Gunsmoke, and Suspense.
Famous Films
Jack Kruschen was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. Dreyfuss in the movie The Apartment. This was a big achievement!
He appeared in many other movies, such as:
- The War of the Worlds (a science fiction movie)
- The Buccaneer
- The Angry Red Planet (where he played an astronaut)
- The Unsinkable Molly Brown
- Follow That Dream (with Elvis Presley)
- McLintock! (with famous actor John Wayne)
- Cape Fear (starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum)
Stage Performances
Kruschen also acted on stage. In 1962, he was in the original Broadway show I Can Get It for You Wholesale. Later, in 1969, he acted in a London musical called Promises, Promises, which was based on his movie The Apartment.
Television Roles
Jack Kruschen was on TV very early, starting in 1939 on experimental TV stations. He appeared in many well-known TV shows throughout his career.
Some of his memorable TV roles include:
- Guest villain Eivol Ekdol on Batman
- Many episodes of Dragnet
- Roles on Zorro and Adventures of Superman
- A recurring role as an Italian grape grower named Giorgio Rossi on Bonanza
- Fireman Mike Woiski on Emergency!
- Grandpa Papadopolis on Webster
- Iorgos "Papouli" Katsopolis (Pam and Jesse's grandfather) on Full House
His last acting role was in the 1997 movie 'Til There Was You.
Later Life and Death
Jack Kruschen passed away on April 2, 2002, in Chandler, Arizona, while on vacation. He was 80 years old and had been unwell for some time.
Selected Filmography
Jack Kruschen appeared in many films throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- Red, Hot and Blue (1949)
- The War of the Worlds (1953) as Salvatore
- Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) as Harry
- The Buccaneer (1958) as Hans
- The Angry Red Planet (1959) as CWO Sam Jacobs
- The Apartment (1960) as Dr. Dreyfuss
- Follow That Dream (1962) as Carmine
- Cape Fear (1962) as Attorney Dave Grafton
- McLintock! (1963) as Jake Birnbaum
- The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) as Christmas Morgan
- The Million Dollar Duck (1971) as Doctor Gottlieb
- Freebie and the Bean (1974) as Red Meyers
- Satan's Cheerleaders (1977) as Billy
- Sunburn (1979) as Gela
- Under the Rainbow (1981) as Louie
- 'Til There Was You (1997) as Mr. Katz
Selected Television Appearances
Jack Kruschen was also a familiar face on television. Here are some of the TV shows he appeared in:
- Dragnet (1951-1959)
- Adventures of Superman (1957)
- Zorro (1958) as Jose Mordante
- The Rifleman (1959-1960) in several roles
- Batman (1966) as Eivol Ekdal
- Bonanza (1966-1968) as Giorgio Rossi
- Emergency! (1972) as State Assemblyman Michael Wolski
- Columbo (1973) as Tomlin Dudek
- The Incredible Hulk (1978) as Norman Abrams
- Little House on the Prairie (1981) as Rudolpho 'The Great' Gambini
- Webster (1984-1989) as 'Papa' Papadapolis
- Full House (1990, 1994) as Iorgos 'Papouli' Katsopolis
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994) as Captain Keene
Images for kids
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Kruschen in 1976
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Front row, from left to right: Jack Kruschen, John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Chill Wills in McLintock!
See also
In Spanish: Jack Kruschen para niños
