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Jack Duffy

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For the American silent film actor, seeJack Duffy (actor).For the New Zealand cricketer, seeJack Duffy (cricketer).
Jack Duffy
BornSeptember 27, 1926
Montreal,Quebec,Canada
DiedMay 19, 2008 (aged 81)
Toronto,Ontario,Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1945–2008
RelativesViolet (sister)

Jack Duffy(September 27, 1926 – May 19, 2008) was a Canadian singer, comedian and actor.

Life and career

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Duffy was born inMontrealand raised inToronto,and had one sister, Violet Duffy. He dropped out ofCentral Technical Schoolto become a singer. At age 19, he was hired as a studio singer with CBC in Toronto and in 1948, he started a three-year affiliation withTommy Dorsey,initially as a member of the vocal group Bob-O-Links. Duffy was performing as a member of the musical act the Town Criers in 1950 and would frequently appear on CBC-TV variety shows through the 1950s. In 1957, he was hired byNorman Jewisonto appear as a comedian on the CBC seriesShowtime.Duffy had his own CBC variety show calledHere's Duffythat ran from June 1958 through October 1959.

In 1961, he became a regular onPerry Como'sKraft Music Hall,performing as one of the Kraft Music Hall Players, alongsideDon Adams,Paul Lynde,Kaye Ballardand others. The show finished its run in 1963.

Duffy battled alcoholism after he started drinking while on the road with the Dorsey band.[1]His first wife left him and he became destitute,[2]living in a $10-a-week attic.[3]He stopped drinking in 1967 and married dancer Marylyn Stuart later that year.

In 1970, he began an 11-year run as captain of the home team on the charades game showParty Game,produced byHamilton,Ontario-basedCHCH-TV.It was through this show that Duffy picked up the nickname "Captain Jack." In 1971, he also hosted the CBC-TV seriesIn The Mood,featuring appearances from some of the biggest names in big band jazz, includingBenny GoodmanandCount Basie.Beginning in 1975, Duffy provided the voice of Boot, the cheerful, occasionally mischievous talking boot that hosted the children's educational showReadalong.Readalongwas seen onTVO,PBSand other educational networks into the early 1990s.

Duffy died on May 19, 2008, from natural causes at age 81 in Toronto.

Filmography

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Movies

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Theatrical

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Television

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  • 1980:Boo!- Dr. Frankenstein
  • 1981:Freddie the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner- Santa
  • 1986:Whodunit- Narrator / The Boss
  • 1986:Doing Life(TV Movie) - Jury Foreman
  • 1988:Biographies: The Enigma of Bobby Bittman(TV Short) - Sam Slansky
  • 1988:Once Upon a Giant(TV Movie) - McDermot the Hermit
  • 1993:Ghost Mom(TV Movie) - Al
  • 1994:David's Mother(TV Movie) - Doorman
  • 1994:Hostage for a Day(TV Movie) - SWAT Three
  • 1994:Sodbusters(TV Movie) - Railroad Executive No. 1
  • 1997:The Defenders: Payback(TV Movie) - Mr. Sanders
  • 1998:Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business(TV Movie) - Dr. Gregor
  • 1999:A Holiday Romance(TV Movie) - Irwin
  • 2001:My Horrible Year!(TV Movie) - Mr. Birdwell
  • 2001:Doc(TV Movie) - Oldest Father
  • 2002:A Killing Spring(TV Movie) - Neighbour
  • 2003:Death and the Maiden(TV Movie) - The grandfather

Television series

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References

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  1. ^"A sober Jack Duffy turns killer for TV," Frank Rasky,Toronto Star,March 12, 1977, p. H5.
  2. ^'Party Game' regular, Jack Duffy, dead at 81,Guelph Mercury,May 22, 2008. p. B11.
  3. ^"A sober Jack Duffy turns killer for TV," Frank Rasky,Toronto Star,March 12, 1977, p. H5.
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