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Jack Weston

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Jack Weston
Weston in 1971
Born
Morris Weinstein

(1924-08-21)August 21, 1924
Cleveland,Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 3, 1996(1996-05-03)(aged 71)
New York City, U.S.
EducationCleveland Play House
OccupationActor
Years active1949–1988
Spouses
  • Marge Redmond
    (m.1950;div.198?)
  • Laurie Gilkes
    ​
    ​
    (m.1993)​
Children1
RelativesAnthony Spinelli(brother)

Jack Weston(bornMorris Weinstein;August 21, 1924[citation needed]– May 3, 1996) was an American actor. He was nominated for aGolden Globe Awardin 1976 and aTony Awardin 1981.

Career[edit]

Weston, a native ofCleveland,Ohio,usually played comic roles in films such asCactus Flower(1969)[1]andPlease Don't Eat the Daisies(1960).[2]He occasionally took on heavier parts, such as the scheming crook and stalker, who along withAlan ArkinandRichard Crennaattempts to terrorize and rob a blindAudrey Hepburnin the 1967 filmWait Until Dark.[3]

Weston had numerous other character roles over 25 years, including in major films such asThe Cincinnati Kid(1965),The Thomas Crown Affair(1968),Gator(1976),Cuba(1979),High Road to China(1983),Dirty Dancing(1987),Ishtar(1987), andShort Circuit 2(1988).[4]

On television, he made numerous appearances, such as Fred Calvert in the 1958Perry Masonepisode, "The Case of the Daring Decoy". In 1961, he was a guest star in the TV dramaRoute 66,playing the manager of a traveling group of young women nightclub dancers who mistreats his employees. He co-starred with Peggy Cass in the seriesThe Hathaways,in which they served as "parents" to a trio of performing chimpanzees. In 1963, he was a guest star in an episode called "Fatso"in the TV dramaThe Fugitive.

In 1976, he was nominated for aGolden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedyfor his performance in the filmThe Ritz.In 1981, Weston appeared onBroadwayinWoody Allen's comedyThe Floating Light Bulb,for which he was nominated for aTony Awardas Best Actor.[5]His other stage appearances includeBells are Ringingin 1956 (withJudy Holliday),[6]The Ritzin 1975,[7]Neil Simon'sCalifornia Suite(1976)[8]andOne Night Standin 1980.[9]

Weston co-starred inAlan Alda's 1981 filmThe Four Seasons,[10]and then reprised his role to star in a television series spinoff on CBS.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Weston joined theAmerican Theatre Wingin New York withLee Strasberg.He did not advance far professionally and returned to Cleveland, where he metMarge Redmond,another local actress, and the pair relocated to New York and were married there in 1950.[12]Redmond was later noted for her role in theABCsitcomThe Flying Nun.They occasionally appeared together, an example being a 1963 episode ofThe Twilight Zonetitled "The Bard".Redmond and Weston divorced in the 1980s.[13]The couple had no children.[citation needed]

Weston's second marriage was to Laurie Gilkes, and they had one child together. They were married until his death fromlymphomaon May 3, 1996, after a six-year struggle. He was 71 years old.[14]

Jack was the older brother ofAnthony Spinelli,whose birth name was Sam Weinstein and whose first stage name was Sam Weston. The Westons were Jewish.[15]

Jack was also a lifelongDemocrat.[16]

Selected filmography[edit]

Television appearances[edit]

In 1949, Weston appeared as Mr. Storm in episode five ofCaptain Video and His Video Rangers.[17]

In 1953-54, he appeared as Wilbur Wormser on CBS-TV'sRod Brown of the Rocket Rangers,a Saturday-morning kiddie show, and he was often recognized on the street or subway by children in and around New York City.[18]

In 1960, Weston appeared as Otto inAlfred Hitchcock Presents,episode 28, season five, called "Forty Detectives", on April 24, 1960.

In the 1960–1961 television season, Weston appeared as Chick Adams, a reporter, on theCBSsitcomMy Sister Eileen.

The next season, he starred in the short-lived sitcomThe Hathaways(ABC), in whichPeggy Cassand he adopted threechimpanzees(theMarquis Chimps).[19]

He also made guest appearances on such television series asPeter Gunn,Perry Mason,Rescue 8,The Twilight Zone(episodes "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street",and"The Bard"),The Untouchables,Have Gun – Will Travel,Johnny Staccato,Thriller,The Lawless Years(two episodes),Route 66,Harrigan and Son,Stoney Burke,Breaking Point,The Fugitive,Bewitched,Gunsmoke,Twelve O'Clock High,Laredo,Tales of the Unexpected,The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,The Carol Burnett Show,All in the Family,andThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.

References[edit]

  1. ^Thompson, Howard (December 16, 1969)."Review. 'Cactus Flower' Blooms".The New York Times.
  2. ^"Review: ‘Please Don’t Eat the Daisies’".Variety.December 31, 1959.
  3. ^Wait Until Dark.Turner Classic Movies.accessed March 6, 2016
  4. ^"Jack Weston Overview, Filmography".Turner Classic Movies.accessed March 5, 2016.
  5. ^"'The Floating Light Bulb' Broadway"Playbill(vault). accessed March 5, 2016
  6. ^"'Bells Are Ringing' Broadway".Playbill(vault). accessed March 5, 2016.
  7. ^"'The Ritz' Broadway".Playbill(vault). accessed March 5, 2016.
  8. ^"'California Suite' Broadway".Playbill(vault). accessed March 5, 2016.
  9. ^"'One Night Stand' Broadway".Playbill(vault). Accessed March 5, 2016.
  10. ^The Four SeasonsTurner Classic Movies.accessed March 5, 2016.
  11. ^Farber, Stephen (April 26, 1984)."'Four Seasons' Series Returns to CBS Sunday"The New York Times.
  12. ^"From Glenville to Broadway."The Plain Dealer(Cleveland). 12 February 1957.
  13. ^Barnes, Mike (May 28, 2020)."Marge Redmond, Sister Jacqueline on 'The Flying Nun,' Dies at 95".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2021-08-12.
  14. ^Thomas, Jr., Robert McG.(May 5, 1996)."Jack Weston Is Dead at 71; Made Anguish Into Comic Art".The New York Times.Retrieved2021-08-12.
  15. ^"Jack Weston".Jewish Biography.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-03-27.Retrieved2017-08-14.
  16. ^An Interview with Jack Weston, Skip E. Lowe, 1990
  17. ^"Captain Video and His Video Rangers".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-13.Retrieved2018-11-13.
  18. ^Condon, George D. (January 28, 1954). "On the Air."The Plain Dealer(Cleveland).
  19. ^Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014).The Hathaways(2d ed.). McFarland. p. 439.ISBN978-0-7864-8641-0.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)

External links[edit]

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