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Jack Albertson

An incredibly prolific, talented and frequently underappreciated actor, Jack Albertson was one of the most accomplished performers of his generation. Emerging from the vaudeville circuit and bawdy burlesque shows of New York in the 1930s, Albertson soon graduated to such Broadway stage productions as the 1947 revival of "The Cradle Will Rock." Throughout the 1950s and '60s, the actor worked non-stop, jumping from television to film and back to theater in such vehicles as the crime-comedy series "The Thin Man" (NBC, 1957-59), the cautionary drama "Days of Wine and Roses" (1962) and the Broadway play "The Subject was Roses" in 1965. As busy as he had been for more than 20 years, it was in the 1970s that Albertson gained lasting notoriety amongst a generation of fans for a trio of roles as good-natured, but cantankerous old men. In theaters, he endeared himself to fans young and old with his characters in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (1971) and "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972). But it was as the crotchety father figure to Freddie Prinze on the hit sitcom "Chico and the Man" (NBC, 1974-78) that Albertson would perhaps be most fondly remembered. A testament to his talent and lasting contributions could, in part, be measured by the fact that Albertson remained one of the select few to ever earn Oscar, Emmy and Tony awards over the course of his impressive career.