Jack Weston
(1925 - 1996)Everything about Jack Weston was recognizable to millions of movie and television fans the world over, from his chubby, smiling face, his stocky frame, his twinkling eyes, his bald pate to that tenorish voice with the ever so slight lisp. He always played the likable character and was more at home in comedies than drama. As an actor he was more sought after than desperate for a role, as producers and casting directors saw him as a definite asset to their productions. He was born Jack Weinstein on August 21, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio to a shoe repairman father. His father was a very understanding parent and when Jack's teachers who noted that he was a class clown and a failing student advised the elder Weston that the young man had a penchant for acting, he enrolled his son in classes at the Cleveland Playhouse, a nurturing ground for talented youth. He began acting at age 10 and it turned him around. He quit school at age 15 after his father died and worked as a theatre usher and part-time actor. He spent two years in the Army during World War II as a machine-gunner in the Italian campaign. After the war he spent time at various odd jobs including as elevator operator, dishwasher and postal clerk to support him and his actress wife, Marge Redmond. Eventually he made his way to the stage and Broadway, as well as television in its early years. He had honed his craft in New York at the American Theater Wing. His first television role was on the children's series "Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers" (1953-54) as Wilbur 'Wormsey' Wormser. His film debut came in "Stage Struck" (1958) as Frank. Among his other film credits are: "I Want to Live!" (1958) uncredited as NCO; "Imitation of Life" (1959) with Lana Turner, as Stage Manager; "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" (1960) as Joe Positano; "All in a Night's Work" (1961) as Lasker; "The Honeymoon Machine" (1961) as Signalman Buford Taylor; "It's Only Money" (1962) as Leopold; "Palm Springs Weekend" (1963) as Coach Fred Campbell; "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" (1964) as George Stickel; "Mirage" (1965) as Lester; one of his best roles "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965) with Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson, as Pig; "Wait Until Dark" (1967) with Audrey Hepburn, as Carlino; "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968) as Erwin; "The April Fools" (1969) as Potter Shrader; "Cactus Flower" (1969) with Goldie Hawn, as Harvey Greenfield; "A New Leaf" (1971) with Walter Matthau, as Andy McPherson; "Fuzz" (1972) as Det. Meyer Meyer; "Marco" (1973) as Maffio Polo; "Gator" (1976) as Irving Greenfield; "The Ritz" (1976) as Gaetano Proclo; "Cuba" (1979) as Larry Gutman; "Can't Stop the Music" (1980) as Benny Murray; another of his finest roles in "The Four Seasons" (1981) as Danny Zimmer; "High Road to China" (1983) with Tom Selleck, as Struts; "Rad" (1986) as Duke Best; "The Longshot" (196) as Elton; "Dirty Dancing" (1987) as Max Kellerman; "Ishtar" (1987) as Marty Freed; "American Ninja 2: The Confrontation" (1987) and "Short Circuit 2" (1988) as Oscar Baldwin, his final film role. On television, besides "Rod Brown and the Rocket Rangers, he appeared as a regular on the series: "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" (1949) in an uncredited role; "My Sister Eileen" (1960-61) as Chick Adams; "The Hathaways" (1961-62) with Peggy Cass, as Walter Hathaway; "Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue" (1977) a mini-series, as Joker Martin; "The Four Seasons" (1984) based on the film and reprising his role, as Danny Zimmer and "If Tomorrow Comes" (1986) a mini-series, as Uncle Willie. He also appeared in such TV movies as: "Fame is the Name of the Game" (1966); "Code Name: Heraclitus" (1967); "The Counterfeit Killer" (1968) and "I Love a Mystery" (1973). He guested on such TV series as: "The Real McCoys"; "Gunsmoke"; "Perry Mason"; "Rawhide"; "The Untouchables"; "Twilight Zone"; "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"; "Route 66"; "The Fugitive"; "All in the Family" and "Tales of the Unexpected." His marriage to actress Marge Redmond ended in divorce. He married Laurie Gilkes and had a stepdaughter, Amy Gilkes. He died of lymphoma on May 3, 1996 in New York, New York at age 70.
From Great Character Actors, Page 8.
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