Real name: Lemmon III, John Uhler Birthdate: 8 February 1925, Newton, Massachusetts, USA Date of death: 27 June 2001, Los Angeles, California, USA. (cancer) Height: 5' 9" Spouse:
'Felicia Farr' (17 August 1962 - 27 June 2001) (his death); 1 child
'Cynthia Stone' (1950 - 1956) (divorced); 1 son
Biography
His father was the president of a doughnut company, and he attended
prep schools before Harvard where he was in the Dramatic Club. After
service as a Navy ensign, he worked in a beerhall (piano), on radio,
off Broadway, TV and Broadway. His 1954 movie debut was with Judy
Holiday. A year later he won Best Supporting Actor as Ensign Pulver in
'Mister Roberts (1955)' . He received nominations in comedy - 'Some Like It Hot (1959)' , 'Apartment, The (1960)' - and
drama - 'Days of Wine and Roses (1962)' , 'China Syndrome, The (1979)' , 'Tribute (1980)' and 'Missing (1982)' . He won the Best Actor
Oscar for 'Save the Tiger (1973)' and the Cannes Best Actor award for "Syndrome" and
"Missing". He debuted as director in "Kotch" (1971) and in 1985
Broadway in "Long Day's Journey into Night". In 1988 he received the
Life Achievement Award of the American Film Institute. Author: Ed Stephan
Filmography
12 Angry Men (1997) (TV) [Juror #8] <8> AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000) (TV) [Himself] <19> AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001) (TV) [Himself] Airport '77 (1977) [Don Gallagher] <1> Alex & the Gypsy (1976) [Alexander Main] <1> Apartment, The (1960) [Calvin Clifford Baxter] <1> April Fools, The (1969) [Howard Brubaker] <1> Avanti! (1972) [Wendell Armbruster] <1> Bell Book and Candle (1958) [Nicky Holroyd] <3> Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy (1992) (also archive footage) [Himself] <112> Buddy Buddy (1981) [Victor Clooney] <1> Chaplin (1992) (archive footage) (uncredited) [Himself in Oscar sequence] China Syndrome, The (1979) [Jack Godell] <2> Costa del Sol malagueńa (1972) (archive footage) [Himself] Cowboy (1958) [Frank Harris] <2> Dad (1989) [Jake Tremont] <1> Days of Wine and Roses (1962) [Joe Clay] <1> Entertainer, The (1976) (TV) [Archie Rice] <1> Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius (1982) (TV) [Himself] Fire Down Below (1957) [Tony] <3> For Richer, for Poorer (1992) (TV) [Aram Katourian] <1> Forever Hollywood (1999) [Himself] Fortune Cookie, The (1966) [Harry Hinkle] <1> Front Page, The (1974) [Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson] <1> Gentleman Tramp, The (1975) [Narrator] Getting Away with Murder (1996) [Max Mueller/Luger] <3> Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) [Shelley Levene] <1> Good Neighbor Sam (1964) [Sam Bissel] <1> Grass Harp, The (1995) [Morris Ritz] <6> Great Race, The (1965) [Professor Fate/Prince Hapnik] <1> Grumpier Old Men (1995) [John Gustafson] <2> Grumpy Old Men (1993) [John Gustafson] <1> Hamlet (1996) [Marcellus] <29> Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius (1989) (TV) [Himself] <3> Hollywood Bronc Busters (1956) [Himself] How to Murder Your Wife (1965) [Stanley Ford] <1> Inherit the Wind (1999) (TV) [Henry Drummond] <1> Irma la Douce (1963) [Nestor Patou/Lord X] <1> It Happened to Jane (1959) [George Denham] <2> It Should Happen to You (1954) [Pete Sheppard] <3> Jane Goodall: My Life with the Chimpanzees (1995) (TV) (voice) [Narrator] JFK (1991) [Jack Martin] <30> Ken Murray Shooting Stars (1979) [Himself] Kennedy Center Honors, The (1998) (TV) [Himself] Kotch (1971) (uncredited) [Cameo] Legend of Bagger Vance, The (2000) (uncredited) [Narrator and Harvey Greaves in later years] Life in the Theater, A (1993) (TV) [Robert] Long Day's Journey Into Night (1987) (TV) [James Tyrone, Sr.] Long Way Home, The (1998) (TV) [Thomas Gerrin] <1> Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman In Carver Country (1993) [Himself/Interviewee] Luv (1967) [Harry Berlin] <1> Maccheroni (1985) [Robert Traven] <1> Making of 'The China Syndrome', The (1979) (TV) [Himself] Mass Appeal (1984) [Tim Farley] <1> Missing (1982) [Ed Horman] <1> Mister Roberts (1955) [Frank Thurlowe Pulver] <4> Murder of Mary Phagan, The (1988) (TV) [John Slaton] My Fellow Americans (1996) [Russell P. Kramer] <1> My Sister Eileen (1955) [Bob Baker] <2> Notorious Landlady, The (1962) [William Gridley] <2> Odd Couple II, The (1998) [Felix Unger] <1> Odd Couple, The (1968) [Felix Unger] <1> On Cukor (2000) (TV) [Himself] <5> Operation Mad Ball (1957) [Private Hogan] <1> Out to Sea (1997) [Herb Sullivan] <1> Out-of-Towners, The (1970) [George Kellerman] <1> Pepe (1960) [Cameo appearance] <25> Phffft! (1954) [Robert Tracey] <2> Player, The (1992) [Himself] <68> Polizia ha le mani legate, La (1974) (voice) [Narrator] Prisoner of Second Avenue, The (1974) [Mel] <1> Puppies for Sale (1997) [Pet Shop Owner] Salute to Billy Wilder, A (1986) (TV) [Himself] Salute to Frank Capra, A (1982) (TV) [Himself] Salute to Jack Lemmon, A (1988) (TV) [Himself] Save the Tiger (1973) [Harry Stoner] <1> Short Cuts (1993) [Paul Finnigan] <3> Some Like It Hot (1959) [Jerry (Daphne)] <3> That's Life! (1986) [Harvey Fairchild] <1> There Comes a Day (1968)Three for the Show (1955) [Marty Stewart] <4> Tribute (1980) [Scottie Templeton] <1> Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) (TV) [Morrie Schwartz] <1> Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963) [Mr. Hogan] Voyage en ballon, Le (1960) (voice) [Narrator] Wackiest Ship in the Army, The (1960) [Lieutenant Rip Crandall] <1> War Between Men and Women, The (1972) [Peter Wilson] Wednesday (1975) [Jerry Murphy] <1> Weekend in the Country, A (1996) (TV) [Bud Bailey] <2> You Can't Run Away from It (1956) [Peter Warne] <2> "Ad-Libbers, The" (1951) [Celebrity Panelist] "Alcoa Theatre" (1957) [Rotating Star] "Frances Langford-Don Ameche Show, The" (1951) [Newlywed (1951-52) (in 'The Couple Next Door' sketches)] "Heaven for Betsy" (1952) [Pete Bell] "Living Century, The" (2001) [Himself] <1> "That Wonderful Guy" (1949) [Harold] <1> "Toni Twin Time" (1950) [Host (1950)] "Wild West, The" (1993) (mini) [Narrator]
Guest apperance(s)
'"Larry King Live" (1985)' , as Himself (7/13/2000)
'"Biography" (1987)' , as Himself (episode 'Ernie Kovacs (1/14/1999)')
'"Simpsons, The" (1989)' , as Frank Ormand (voice) (episode 8.11 'Twisted World of Marge, The (1/19/1997)')
'"Inside the Actors Studio" (1994)' , as [unknown]
'"Wogan" (1982)' , as Himself
'"Front Page Challenge" (1957)' , as Guest (1973)
'"Playhouse 90" (1956)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Face of a Hero (1/1/1959)')
'"What's My Line?" (1950)' , as [unknown] (6/22/1958)
'"What's My Line?" (1950)' , as Mystery Guest (11/3/1957)
'"Zane Grey Theater" (1956)' , as [unknown] (episode 1.14 'Three Graves, The (1/4/1957)')
'"Ford Star Jubilee" (1955)' , as John Wilkes Booth (episode 'Day Lincoln Was Shot, The (2/11/1956)')
'"I've Got a Secret" (1952)' , as [unknown] (6/22/1955)
'"Medallion Theatre" (1953)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Grand Cross of the Crescent, The (7/25/1953)')
'"Robert Montgomery Presents" (1950)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Dinah, Kip, and Mr. Barlow (2/23/1953)')
'"Danger" (1950)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Sparrow Cop (7/24/1951)')
'"Pulitzer Prize Playhouse" (1950)' , as [unknown] (episode 'Happy Journey, The (5/4/1951)')
'"Studio One" (1948)' , as [unknown] (episode 2.24 'Wisdom Tooth, The (2/20/1950)')
'"Suspense" (1949)' , as [unknown] (episode 2.15 'Gray Helmet, The (12/13/1949)')
An accomplished, self-taught pianist, he wrote the theme for the movie
'Tribute (1980)' and played jazz in a Bobby Short TV special.
(October 1997) Ranked #47 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie
Stars of All Time" list.
His son, 'Chris Lemmon' , appeared with him in 'Airport '77 (1977)' .
Son, Christopher, with Cynthia Stone.
Daughter, Courtney (b.1966) with Felicia Farr.
Born at 2:00pm-EST
Lemmon admits to having had a serious drinking problem at one time,
which is one reason he looks back on his Oscar-winning role as Harry
Stoner in 'Save the Tiger (1973)' (1973) as perhaps the most gratifying, emotionally
fulfilling performance of his career.
Lemmon was pleasantly shocked by Golden Globe-winner Ving Rhames in
1998 when Rhames called fellow-nominee Lemmon up to the stage and all
but gave him the award for Best Actor in TV Movie Rhames had just won,
to express his admiration to the veteran actor.
Described his flamboyant, authoritarian mother as "Tallulah Bankhead on
a road show." Laughs about how she used to hang out with her girl
friends at the Ritz Bar in Boston, and, tried to have her cremation
ashes, placed on the bar.(Mgt. refused.)
Since his middle initial was U., Jack had to deal with ribbing from
kids who taunted him with: "Jack, u lemon."
In Harvard, he was in Navy ROTC and graduated with a degree in "War
Service Sciences."
He studied with Uta Hagen, and considers her his prime early mentor.
Lemmon's dad, a bakery executive, didn't approve of his son taking up
acting, but told him he should continue with it only as long as he felt
passion for it, adding: "The day I don't find romance in a loaf of
bread..." His dying words to Jack were: "Spread a little sunshine."
Was born February 8, 1925, in an elevator at a Newton, Massachusetts,
hospital.
1947 graduate of Harvard University
Lemmon passed away four days shy of one year after his frequent
co-star, 'Walter Matthau' .
Was president of the Harvard Hasty Pudding Club.
Graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. in 1943.
During WW II, he served in the Naval Reserve and was the communications
officer on the USS Lake Champlain.
Quotes
Accepting his award at the 2000 Golden Globes: "In the spirit of Ving
Rhames, I'm going to give this award to Jack Lemmon."
"If you think it's difficult to meet new people, try picking up the
wrong golf ball."
Book(s) Biography
Lemmon: A Biography, by Don Widener
Joe Baltake. 'Jack Lemmon: His Films and Career (Revised
Edition).' Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1986.
ISBN 0806510013
Interview(s)
"Cinema" (Germany), 1996, Iss. 5, pg. 134-135, by: Klaus Dahm
"Playboy" (USA), June 1981, Vol. 28, Iss. 6, pg. 184-185+194, by: Nancy Collins, "20 Questions: Jack Lemmon"
Article(s)
"Premiere" (USA), September 2001, Vol. 14, Iss. 12, pg. 96, by: Glenn Kenny, "Jack Lemmon: An Everyman for All Seasons"
Shopping Cart