Jack Guilford (real name Jacob Aaron Gelman) is a famous American theater, film and television actor of the last century. Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy and Saturn nominee.
The artist's career began in 1938 with performances on the stage of the famous New York nightclub "Cafe Society", located in the lower Manhattan area and opened by Barney Josephson and John Hammond.
At first, Guildford worked as an entertainer and, in fact, became the founder of comedy monologues. In the future, this style of performances began to be used by many famous actors, including even the famous Woody Allen. Jack was also a master of pantomime and skillfully demonstrated it on the stage of the club, and later in theatrical productions and films.
Jack came to the cinema in 1944. He has played over 70 roles in television and film projects. Repeatedly participated in the Oscars and Tony awards, popular entertainment programs and documentaries, including: City Toast, Today, The Harry Moore Show, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, The Carol Show Burnett”,“John G. Avildsen: The King of the Outsiders”.
Biography facts
Jacob was born in the United States in the summer of 1908. The boy's parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania. Sophie and Aaron Helmans settled in New York before their son was born. My father was selling fur products, and my mother worked as a waitress in a restaurant.
Jack had 2 brothers. The eldest was called Murray (real name Moishe), the youngest was Nathaniel (Nathan).
It is not known where the artist studied and what he did in childhood.
After receiving his primary education, the young man found a job in a pharmacy. There he met Milton Berle, who persuaded him to audition for a role in a local amateur theater performance. Jack agreed and went to audition. The talented young man immediately liked the director and soon he first appeared on the stage.
After a while, Guildford began to improvise and began appearing at concerts with his own humorous and parody numbers. In addition, he became interested in pantomime and achieved great success in this direction of creativity. Later, having already become a professional actor, he repeatedly used pantomime in theatrical productions and during filming in the films of director J. Abbott.
Creative career
He made his debut at the Guildford Theater in 1940. Prior to that, he briefly worked as an entertainer at the famous New York nightclub "Cafe Society", and then began performing on Broadway. His theatrical career lasted until the mid-1980s.
The actor came to the cinema in 1944. He got his first role in the musical comedy "Hey, Rookie". In the same year he starred in the drama "Reckless Age" and in the TV series "Actors' Studio".
Guildford's creative career was interrupted in the 1950s by unfounded accusations of communist propaganda and active political activity, and the inclusion of the artist and his wife on the "black list".
In those years in America, many celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin, B. Brecht, P. Robson, were persecuted and banned from performing. During McCarthyism, the United States had a special House of Representatives Commission on Anti-American Activities (HUAC) to identify people opposed to the government and engaged in anti-American propaganda.
Jack and his wife Madeleine Lee were summoned to testify before a House Committee in the mid-1950s. The result of the proceedings was the deprivation of the artists of the opportunity to perform at any public events, as well as to engage in professional activities. For several years, they practically did not have a job and found it difficult to find a livelihood, often borrowing money from friends and acquaintances.
Only in the early 1960s, the actor was able to return to the theater stage and continue to act in films. He soon managed to regain his popularity and played in many famous films and TV series.
Also for 10 years, Jack worked in advertising for the famous American snack brand Cracker Jacks, consisting of popcorn and a small prize. Guildford became the most recognizable character in commercials, nicknamed the "Cracker Jacks rubber guy".
Guildford is best known for his roles in film projects: "Disneyland", "On the Threshold of Night", "The Defenders", "Get Your Brains", "Funny Accident on the Way to the Forum", "An Incident, or an Incident in the Subway", "Catch 22", Save the Tiger, Harry and Walter Are Coming to New York, Lou Grant, Love Boat, Taxi, Little Tramp, Caveman, Hotel, Duck Factory, Cocoon "," Golden Girls "," Arthur 2: Broken "," Cocoon 2: Return "," Stryker ".
Personal life
Guildford has been married twice. The name of his first wife is unknown. They lived together for several years and divorced in 1947. In this marriage, a girl was born, who was named Lisa. Later, Jack was raising his daughter together with his second wife Madeleine Lee.
Jack met his true love - actress Madeleine Lee - at the very end of the 1940s. They became husband and wife on April 16, 1949 and lived together until the actor's death. The couple had two sons: Joe and Sam. The elder became a famous director and screenwriter. The youngest is an artist. The daughter from her first marriage is a producer.
In the late 1980s, Guildford was diagnosed with cancer. He struggled with the disease for several years and underwent intensive treatment, but the doctors could not cope with the disease. He died in his own home on June 4, 1990. The cause of death was stomach cancer. His wife survived her husband by 18 years and passed away in April 2008.
