Jack Lemmon
1925 - 2001
A private school-educated everyman who could play outrageous comedy and wrenching tragedy, Jack Lemmon is one of the Greatest Legendary Comedians in the History of Cinema and one of the most award-winning American actors of all Time. His charming smile, beautiful personality and glowing warmth in his acting earned a massive fanbase all around the globe. Millions and millions warmed to the gifted actor and they still do today. After 50 years in the movie, television and radio business, his greatness as an actor, and his achievements as a performer, made him nothing less than an American icon, a legend. Some Like It Hot? Nobody's Perfect!
In the afternoon on February 8 1925, at precisely 2.00pm, a very special and delicate baby boy was born. His parents were Mildred and John. They named the baby, John Uhler Lemmon III. Or otherwise known to people as Jack Lemmon. At the time of the birth, his mother Mildred was playing a very tight game of bridge and when little Jack was on his way, Mildred only made it to the elevator in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital, when Jack entered the world. Even the nurses were in love with the little youngster, quoting; "My, look at the little yellow Lemmon!"
Little Jack started kindergarden at the age of 4. He attended Rivers County Day School when still a little lad. Even at the tender age of 4, after appearing with his father in an amateur production of Gold in Them Thar Hills, he declared to his parents that he knew what he wanted to be - an actor. However, Jack was a very sickly child, undergoing several operations until the age of 13. He was treated for such illnesses as tonsillitis and mastoiditis. Jack was also taunted by fellow schoolkids, ribbing him with chants like "Jack, U Lemmon", since his middle name began with a U.
At 13 years old, Jack became infatuated with music, and in the first of his teenage years, he was already learning how to play the piano. He soon became a whizz at playing the piano and decided that music was of a great interest to him, as well as acting. At 16 years old, Jack could also play many harmonica themes and could also play the bull-fiddle, which came in handy for Jack for when he played Jerry/Daphne in 1959's "Some Like It Hot".
Scrawny as a teenager, Jack took up cross-country running so avidly that he eventually broke the New York record for the two-mile. At that time, his father was the owner of The Doughnut Company of America, which could have given Jack the opportunity to have been in the executive suite of the major corporation, being the rightful only child of his parents. But ambitious Jack moved on to study Drama and English Literature at the posh Harvard University at 17 years old. Jack had also, by then, lost his virginity at 17, adding; "Let's just say, I got my foot wedged in the roof supports of the car," smiled Mr Lemmon.
At Andover, Massachusetts, Mr Lemmon became enthralled by the piano and learned to play by ear. This enthusiasm for the ivories overshadowed his interest in acting until late in his senior year when he helped write, direct, and act in the Class Day musical. At Harvard, however, he was active in dramatics from enrollment to commencement and rose to the presidency of the famed Hasty Pudding Club. Graduating in 1947 at the age of 22, Jack served in the Navy as a communication officer with the rank of ensign aboard the carrier, Lake Champlain.
When Jack finished working at the war efforts, he headed to New York and the Great White Way. He worked at odd jobs while he waited for a show business opening. He managed to get one as emcee at the Old Knick Music Hall, a converted movie house. "I was the head waiter, the entire orchestra, the comedian, a 143-pound bouncer, song-and-dance man - you name it," said Mr Lemmon. His salary dipped to a low of five dollars a week, but the exposure proved to be Jack's door opener.
Mr Lemmon started working in radio with running parts in several soap operas, including The Brighter Day and Road to Life. Soon he found himself working a new medium: television. He gave about 500 television performances and appearances, almost all of them live, on such shows as Studio One, Robert Montgomery Presents, Suspense, and Playhouse 90. He also was involved in four series: Wonderful Guy, The Couple Next Door, Heaven for Betsy and The Ad-Libbers. And by that time, Jack had been dating many famous beautiful actresses.
While making the television comedy series, Heaven for Betsy, he had married actress Cynthia Stone, his co-star in the television series. In 1953, Cynthia had their son Christopher, who eventually turned into become an actor and author. In 1953, at the age of 29, Jack made his Broadway debut in Room Service, in which he was noticed by scouts from Hollywood. He was soon summoned west by Harry Cohn, the czar of Columbia Pictures. Mr Cohn tried to change Jack's surname to Lennon but the young actor held firm, winning the admiration of the often tyrannical mogul.
In 1954, the young hopeful started his long, legendary screen career in a film starring opposite comedienne Judy Holliday. He had played the part of Holliday's boyfriend in the comedy "It Should Happen to You". And starred again with Holliday and Jack Carson for "Phffft!" the same year. Jack was cast in a musical the next year with actress Betty Grable, "Three For The Show" (1955).
He became an Academy Award winner in only his fifth movie, winning an Oscar® for his portrayal of the hapless Ensign Pulver in John Ford's "Mister Roberts". Jack then starred in small, minor comedy roles. He had starred in small films in the middle of the 1950s, opposite Janet Leigh in "My Sister Eileen" and June Allyson in "You Can't Run Away from It". Unfortunately in 1956, Jack split with Cynthia Stone. They were married for 6 years. Their son Chris was only 3 years old. Jack filed for divorce papers at the end of 1956. It was then that Mr Lemmon decided to have a 'play' before getting married again too soon.
In 1957, Jack then travelled to Trinidad to film the drama "Fire Down Below" with Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth. The interiors were shot at Warwick Films' studio in London. Jack had developed close friendships with Mitchum and, particularly, Hayworth while the filming took place. "Fire Down Below" did fine at the box office, but Jack was still adament to show the public and the world that he could do both comedy and drama.
Jack then made another small comedy film, named "Operation Mad Ball" the same year. It was released just after "Fire Down Below" and the film earned small box office success. Jack then returned to Drama, playing a wannabe cowboy in the self-titled "Cowboy" in 1958, opposite Glenn Ford. The film was a huge success and the public finally realised that Jack did indeed have the amazing talent to do both drama and comedy roles. In 1958, Jack played warlock Nicky Holroyd in his next comedy, titled "Bell, Book & Candle". The film brought Jack to work with actress Kim Novak and James Stewart. It was rumoured that Jack went on several dates with Novak, when she was, at that time, engaged to the film's director, Richard Quine. But Jack had declared that they were just rumours...at that time. However the rumours, naturally, 'didn't go down well' with director Quine and despite all the production problems suffered, "Bell, Book & Candle" proved to be a major hit.
By now, Jack had became the major star that he is today. Earning a celebrity and comedy reputation, as well as drama, Jack was relishing the ride and he was loving it. His comedic sense of humour alerted a certain major Hollywood director, refering to Mr Billy Wilder. Wilder had watched Jack's comedic talents for many years and was very interested in signing Jack up for Wilder's next major comedy movie, perhaps the Greatest Comedy of all Time, "Some Like It Hot". With Jack's cute sense of humour and handsome looks, Wilder knew that Jack was perfect as Jerry and as the unforgettable Daphne. Wilder had already cast Tony Curtis, another aspiring young actor. Wilder originally wanted Mitzi Gaynor to play to main female lead but Jack reassured Wilder to cast Marilyn Monroe, who was a friend of Jack's. Although Monroe wasn't sure about the role, she decided to accept the offer as she needed the money.
But all was not well on the set. Monroe was between 2-3 hours late to the set and was often unrehearsed. Curtis and Wilder soon became impatient with Marilyn's unprofessionalism, but Jack was never hurtful towards Monroe. The two were great friends during the filming and kept in contact for years afterwards. Despite all the production problems, "Some Like It Hot" would become 1959's most popular and biggest film and has now been ranked as the greatest comedy of all Time. Jack being Jack stole every scene in the movie! Jack was overall delighted with the success. He won an Academy Award for his cross-dressing performance in the film; Monroe also won an award for her startling performance as Sugar.
With several big hits under his belt, Jack then worked on yet another small movie after the huge success of "Some Like It Hot". He played a struggling lawyer with actress Doris Day and built a life-long friendship with her, after starring together in "It Happened to Jane" in 1959. Jack then starred with Shirley MacLaine in another big screen, box office success, "The Apartment". The film was made in 1960 and was again directed by Billy Wilder. MacLaine was already a big name and she was very fond of Jack. The two got on extremely well and their chemistry was clearly shown by the acting in the film. Jack earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for the film. But the film still won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and huge phenominal success.
After releasing comedy "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" just after "The Apartment", Mr Lemmon decided to take leave for a year in 1961 and thought about what next to do. Jack had been seen out and about with many beautiful actresses but he soon got serious with actress Felicia Farr. He was then approached again by director Richard Quine, to make another small movie. Jack wasn't too sure but decided to take the role after finding out that Kim Novak, his close pal, would be his glamourous co-star. The film was named "The Notorious Landlady" and was released in 1962.
Jack pleaded with popular director Blake Edwards to give him the role in Edwards' next drama, "Days of Wine and Roses". Edwards then casted Jack to play alcoholic Joe Clay, opposite English actress Lee Remick. Jack and Edwards became good mates and decided to make a comedy soon after "Days of Wine and Roses". The world was shocked to see their favorite comedian act like a true alcoholic and that's exactly what Jack wanted. But the public then got used to Jack's dramatic side and warmed to his ideas. But in real life, after the filming of "Days of Wine and Roses" ended, Jack suffered alcoholism after acting out such dramatic scenes. It soon got to a point when Jack lashed out at his favorite aunt, that he needed help. He attended Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings. Bad news kept coming, one of Jack's closest friends, Marilyn Monroe, had died, the verdict was of an accidental suicide. And Jack's comedy buddy, Ernie Kovacs, had also died in a car crash. If that wasn't bad enough, Jack's father had passed away too. Things were not looking good for the ill star.
Soon after attending Monroe's funeral on August 8 1962, Jack started to feel better and decided to do what makes him the happiest. Acting. He soon returned to being the loveable Jack Lemmon we all know and love by starring again with Shirley MacLaine in 1963's "Irma La Douce". The film was one of the biggest hits of the year. During filming of the comedy, Jack married for the final time to "Kiss Me Stupid" star Felicia Farr in France. Things were very good for Jack.
Jack was then cast in small comedy roles in the first few years of the '60s. He had made "Under the Yum Yum Tree", "Good Neighbor, Sam" and "How to Murder Your Wife" all during 1963, '64 and '65. And in his private life by the 1960s, Jack was taking his young son Chris on trips to Alaska whenever he had the chance to from his busy schedule, as Chris was living with his mother Cynthia.
With all three being classic hits, Jack was reunited with best pal Tony Curtis to make 1965's wacky "The Great Race". Jack played the classic villainous Professor Fate and the drunken Prince Hapnick in the film. It also starred the beautiful Natalie Wood, another close friend of Jack's whom he met in 1956.
Although getting bad reviews, "The Great Race" proved to be a real smash hit at the box office for 1965. The following year, Jack was finally cast together, for the first time, with good pal Walter Matthau. They started their classic movie partnership with the comedy "The Fortune Cookie", directed by Billy Wilder. The movie was a massive success, earning Matthau an Oscar award for his role as the crooked lawyer. At the age of 41 in 1966, Jack had a daughter with his wife Felicia. Her name was Courtney Lemmon. Jack was then cast in 1967's romantic comedy "Luv" opposite Peter Falk, his co-star in "The Great Race". Jack also made "The Odd Couple" that same year with Walter Matthau. Based on a Neil Simon play, "The Odd Couple" was the most popular film of the 1960s and Jack was getting more popular and famous by the day.
In 1969, Jack made "The April Fools" with Catherine Deneuve. Another comedy which was another big hit for Jack. By 1970, Jack had made the legendary classic "The Out-of-Towners" with comedienne Sandy Dennis. The film took box offices by storm and Jack had become a national institution. But by now, Jack felt he had a point to make. This time he wanted to direct a film. And so he did. In 1971, he directed the comedy drama "Kotch", starring good pal Walter Matthau and Jack's wife Felicia Farr. But in the end, Jack felt uncomfortable behind the camera, rather than in front of it. Although he had a very small minor role in the film, he still felt he belonged performing instead of instructing. "Kotch" received reasonably good reviews but had made just enough money to be a success. But Jack soon returned to the screens to make the comedy "The War Between Men and Women" in 1972. It was another hit for that year. Jack was then cast with English actress Juliet Mills. They starred in "Avanti!", it was once again directed by Billy Wilder. The film made millions at the box office.
His next serious film was as Harry Stoner in 1973's "Save the Tiger". His stunning performance earned him his second Oscar® award for "Best Actor", after winning "Best Supporting Actor" for 1955's "Mister Roberts". Jack is still currently the only actor to have ever won two Oscar® awards in an actors' life. Next, Jack starred in the comedy "The Front Page", directed by Billy Wilder, and starring with good pal Walter Matthau. The film was a slow-moving success. In 1975 when Jack turned 50, he starred in the comedy drama "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" as Mel Edison, co-starring with Anne Bancroft. But it was in 1979 that Jack's even darker side came out. "The China Syndrome" is a thriller that showed Jack could definately carry out a big budget drama thriller.
In 1981, Jack starred in the last film that he did with Billy Wilder before Wilder retired. The film was named "Buddy Buddy" and co-starred Jack with Walter Matthau. A comedy with drama mixed in. In 1982, Jack went back to the serious acting, and starred in the drama based on a true story, "Missing" co-starring Sissy Spacek. The film was a huge success. In 1983, Jack took a break from acting.
Mr Lemmon next starred in 1986's successful drama "That's Life" with Julie Andrews. Jack was now starring in many successful television projects in 1988. In 1989, Jack received the Life Achievement Award of the American Film Institute. By now, Jack had also found a new passion for golf and entered several golf tournaments.
In 1992, Jack starred in the comedy drama "Glengarry Glen Ross", opposite one of Jack's biggest fans, Kevin Spacey. The film was a fast-moving success and Jack had another huge hit under his belt. But it was Jack's next film that helped make Jack into one of the world's beloved actors. He starred in the comedy "Grumpy Old Men" with Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret, who starred as Mr Lemmon's love interest. A sequel in 1995 came, titled "Grumpy Old Men", this time also starring the ageing beauty Sophia Loren. Both were massive successes.
Mr Lemmon made his debut as a guest star on the American cartoon show "The Simpsons" in 1997. He voiced a character called Frank Ormond who convinces Marge to get into the Pretzel business. Soon after this, he returned to the movies in the outrageous comedy "Out to Sea" with Walter Matthau in 1997.
At the age of 73, Jack was beginning to have several operations, and it turned out that Jack was suffering from a very rare bladder cancer. But Jack had kept this secret from the world for two whole years. He carried on working as acting had always made Mr Lemmon the happiest in life. In 1999, Jack starred in the television project, "Tuesdays with Morrie" which proved to be his final major role and an appropriate end to his stellar career. Jack was overall pleased with everything he did. Sadly on June 27 2001, one of the world's most beloved actors Jack Lemmon died of cancer. He was in a Los Angeles hospital with his wife Felicia Farr and his two children, Chris and Courtney, by his side. It is believed that his last words were: "Yes...I'm Jack Lemmon". He was buried at the Westwood Memorial Park, only a few graves next to Marilyn Monroe and Walter Matthau, who had died a year before Jack did.
