Jack Klugman

Biography

Jack Klugman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1922, the youngest of six children of Russian-Jewish immigrants Rochel “Rose” (née Chaikin), a milliner, and Mendel “Max” Klugman, a house painter. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, later Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh. Klugman was active in numerous stage, television, and film productions. In 1952, he made his Broadway debut in Golden Boy as Frank Bonaparte. Klugman played Jim Hanson on the soap opera The Greatest Gift. He appeared in several classic films, including as juror number five in 12 Angry Men (1957). From 1960 to 1963, Klugman appeared in four episodes of The Twilight Zone series. In 1964, he won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his guest-starring role on The Defenders. He was cast in the starring role in the situation comedy Harris Against the World. Klugman continued the decade with multiple guest roles on television. In 1970, he reprised the role of Oscar Madison in the television adaptation of The Odd Couple opposite Tony Randall. From 1976 to 1983, he starred in the title role in Quincy, M.E., for which he earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Klugman was nominated for ten Emmy awards, winning three. He appeared on Broadway in Tchin-Tchin from October 1962 to May 1963.