ACTOR · BORN 1922 · DIED 2012
Jack Klugman
- Born
- 27 April 1922, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Died
- 24 December 2012
- Known for
- 12 Angry Men (1957), Quincy M.E. (1976), The Odd Couple (1970), Around the World in 80 Days (1989)
31 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Jack Klugman (27 April 1922 – 24 December 2012) was an actor best known for 12 Angry Men, Quincy M.E. and The Odd Couple.
31 Interesting Facts About Jack Klugman
Interesting Facts (12)
- #001
In the final season of The Odd Couple, Jack Klugman earned $7,000 per episode, but his real fortune came from a 10% share of the 1970 film of the same name on which the series was based. That share brought him far more money than the series did and provided long-term financial security.
- #002
Jack Klugman played Juror No. 5 in the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, one of the most memorable works in cinema history. As the last surviving member of the film's jury members, he was an important witness to both the film and its era.
- #003
Jack Klugman and Tony Randall appeared together in the 1955 production The Pirate's House, broadcast during television's golden age. It foreshadowed the unforgettable chemistry the pair would show in The Odd Couple, the legendary comedy series that began in 1970.
Jack Klugman: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · ABC Television, Public domain - #004
For many years it was believed that Jack Klugman and the actor Norman Fell had a bitter feud lasting more than 40 years. Klugman later denied these claims, explaining that their relationship was in fact nothing more than a friendly rivalry and that they got along well.
Jack Klugman: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · ABC Television, Public domain - #005
In 1977, Jack Klugman competed in billiards on the Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes. Although he won the match, he was ruled to have lost by forfeit because he forgot to call the final shot as the rules required; the incident became one of his memorable moments and showed his competitive spirit.
- #006
Jack Klugman was one of the figures honored on Dean Martin's famous Celebrity Roasts. On the program he was both teased and praised in humorous fashion by his colleagues, which showed his standing in the industry.
- #007
Jack Klugman married his longtime partner Peggy Crosby on February 2, 2008, at The Little Brown Church in Studio City, California. The marriage was a union in which he found happiness and peace in the last period of his life.
- #008
Klugman appeared in the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, which was later remade with Jack Lemmon. Klugman went on to play Oscar Madison in the television series based on The Odd Couple, in which Lemmon played Felix Unger. In April 2012 he took the stage in a different role in the play '12 Angry Men' at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.
- #009
Klugman served on the board of directors of the National Actors Theatre in New York. It was an important responsibility that demonstrated his commitment to the theatre and his contributions to the industry.
Jack Klugman: R. Quincy, M.e., behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · NBC Television, Public domain - #010
Klugman was at one time a part-owner of a racehorse named 'Jaklin Klugman'. The horse reflected his interest in horse racing and was both a hobby and a source of passion for him.
- #011
Klugman's ashes were interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles; his grave lies directly above those of two sisters with the surname Unger. This symbolic placement recalls the unforgettable bond between his The Odd Couple character Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, played by Tony Randall.
- #012
In 2007 Klugman attended a private memorial for the famous television host Merv Griffin. The ceremony honoured Griffin's contributions to the industry and brought together his close friends.
Career & Awards (8)
- #013
In 1998, Jack Klugman reunited with Tony Randall on Broadway in Neil Simon's play 'The Sunshine Boys.' The reunion was highly significant, as the two veteran actors shared the same stage again after many years.
- #014
Jack Klugman won two Emmy Awards for his performance as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple. These awards confirmed his mastery of comedy and the depth he brought to the character.
Jack Klugman: Senator Robert Ferguson, behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · NBC Television, Public domain - #015
Jack Klugman had a difficult childhood and had to work as a street vendor at a young age. In the early years of his acting career he faced financial hardship and went through such hard times that he sold his blood for $5 to make a living.
- #016
In 1960, Jack Klugman was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance in the musical 'Gypsy' on Broadway. The nomination was recorded as an important achievement in his theater career.
- #017
From September 12 to October 19, 2003, Jack Klugman performed a one-man show titled 'An Evening with Jack Klugman' at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank, California. The show was an intimate event in which he shared important memories and experiences from his career with the audience.
- #018
Among the actors he worked with, Klugman considered Henry Fonda the greatest. Appearing alongside Fonda in 12 Angry Men was an unforgettable experience for him, and his admiration for Fonda's acting lasted throughout his career.
- #019
Klugman was one of the character actors who best reflected the ordinary man on screen. He was a pioneer of television acting in the 1950s, and in the 1970s he was remembered for Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and for the medical examiner role in Quincy, M.E.
Jack Klugman: R. Quincy, M.e.Image: Wikimedia Commons · NBC Television, Public domain - #020
Klugman took the stage at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in James Sweet's play 'The Value of Names'. The performance demonstrated the diversity of his theatre career and his command of different characters.
Life & Family (11)
- #021
Jack Klugman trained as an actor at the prestigious Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The solid theatrical training he received there laid the foundation for his successful performances on both stage and screen.
- #022
Jack Klugman's passion for horse racing began when he started betting at the age of 15. His interest continued in later years, and with his own thoroughbred 'Jaklin Klugman' he finished third in the 1980 Kentucky Derby, a great source of pride for him.
- #023
Among the many episodes of The Odd Couple, Jack Klugman's favorite was the 1972 episode 'Password.' For him it was both an enjoyable experience and one of his fondest memories of the series.
- #024
Jack Klugman married Peggy Crosby, the former wife of Phillip Crosby, son of the famous singer Bing Crosby. The marriage was an important turning point in his life, and he and Peggy had a relationship that lasted many years.
- #025
Jack Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1974, and the illness led to vocal cord surgery in 1989. After the surgery his voice was permanently hoarse and raspy; this was written into his characters in productions such as The Odd Couple: Together Again, Dear God and Diagnosis Murder, and his struggle became part of his acting.
- #026
Jack Klugman lived with Barbara Neugass from 1978 to 1992, when their relationship ended. Neugass claimed that Klugman had promised to support her for life as his common-law wife and sought $881,000 in palimony. The case was dismissed because Klugman was still legally married at the time, and in 1999 a Los Angeles jury rejected Neugass's claim.
- #027
Jack Klugman was the father of two sons, Adam and David, and was also the stepfather of Leslie Klein. His family always held an important place in his life, and he built close relationships with his sons.
- #028
Jack Klugman and his wife Brett Somers legally separated in 1977, but they did not divorce because of their religious beliefs and remained married until Somers's death. This showed that both a personal and a spiritual bond continued throughout their lives.
- #029
Klugman was the uncle of Deborah Klugman and the brother of Maurice Klugman. His family held an important place in his life, and he maintained a close relationship with his brother.
- #030
Klugman died on 24 December 2012; the famous actor Charles Durning also died the same day. The coincidence, with two master actors leaving us on the same day, caused deep sorrow in the film world.
- #031
After being diagnosed with throat cancer in 1974, Klugman underwent vocal cord surgery in 1989 and his voice was permanently hoarsened. This condition was written into his characters in productions such as The Odd Couple: Together Again, Dear God and Physician, Murder Thyself, so that his struggle with illness became part of his acting.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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