Jack Somack (September 14, 1918 – August 24, 1983) was an American chemical engineer,[1] and actor. He is best remembered for his appearance in the Alka-Seltzer "spicy meatball" television commercial.[1][2]
Jack Somack | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 14, 1918 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 1983 (aged 64) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Chemical engineer, commercial, film, television and theatre actor |
| Years active | 1966–1983 |
Life and career
editSomack was born in Chicago, Illinois.[3] He began his acting career in 1966, playing the lead role of Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge.[4][5]
In 1969 Somack appeared in the Alka-Seltzer "spicy meatball" commercial.[6][5] He also appeared in the Broadway plays Paris Is Out! and The Prisoner of Second Avenue.[3][7][8]
In the 1970s and 1980s Somack appeared and guest-starred in film and television programs including Barney Miller,[1] The Rockford Files, Portnoy's Complaint,[9] Sanford and Son, All in the Family, The Love Boat, Desperate Characters, Laverne & Shirley, The Frisco Kid, Eight Is Enough, The Pursuit of Happiness, Starsky & Hutch, Hero at Large, Kojak, The Main Event, The Jimmy Stewart Show, The Blue Knight and Family Ties.[4][10] He also starred in the short-lived television series Ball Four[11] and The Stockard Channing Show.[12]
Death
editSomack died August 24, 1983, of a heart attack at the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles,[5] at the age of 64.[1][13] He had been rehearsing for a role in the television series Benson.[4][5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | A Punt, a Pass, and a Prayer | Trainer | TV movie |
| 1969 | Generation | Airline Policeman | |
| 1970 | London Affair | N.Y. Landlord -Loser!! | |
| 1971 | The Pursuit of Happiness | Judge Palumbo | |
| 1971 | Desperate Characters | Leon | |
| 1972 | Heat of Anger | Mr. Stoller | TV movie |
| 1972 | Portnoy's Complaint | Jack Portnoy | |
| 1975 | Blood Bath | Ralph Lambert | |
| 1979 | The Main Event | Murry | |
| 1979 | The Frisco Kid | Samuel Bender | |
| 1979 | The Little Rascals' Christmas Special | Santa (voice) | TV movie |
| 1980 | Hero at Large | Waiter | |
| 1980 | Carlton Your Doorman | Charles Shaftman (voice) | TV movie |
| 1983 | The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair | The Tailor | TV movie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Love Is a Many Splendored Thing | Amos Crump | unknown episodes |
| 1969 | N.Y.P.D. | Jerry Jameson | 1 episode |
| 1971 | The Partners | Mr. Kellner | 1 episode |
| 1972–1976 | All in the Family | Tony Vicino/Tiny Stillberforce | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | The Jimmy Stewart Show | Coach Wylie | 1 episode |
| 1975–1980 | Barney Miller | Mr. Cotterman | 6 episodes |
| 1975 | Sanford and Son | Gabey | 1 episode |
| 1975–1978 | Kojak | Muttel/Charlie Gerson | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | The Rockford Files | Oliver Prey | 1 episode |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight | Mort Kalish | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Popi | Mr. Goldman | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Ball Four | 'Cap' Capogrosso | 5 episodes |
| 1977 | Man from Atlantis | Encyclopedia Salesman | 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Jeffersons | Papa Panelli | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Starsky & Hutch | Detective Peterson | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Eight Is Enough | 1 episode | |
| 1978 | Laverne & Shirley | Officer Newman | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Salvage 1 | Burton | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Stockard Channing in Just Friends | Marty | 1 episode |
| 1980 | The Stockard Channing Show | Mr. Kramer | 7 episodes |
| 1980 | The Love Boat | Buzz Plesser | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Family Ties | Mr. Adler | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Gloria | Mr. Rosenbloom | 1 episode |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Obituaries". United Press International. August 30, 1983. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ Timberg, Robert (October 12, 2004). State of Grace: A Memoir of Twilight Time. Simon and Schuster. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-6848-5561-5. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Jack Somack". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Jack Somack Is Dead at 64;Television and Movie Actor". The New York Times. September 1, 1983. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Heart attack claims actor Jack Somack". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs. August 30, 1983. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
- ^ TV Guide. Vol. 47. Triangle Publications. 1999. p. 32 – via Google Books.
{{cite book}}:|magazine=ignored (help) - ^ Starr, Michael (2002). Art Carney: A Biography. Applause Theater & Cinema Books. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-5578-3565-9 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Jack Sornack for 'Prisoner'". The New York Times. May 8, 1972. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "Road To Success Paved With Meatballs". Radford News Journal. February 28, 1972. p. 5 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Jack Somack". TV Guide. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "TV Key Previews: Ball Four". The Fresno Bee. September 22, 1976. p. E8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "TV Guide". TV Guide. Vol. 28. March 1980. pp. 63–69 – via Google Books.
- ^ Decker, Cathleen (August 30, 1983). "Jack Somack, Star of Alka-Seltzer Ad, Dies". Los Angeles Times. p. 14. Retrieved July 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.