Jack Klugman, star of 'The Odd Couple' and 'Quincy,' dead at 90

**Seth82** · December 24th, 2012, 06:15 PM

Jack Klugman, star of 'The Odd Couple' and 'Quincy,' dead at 90 - NY Daily News

Jack Klugman, star of 'The Odd Couple' and 'Quincy,' dead at 90

Actor had breakthrough in 1958 film, '12 Angry Men'

Jack Klugman attends the opening night of 'Lombardi' on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 2010.

Jack Klugman, the legendary television actor best known for his role as one half of “The Odd Couple,” has died at age 90.
Klugman died peacefully at his Northridge, Calif. home Monday, with his wife at his side, the Associated Press reported.

Born in rough-and-tumble South Philadelphia to Russian Jewish immigrants, Klugman took the part that made him famous in the 1970s, playing the sloppy, cigar-puffing Oscar Madison opposite Tony Randall as neurotic neat freak Felix Unger.

Klugman with Tony Randall in 'The Odd Couple'

In the show, the quirky pair shared a Manhattan apartment and a dysfunctional relationship that amused legions of ABC viewers for five goofy seasons.

Klugman won two Emmy Awards and earned a Golden Globe as Oscar, a sports journalist for the New York Times.

"Quincy, M.E." came next, in 1975 on NBC, with Klugman cast in the title role as a tough Los Angeles County coroner with a gift for solving crimes.

Jack Klugman (l., with Robert Ito) diagnoses a plot twist on an episode of 'Quincy'

The long-running program was the precursor to shows such as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and other forensic dramas.

Before his T.V. career got going, Klugman — the son of a house painter father and hat maker mother — appeared in several films, including “12 Angry Men.”

The last surviving actor from the classic courtroom drama lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s, but trained himself to speak again.

The stars of '12 Angry Men': (From l.) E.G. Marshall, John Fiedler, Henry Fonda, Ed Begley, Robert Webber, Jack Klugman, George Voskovec, Martin Balsam, Joseph Sweeney, 1957

**KrisNine** · December 24th, 2012, 06:18 PM

Oh, no!! This one hurts

**levitt** · December 24th, 2012, 06:20 PM

R.I.P Jack

**BITTER** · December 24th, 2012, 06:28 PM

Loved him in Quincy. RIP.

**msdeb** · December 24th, 2012, 06:34 PM

RIP Jack. I loved Quincy.

**HWBL** · December 24th, 2012, 06:34 PM

He survived throat cancer decades ago. His voicebox was removed and he was left with a horrible raspy sound. His good friend Tony Randall always made sure Jack had acting jobs in spite of that. 90 is a very good run, especially since his serious illness. R.I.P. Mr. Klugman.

**Brookie** · December 24th, 2012, 07:10 PM

Vaya con Dios, Jack. Damn.

**InigoMontoya** · December 24th, 2012, 07:45 PM

Man, I loved Quincy and The Odd Couple. R.I.P, Quincy.

**faithanne** · December 24th, 2012, 11:37 PM

RIP Oscar.

**Waterslide** · December 24th, 2012, 11:43 PM

Grew up watching him on TV. Loved him on The Odd Couple from as long back as I can remember and then Quincy. And of course 12 Angry Men. Really sad. Rest in peace, Mr. Klugman, you will be missed but never forgotten.

**SHELLEE** · December 25th, 2012, 12:12 AM

Rip mr klugman. You were great.

**mostroop** · December 25th, 2012, 12:41 AM

Another great actor gone.

RIP

**Kathie_Moffett** · December 25th, 2012, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by Waterslide

Grew up watching him on TV. Loved him on The Odd Couple from as long back as I can remember and then Quincy. And of course 12 Angry Men. Really sad. Rest in peace, Mr. Klugman, you will be missed but never forgotten.

This. My late mother was lucky enough to see him in the original production of "Gypsy" on Broadway in 1959. Wish I'd been there. We both adored him and would watch anything he was in. RIP dear man, you were absolutely wonderful.