Theater News

Actor Jack Warden Dies at 85

Jack Warden
Jack Warden

Actor Jack Warden died of heart and kidney failure and other medical problems on Wednesday, July 19 in a New York hospital. He was 85.

Born on September 18, 1920 in Newark, New Jersey, Warden had a brief career as a prizefighter and worked as a nightclub bouncer and lifeguard before serving as a paratrooper in World War II. His first professional acting job was with the Margo Jones repertory troupe in 1947. On Broadway, he appeared in such shows as Golden Boy (1952), Lullaby (1954), A View from the Bridge (1955), A Very Special Baby (1956), The Body Beautiful (1958), and The Man in the Glass Booth (1968). His final Broadway show was the notorious flop Stages. Written and co-produced by Stuart Ostrow, the play closed on its opening night: March 19, 1978.

Among Warden’s many film credits are From Here to Eternity, Edge of the City, 12 Angry Men, Run Silent, Run Deep, Donovan’s Reef, All the President’s Men, The Champ, …And Justice For All, Being There, Problem Child and its sequel, Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway and Mighty Aphrodite, Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, Ed, Bulworth, and The Replacements.

Through the decades, Warden starred or co-starred on the weekly TV series Mister Peepers, The Asphalt Jungle, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, N.Y.P.D., Jigsaw John, The Bad News Bears, and Crazy Like a Fox. In 1972, he won an Emmy Award for his performance in the television film Brian’s Song. He subsequently received Academy Award nominations for his supporting roles in Shampoo and Heaven Can Wait, both of which starred Warren Beatty.