Jack Gilford

Biography

Jack Gilford was an American actor of Broadway, film and television. Born in Manhattan, he was spotted by Milton Berle while working in a pharmacy, and Berle became his mentor. His first screen appearance came in the 1936 short Midnight Melodies, where he performed impersonations. In 1938 he served as master of ceremonies at Cafe Society, an integrated nightclub in New York. He built a Broadway reputation in plays such as Drink To Me Only, Romanoff and Juliet and The Diary of Anne Frank. In 1962 he played Hysterium in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and he later earned Tony nominations for that role and for Herr Schultz in Cabaret. A specialist in pantomime, he portrayed the silent King Sextimus in Once Upon a Mattress. His performance in Save the Tiger (1973) brought an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and he also appeared in Cocoon (1985). He died in 1990.

81years old at death

Born July 25, 1908Manhattan
Died June 4, 1990New York City
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22

Movie Career

Films: 13
Career span: 22 years1966 to 1988

Genres

Comedy77%, 10 films
Drama23%, 3 films
Crime15%, 2 films
Mystery15%, 2 films
Romance15%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Milton Berle found Gilford while he was working in a pharmacy, and Berle went on to serve as his mentor.
First role
In a 1936 short called Midnight Melodies, Gilford made his film debut, performing imitations of George Jessel, Rudy Vallee and Harry Langdon.
Own stunts
Gilford created several unique impressions that turned into his trademarks. The best known was a furious boil of split pea soup, which he performed using only his face.
A first
Barney Josephson owned and operated Cafe Society, and in 1938 Gilford served there as master of ceremonies. The club was the first integrated nightclub in downtown New York.

Jack Gilford movies on Netflix

Arthur 2: On the Rocks1988IMDb rating 4.7as Mr. Butterworth
Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4as Bernard 'Bernie' Lefkowitz
Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7as Bernie Lefkowitz
Caveman1981IMDb rating 5.8as Gog
Cheaper to Keep Her1980IMDb rating 5.0as Stanley Bracken
Wholly Moses!1980IMDb rating 4.8as Tailor
Harry and Walter Go to New York1976IMDb rating 5.4as Mischa
Save the Tiger1973IMDb rating 6.9as Phil Greene
They Might Be Giants1971IMDb rating 6.7as Wilbur Peabody
Catch-221970IMDb rating 7.1as Doc Daneeka
The Incident1967IMDb rating 7.6as Sam Beckerman
Who's Minding the Mint?1967IMDb rating 7.0as Avery Dugan
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum1966IMDb rating 6.8as Hysterium

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Cocoon1985 Sci-Fias Bernie Lefkowitz
IMDb rating 6.774K votes
Catch-221970 Comedy, Drama, Waras Doc Daneeka
IMDb rating 7.127K votes
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum1966as Hysterium
IMDb rating 6.811K votes
Cocoon: The Return1988as Bernard 'Bernie' Lefkowitz
IMDb rating 5.418K votes
Save the Tiger1973as Phil Greene
IMDb rating 6.96.2K votes
Caveman1981as Gog
IMDb rating 5.89.5K votes
They Might Be Giants1971as Wilbur Peabody
IMDb rating 6.73.6K votes
The Incident1967as Sam Beckerman
IMDb rating 7.65.7K votes

Most often with

Seventeen actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Martin Sheen

Steve Guttenberg

Hume Cronyn

Wilford Brimley

Jessica Tandy

Don Ameche

Films together

Martin Sheen2 films together, 1967 to 1970
Martin Sheen's page
- Catch-221970IMDb rating 7.1Gilford as Doc DaneekaSheen as Dobbs
- The Incident1967IMDb rating 7.6Gilford as Sam BeckermanSheen as Artie Connors
Steve Guttenberg2 films together, 1985 to 1988
Steve Guttenberg's page
- Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4Gilford as Bernard 'Bernie' LefkowitzGuttenberg as Jack Bonner
- Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7Gilford as Bernie LefkowitzGuttenberg as Jack Bonner
Hume Cronyn2 films together, 1985 to 1988
Hume Cronyn's page
- Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4Gilford as Bernard 'Bernie' LefkowitzCronyn as Joseph 'Joe' Finley
- Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7Gilford as Bernie LefkowitzCronyn as Joe Finley
Wilford Brimley2 films together, 1985 to 1988
Wilford Brimley's page
- Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4Gilford as Bernard 'Bernie' LefkowitzBrimley as Benjamin 'Ben' Luckett
- Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7Gilford as Bernie LefkowitzBrimley as Ben Luckett
Jessica Tandy2 films together, 1985 to 1988
Jessica Tandy's page
- Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4Gilford as Bernard 'Bernie' LefkowitzTandy as Alma Finley
- Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7Gilford as Bernie LefkowitzTandy as Alma Finley
Don Ameche2 films together, 1985 to 1988
Don Ameche's page
- Cocoon: The Return1988IMDb rating 5.4Gilford as Bernard 'Bernie' LefkowitzAmeche as Art Selwyn
- Cocoon1985IMDb rating 6.7Gilford as Bernie LefkowitzAmeche as Art Selwyn
Also two films together11 more actors
- Dudley MooreArthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) and Wholly Moses! (1980)
- Maureen StapletonCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Paul BenedictArthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) and They Might Be Giants (1971)
- Gwen VerdonCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Herta WareCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Barret OliverCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Linda HarrisonCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Tahnee WelchCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Mike NomadCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Tyrone Power Jr.Cocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
- Wendy J. CookeCocoon: The Return (1988) and Cocoon (1985)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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