Jack Carter (comedian)

Jack Carter (born Jack Chakrin; June 24, 1922 – June 28, 2015) was an American comedian, actor, and television presenter.[1] Brooklyn-born, Carter had a long-running comedy act similar to fellow rapid-paced contemporaries Milton Berle and Morey Amsterdam.[2]

Jack Carter
Carter in 1949
Born
Jack Chakrin[1]

(1922-06-24)June 24, 1922
Brooklyn, New York U.S.
DiedJune 28, 2015(2015-06-28) (aged 93)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • television presenter
Years active1942–2014
Spouses
Joan Mann
​
​
(m. 1949; div. 1958)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1961; div. 1970)​
      Roxanne Wander
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1971; div. 1977)​
        ​
        ​
        (m. 1992⁠–⁠2015)​
        Children4
        Signature
        Jack Carter and Paula Stewart (1959)

        Life and career

        Carter was born in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, in 1922 to Anna (née Borofsky) and Harry Chakrin, immigrants from Russia. His parents owned a candy store there where he began to dance on tables at the age of 3.[3] Carter served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He hosted an early television variety program called Cavalcade of Stars on the DuMont Network. He was lured to NBC to host his own program titled The Jack Carter Show. Carter recommended Jackie Gleason take his place as host of Cavalcade of Stars, though DuMont did not hire Gleason until the network's choice, Jerry Lester, also jumped to NBC. The Jack Carter Show appeared under the banner of the Saturday Night Revue, NBC's 2+1⁄2-hour Saturday night programming slot. Carter hosted his show for one hour each week followed by the 90-minute Your Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. Carter remained friends with Sid Caesar his entire life and delivered the eulogy at his funeral.[4]

        His only major Broadway appearance was opposite Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1956 musical Mr. Wonderful. He earlier replaced Phil Silvers in the Broadway show Top Banana. He was a frequent guest on The Ed Sullivan Show during the 1960s and early 1970s, and was known for his impression of Ed Sullivan. He appeared as himself (along with his then-wife Paula Stewart) in the comedy series The Joey Bishop Show. In the late 1960s, he was the host of a game-show pilot called Second Guessers. The pilot did not sell. He was also a frequent panelist on the television game show Match Game during the 1973–1974 season and again during the early 1980s. In 1975, he appeared as a guest star on the quiz show $10,000 Pyramid with contestant Liz Hogan Schultz, and appeared as the ill-fated mayor in the cult horror film Alligator in 1980.[5]

        Starting in the 1970s, Carter was on more than ten Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts for some popular television stars and sports personalities.

        In 1981, he starred as Fagin in the stage performance of Oliver! at the Birmingham Theater in (Birmingham, Michigan) alongside Shani Wallis as Nancy.

        He made appearances on many television series, including Diagnosis: Unknown, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Combat!, The Love Boat, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Rockford Files, Emergency!, Cannon, The Wild Wild West, Tales of Tomorrow, The Kallikaks, Password, $weepstake$, The Ren & Stimpy Show, 7th Heaven, Diagnosis Murder, The Road West, Sanford and Son, Tattletales, Monk, Rules of Engagement, Living Single, iCarly, Desperate Housewives, and Shameless and voice work on King of the Hill. His last round of work included a cameo on New Girl and a voice on Family Guy. He was a guest on Norm Macdonald's video podcast, Norm Macdonald Live, in 2014.

        Carter died on June 28, 2015, four days after his 93rd birthday, at his home in Beverly Hills, California, of respiratory failure.[6]

        See also

        Selected filmography

        References
        1. Gertner, Richard (1982). International television almanac. Quigley Publishing Company. pp. 44–. ISBN 9780900610271. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
        2. "Jack Carter Net Worth: Late Comedian's Beverly Hills Mansion Listed For $5.825M". Realty Today. December 2, 2015.
        3. Hevesi, Dennis (June 29, 2015). "Jack Carter, Comedian Who Brought His Rapid-Fire Delivery to TV, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
        4. Carter, Jack (August 4, 2014). "Norm Macdonald Live" (Interview). Interviewed by Norm Macdonald. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
        5. Canby, Vincent. "Alligator" (film review), The New York Times, Friday, June 5, 1981. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
        6. "Comedian Jack Carter Dead at 93". Variety. June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
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