Warden, Jack 1920–2006

PERSONAL

Original name, John H. Lebzelter; born Setpember 18, 1920, in Newark, NJ; died July 19, 2006, in New York, NY. Actor. Warden was a professional boxer and served in the United States Navy and the Merchant Marine before turning to acting. He was a member of Margo Jones' Dallas Alley Theater repertory company in the late 1940s and also appeared on stage in New York City in such plays as Golden Boy, A View from the Bridge, and A Very Special Baby in the 1950s. Warden won an Obie Award in 1964 for his performance in the play Cages. Warden's film debut was the uncredited role of Morse in You're in the Navy Now in 1951. This was quickly followed by numerous film roles, including Warden's film From Here to Eternity in 1953, Twelve Angry Men in 1957, and The Sound and the Fury in 1959. Through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Warden continued to appear in films, among them the memorable The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Shampoo, All the President's Men, and Heaven Can Wait, which garnered Warden an Academy Award nomination. Later films included Bullets over Broadway in 1994, Bulworth in 1998, and The Replacements in 2000. Though Warden worked steadily as a film actor throughout his career, he was also a busy television actor. He appeared in such television series as Mr. Peepers, Gallagher, The Bad News Bears, and Crazy Like a Fox. He won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Coach George Halas in the television movie Brian's Song and was a frequent guest star on television shows, including Kraft Television Theatre, Wagon Train, The Twilight Zone, and The Virginian.

PERIODICALS

Time, July 31, 2006.

Variety, July 31, 2006.