lunes, 6 de marzo de 2017

Jack Palance, The Atila of cinema.

Jack Palance born Volodymyr Palahniuk; February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor and singer. He was nominated for three Oscars, all for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1992 for his role in city slickers.

Beginings.

Palance was born in Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, the son of Anna and Ivan Palahniuk, an anthracite coal miner. His parents were Ukrainian immigrants, his father a native of Ivane Zolote in southwestern Ukraine (modern Ternopil Oblast) and his mother from the Lviv Oblast, an ethnic Pole. One of six children, he worked in coal mines during his youth before becoming a professional boxer in the late 1930s.
Fighting under the name Jack Brazzo, Palance reportedly compiled a record of 15 consecutive victories with 12 knockouts before losing a close decision to future heavyweight contender Joe Baksi in a Pier-6 brawl. Years later he recounted: "Then, I thought, you must be nuts to get your head beat in for $200."
With the outbreak of World war II, Palance's athletic career ended, and his military career began as a member of the United states army air forces. Palance's face, which took many beatings in the boxing ring, was said to have become disfigured while bailing out of a burning B-24 Liberator bomber during a training flight over Southern Arizona (where Palance was a student pilot). His distinctive cheekbones and deep-set eyes were said to have been the result of reconstructive surgery. The story behind Palance's face was repeated numerous times (including in respected film reference works), but upon his death, several obituaries of Palance quoted him as saying that the entire story had been contrived: "Studio press agents make up anything they want to, and reporters go along with it. One flack created the legend that I had been blown up in an air crash during the war, and my face had to be put back together by way of plastic surgery. If it is a 'bionic face', why didn't they do a better job of it?"
Palance was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1944. After the war, he attended Standford University, leaving one credit shy of graduating to pursue a career in the theatre During his university years, he worked as a short order cook, waiter, soda jerk, lifeguard at Jones beach state park, and photographer's model. His last name was actually a derivative of his original name. In an episode of What's My Line?, he described how no one could pronounce his last name and it was suggested he be called Palanski. From that he decided to just use Palance instead.

Palance in The Godchild (1974)
Palance's acting break came as Marlon Brando´s understudy in A Streetcar Named Desire, and he eventually replaced Brando on stage as Stanley kowalski.
In 1947, Palance made his Broadway debut. He debuted on television in 1949, and this was followed a year later by his screen debut in the movie Panic in the streets (1950). The same year he was featured in Halls of Montezuma about the United States Marines in World War II, where he was credited as "Walter (Jack) Palance". Palance was quickly recognized for his skill as a character actor, receiving an Oscar nomination for his third film role as Lester Blaine in Sudden Fear.
The following year, Palance was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the hired gunfighter Jack Wilson in Shane. Several Western roles followed, but he also played varied roles such as Dr. Jekyll, Dracula and Attila the hun.
Three years before Palance played the role, comic book artist Gene Colan based his interpretation of Dracula for the acclaimed series The tomb of Dracula on Palance, explaining, "He had that cadaverous look, a serpentine look on his face. I knew that Jack Palance would do the perfect Dracula."
He became a Hollywood leading man, starring in Man in the attic, followed by mid-1950s films such as The big knife, in which he played a conflicted Hollywood movie star, and I died a thousand times, a scene-by-scene remake of High sierra (1941) with Palance in the role played previously by H. Bogart.
In 1957, Palance won an Emmy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Mountain McClintock in the Playhouse 90 production of Rod serling´s Rq for a Heavyweight.
Jean Luc Godard persuaded Palance to take on the role of Hollywood producer Jeremy Prokosch in the nouvelle vague movie Le Mépris (1963). Although the main dialogue was in french, Palance spoke mostly English.
Palance provided narration for the 1967 documentary, And Still Champion! The Story of Archie Moore.
Later, in 1966, he appeared in the television movie Alice Through the Looking Glass, directed by Alan Handley, in which he played the Jabberwock. He had a featured role opposite Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster in the Western adventure The profesionals (1966).
In 1969, Palance recorded a country music album in Nashville, released on Warner Bros. Records. It featured Palance's self-penned song "The Meanest Guy That Ever Lived". The album was re-released on CD in 2003 by the Water label (Water 119).
Palance starred in the television series Bronk between 1975 and 1976 for MGM Television.
In 1980, Jack Palance narrated the documentary The Strongest Man in the World by Canadian filmmaker Halya Kuchmij, about Mike Swistun, a circus strongman who had been a student of Houdini´s. Palance attended the premiere of the film on June 6, 1980 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
In 1982, Palance began hosting a television revival of Ripley´s believe it or not! The weekly series ran from 1982 to 1986 on the American ABC network. The series also starred three different co-hosts from season to season, including Palance's daughter Holly, actress Catherine Shirriff and singer Marie Osmond. Ripley's Believe It or Not! was in rerun syndication on the Sci-fi Channel (UK) and Sci-fi Channel (US) during the 1990s.
Palance's success on Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the international box-office hit of Bagdad Café  (1987) resulted in a demand for his services. He made memorable appearances in Young guns (1988), Tango & Cash (1989) and Tim Burton´s Batman (1989). He also performed on Roger Water´s first solo album release The pros and cons of hitch hiking (1984).
Palance, at the time chairman of the Hollywood Trident Foundation, walked out of a Russian Film Festival in Hollywood in 2004. After being introduced, Palance said, "I feel like I walked into the wrong room by mistake. I think that Russian film is interesting, but I have nothing to do with Russia or Russian film. My parents were born in Ukraine: I'm Ukrainian. I'm not Russian. So, excuse me, but I don't belong here. It's best if we leave." Palance was awarded the title of "People's Artist" by Vladimir Putin, president of Russia; however, Palance refused the title.
In 2001, Palance returned to the recording studio as a special guest on friend Laurie Z´s album Heart of the Holidays to narrate the classic poem "The night before christmas".
In 2002, he starred in the television movie Living with the Dead opposite Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen and Diane Ladd. In 2004, he starred in another television production, Back when we were grownups, opposite Blythe Danner. This was his final performance.
Four decades after his film debut, Palance won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on March 30, 1992 for his performance as cowboy Curly Washburn in the comedy City slickers (1991). Stepping onstage to accept the award, the 6' 4" (1.93 m) actor looked down at 5' 7" (1.70 m) Oscar host Billy crystal (who was also his co-star in the movie), and joked, mimicking one of his lines from the film, "Billy Crystal... I crap bigger than him." He then dropped to the floor and demonstrated his ability, at age 73, to perform one-handed push ups.
Years later, Crystal appeared on Inside the Actors Studio and fondly recalled that, after the Oscar ceremony, Palance approached him during the reception: "He stopped me and put his arms out and went, 'Billy Crystal, who thought it would be you?' It was his really funny way of saying thank you to a little New York Jewy guy who got him the Oscars."
In 1993, during the opening of the Oscars, a spoof of that Oscar highlight featured Palance appearing to drag in an enormous Academy Award statuette with Crystal again hosting, riding on the rear end of it. Halfway across the stage, Palance dropped to the ground as if exhausted, but then performed several one-armed push-ups before regaining his feet and dragging the giant Oscar the rest of the way across the stage.

Private life.

Palance lived for several years around Tehachapi, California.
Palance was married to his first wife Virginia Baker from 1949 to 1968. They had three children: Holly (born 1950), Brooke (born 1952), and Cody (1955–1998). On New Year's Day 2003, Baker was struck and killed by a car in Los Angeles.
Palance's daughter Brooke married Michael Wilding jr, son Elizabeth Taylor; they have three children. Cody Palance, an actor himself, appeared alongside his father in the film Young guns.
In May 1987, Palance married his second wife Elaine Rogers.
Palance painted and sold landscape art, with a poem included on the back of each picture. He was also the author of The Forest of Love, a book of poems published in 1996 by Summerhouse Press. He was a supporter of the Republican party.
Palance acknowledged a lifelong attachment to his Pennsylvania heritage and visited there when able. Shortly before his death, he sold his farm in Butler Township and put his personal art collection up for auction.

The End, Death.

In November 10, 2006, Palance died at age 87 at his daughter Holly's home in Montecito, California.
Palance has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6608 Hollywood Boulevard.
In 1992, he was inducted into the western performers hall of fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma city, Oklahoma.
According to writer Mark Evanier, comic book creator Jack kirby modeled his character Darkseid on the actor.

Filmography

Year Title Role Director Notes
1950 Panic in the Streets Blackie Elia Kazan
1951 Halls of Montezuma Pigeon Lane Lewis Milestone
1952 Sudden Fear Lester Blaine David Miller Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1953 Shane Jack Wilson George Stevens Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Second Chance Cappy Gordon Rudolph Maté
Arrowhead Toriano Charles Marquis Warren
Flight to Tangier Gil Walker Charles Marquis Warren
Man in the Attic Slade Hugo Fregonese
1954 Sign of the Pagan Attila Douglas Sirk
The Silver Chalice Simon The Magician Victor Saville
1955 Kiss of Fire El Tigre Joseph M. Newman
I Died a Thousand Times Roy Earle / Roy Collins Stuart Heisler
The Big Knife Charles Castle Robert Aldrich
1956 Attack Lt. Joe Costa - Fox Co. Robert Aldrich
1957 The Lonely Man Jacob Wade Henry Levin
House of Numbers Arnie Judlow / Bill Judlow Russell Rouse
1958 The Man Inside Milo March John Gilling
1959 Ten Seconds to Hell Eric Koertner Robert Aldrich
Beyond All Limits Jim Gatsby Roberto Gavaldón
1960 Austerlitz General Franz von Weyrother Abel Gance
The Barbarians Revak Rudolph Maté
1961 Sword of the Conqueror Alboin Carlo Campogalliani
The Mongols Ogotaï Andre DeToth
The Last Judgment Matteoni Vittorio De Sica
Barabbas Torvald Richard Fleischer
1962 Night Train to Milan Herr Bauer / Schneider Marcello Baldi
Warriors Five Jack Leopoldo Savona
1963 Contempt Jeremy Prokosch Jean-Luc Godard
1965 Once a Thief Walter Pedak Ralph Nelson
1966 The Professionals Raza Richard Brooks
1967 Torture Garden Ronald Wyatt Freddie Francis (segment 4 "The Man Who Collected Poe")
Kill a Dragon Rick Masters Michael Moore
1968 Madigan's Millions Matteo Cirini (voice) Stanley Prager (voice of Riccardo Garrone in the English-language version, uncredited)
They Came to Rob Las Vegas Douglas Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi
The Mercenary Curly Sergio Corbucci
1969 The Desperados Parson Josiah Galt Henry Levin
A Bullet for Rommel Major John Heston León Klimovsky
Justine Father Antonin Jesús Franco
Che! Fidel Castro Richard Fleischer
Legion of the Damned Col. Charley MacPherson Umberto Lenzi
1970 The McMasters Kolby Alf Kjellin
Monte Walsh Chet Rollins William A. Fraker
Compañeros John Sergio Corbucci
1971 Horsemen Tursen John Frankenheimer
1972 It Can Be Done Amigo Sonny Bronston Maurizio Lucidi
Chato's Land Capt. Quincey Whitmore Michael Winner
Sting of the West Buck Santini Enzo G. Castellari
And So Ends (Narrator) Robert Young (voice)
1973 Brothers Blue Captain Hillman Luigi Bazzoni
Oklahoma Crude Hellman Stanley Kramer
1974 Craze Neal Mottram Freddie Francis
1975 The Four Deuces Vic Morono William H. Bushnell
The Great Adventure William Bates Gianfranco Baldanello
Africa Express Robert Preston / Willaim Hunter Michele Lupo
L'Infermiera Mr. Kitch Nello Rossati
1976 God's Gun Sam Clayton Gianfranco Parolini
The Cop in Blue Jeans Norman Shelley / Richard J. Russo Bruno Corbucci
Black Cobra Woman Judas Carmichael Joe D'Amato
Safari Express van Daalen Duccio Tessari
Mister Scarface 'Scarface' Manzari Fernando Di Leo
Blood and Bullets Duke Alfonso Brescia
1977 Welcome to Blood City Frendlander Peter Sasdy
1978 The One Man Jury Lt. Wade Charles Martin
1979 Angels' Brigade Mike Farrell Greydon Clark
The Shape of Things to Come Omus George McCowan
Portrait of a Hitman Jim Buck Allan A. Buckhantz
Cocaine Cowboys Raphael Ulli Lommel
1980 Without Warning Joe Taylor Greydon Clark
Hawk the Slayer Voltan Terry Marcel
1982 Alone In The Dark Frank Hawkes Jack Sholder
1987 Gor Xenos Fritz Kiersch
Bagdad Café Rudi Cox Percy Adlon
1988 Young Guns Lawrence G. Murphy Christopher Cain
Outlaw of Gor Xenos John Cardos
1989 Batman Carl Grissom Tim Burton
Tango & Cash Yves Perret Andrei Konchalovsky
1990 Solar Crisis Travis Richard C. Sarafian
1991 City Slickers Curly Ron Underwood Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
1992 Eli's Lesson Old Pilot Peter D. Marshall
1993 Cyborg 2 Mercy Michael Schroeder
1994 Cops & Robbersons Jake Stone Michael Ritchie
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Duke Washburn Paul Weiland
The Swan Princess Lord Rothbart (voice) Richard Rich (voice, animated film)
1998 The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo Beelzebub George Erschbamer
1999 Treasure Island Long John Silver Peter Rowe
2001 Prancer Returns Old Man Richards Joshua Butler
2003 Between Hitler and Stalin (Narrator) Slavko Nowytski (voice)

Television movies/miniseries

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Playhouse 90: Requiem for a Heavyweight Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock
1966 Alice Through the Looking Glass Jabberwock
1968 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde
1973 Bram Stoker's Dracula Count Dracula
1974 The Godchild Rourke
1975 The Hatfields and the McCoys Devil Anse Hatfield
1979 The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang Will Smith
1980 The Ivory Ape Marc Kazarian
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story Whitey Robinson
1981 Evil Stalks This House Stokes
1992 Keep the Change Overstreet
1994 The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics Dr. Jeremy Wheaton (segment "Where the Dead Are")
1995 Buffalo Girls Bartle Bone
1997 I'll Be Home for Christmas Bob
Ebenezer Ebenezer Scrooge
1998 The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo Beelzebub
1999 Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End John Witting
2001 Living With the Dead Allan Van Praagh
2004 Back When We Were Grownups Paul 'Poppy' Davitch (final film role)

Television series

Year Title Role Notes
1950 Lights Out
Episode "The Man Who Couldn't Remember"
1952 Westinghouse Studio One
Episode "The King in Yellow"
Curtain Call
Episode "Azaya"
Westinghouse Studio One
Episode "Little Man, Big World"
The Gulf Playhouse
Episode "Necktie Party"
1953 Danger
Episode "Said the Spider to the Fly"
The Web
Episode "The Last Chance"
Suspense Tom Walker Episode "The Kiss-Off"
The Motorola Television Hour Scott Malone/Kurt Bauman Episode "Brandenburg Gate"
Suspense
Episode "Cagliostro and the Chess Player"
1955 What's My Line Himself Mystery guest
1956 Playhouse 90 Harlan "Mountain" McClintock "Requiem for a Heavyweight"
Emmy Award for Best Single Performance by an Actor
Zane Grey Theatre Dan Morgan Episode "The Lariat"
1957 Playhouse 90 Monroe Stahr "The Last Tycoon"
Playhouse 90 Manolete "The Death of Manolete"
1963 The Greatest Show on Earth Circus manager Johnny Slate Series – top billing, 30 episodes
1964 What's My Line Himself Mystery guest
1965 Convoy Harvey Bell Episode "The Many Colors of Courage"
1966 Run for Your Life Julian Hays Episode "I Am the Late Diana Hays"
Alice Through the Looking Glass Jabberwock (Live Theatre)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Louis Strago 2 episodes "The Concrete Overcoat Affair: Parts I and II"
(reedited as The Spy in the Green Hat)
1971 Net Playhouse President Jackson "Trail of Tears"
1973 The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour Himself
1975 Bronk Det. Lt. Alex 'Bronk' Bronkov Series – top billing, 25 episodes
1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Kaleel Episode "Planet of the Slave Girls"
Unknown Powers Presenter/Narrator
1981 Tales of the Haunted Stokes Episode "Evil Stalks This House"
1982–1986 Ripley's Believe It or Not! Himself – Host Series
2001 Night Visions Jake Jennings Episode "Bitter Harvest"

Discography

  • Palance, Warner Bros, 1969