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Jack Klugman – Sportswriter Slob of ‘The Odd Couple’ and Idealistic Coroner of ‘Quincy’- Dies at 90

Dec. 24, 2012 8:12pm Glenn Hall

Jack Klugman, best known as the curmudgeonly slob in “The Odd Couple” and the gruff-yet-idealistic coroner of “Quincy, M.E.” died Monday at the age of 90.

Actor Jack Klugman Famed for Role in Odd Couple and Quincy Dies at 90.

Jack Klugman. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Klugman, who later had a public battle with throat cancer that took his voice until he retrained himself to speak, died in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reported. He was aptly described by the AP as a popular star for “playing the type of man you could imagine running into at a bar or riding on a subway with — gruff, but down to earth, his tie stained and a little loose, a racing form under his arm, a cigar in hand during the days when smoking was permitted.”

In The Odd Couple, Klugman played a slovenly sports writer, humorously juxtaposed to the neurotic photographer played by Tony Randall. The show ran on television from 1970-1975 before becoming a re-run classic. The friendship the developed between Klugman and Randall survived long after the show, and in 2005, Klugman published Tony And Me: A Story of Friendship to commemorate the friendship after giving the eulogy at Randall’s memorial service in 2004.

Klugman’s big regret in life was that he ever started smoking, the AP reported: ”The only really stupid thing I ever did in my life was to start smoking,” he said in 1996. Seeing people smoking in television and films, he added, “disgusts me, it makes me so angry — kids are watching.”

After surgery for throat cancer, Klugman ended up with a raspy voice that was worked into later movie and TV roles, including “The Odd Couple: Together Again” in 1993 and “Dear God” in 1996, according to ABC News, which summarized his long acting career this way:

“Klugman began his career in 1954 on the soap opera “The Greatest Gift.” In the same year he made several appearances on the NBC legal drama “Justice,” whose episodes drew from actual cases of the Legal Aid Society of New York.

His major movies included “12 Angry Men” (1957), “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962), starring opposite Jack Lemmon, and “Goodbye Columbus” (1969).”

“He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same,” Klugman’s son Adam told the AP.

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Comments (33)

Tashunka1
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 10:29am
No disrespect to Mr. Klugman who was also a World War 2 vet, but how come no mention of Charles Durning who died the same day. The actor went ashore on Normandy Beach on June 6, 1944 and was badly wounded. He received the Silver Star and 3 purple Hearts and was a prisoner of war after the Battle Of The Bulge. A real American hero. Shame on the Blaze for not recognizing him.

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Riponpundit
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 6:42pm
I beleive he played a coroner, no a corner.

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HOOT_OWL
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 11:45am
I was chatting with my family about Jack Klugman dieing

And my daughter (31) jumped up and said ,What..! Hugh Jackman died..?

I said, no honey his name was Jack Klugman …It was before your time….

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noslave
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 11:27am
another icon of non-political corectness,you will be missed,god speed.

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waspanglosaxon
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:21am
Isn’t it funny how, whenever some actor dies with whom we all grew up,it seems like an old friend or relative has just passed away?

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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 6:58am
God Bless him. I loved him as Oscar, and my fave Twilight Zone episode with him was the one where he was the down-on-his-luck Trumpet player that met the Angel Gabriel. He had that special quality of personality that came across no matter what role he played. Rest In Peace, Mr. Krugman.

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- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 8:52am
  Klugman, that is. (aargh! Very bad typo there. Apologies.)
  
  Report this comment
charleyrocks
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 6:50am
Great actor good parts , the good ones are all gone now and we are left with dumb ed down crap girls acting like come and get me any guy roles on and off stage. There used to be real stories now just crap.

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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 4:46am
His regrettable smoking. Not being useful, teaching children Gods love, just wasted time. Just smoking. Well no purpose is no purpose. Good job.

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- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:03am
  Thanks for your moralizing about smoking. NOT!
  
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- HOOT_OWL
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 11:32am
  That has got to be the worst anti-smoking comment I have ever seen.
  I wish I would be so lucky to die at the ‘young’ age of 90 years old.
  
  Jesus said :
  Its NOT what goes IN the mouth that defiles a man .but what comes OUT.
  
  Hey , maybe next time you can use George Burns and how cigars
  cheated him out of a FULL life , since he died after his 100 birthday.
  
  Merry fricken Christmas.
  
  Report this comment
Kalidor835
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:03am
I was just watching a rerun of the Odd Couple a couple of days ago and wondered if he we’re still around. R.I.P. Mr. Klugman, you’re a TV legend and are missed.

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- Kalidor835
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:59am
  That should say “was still around”. My tablet struck again and changed it.
  
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- The_Almighty_Creestof
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 4:47am
  Great man and a great actor. The first time I saw him was in a couple Twilight Zone episodes…1 as a hotshot pool player playing Jonathan Winters and getting more than he bargained for…and the 2nd as a trumpet playing father who lost his son.
  
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banjarmon
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 12:31am
Thanks for making me laugh Jack!

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TheGrtDcptn
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:43pm
Rest in Peace Mr. Klugman…

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lylejk
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:39pm
Yeah; saw this earlier. Oscar, you will be missed, and so long Jack. God speed to your new destination.

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palerider54
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:37pm
I agree that good actors like Mr. Klugman no longer exist.
He brought many hours of good wholesome entertainment to me and my family.
May God Bless and comfort your family, and I hope you are with Jesus now.

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edwest70
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:13pm
He was a “corner?” LOL! Is this thin run by volunteers?

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- E.Z. Las Vegas
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 4:15am
  Not only is corner a mis-spelling of “Coroner” but he wasn’t the coroner either.
  That was the officious bureaucrat who was always trying to cut his investigations short…Quincy was a Medical Examiner…the guy who actually does the autopsies.
  
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- Justthefactsmam
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:18am
  What are you tow talking about? It say’s coroner in the story, not corner…
  
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- Justthefactsmam
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:20am
  *two
  
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Bronx
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:10pm
R.I.P. my friend you placed a smile on many faces.

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South Philly Boy
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:57pm
Sad to hear of passing. He lived just down the street from my house

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mikefromaltoona
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:29pm
I don’t believe he played a coroner in “Quincy, M.E.”. He played, as the title of the show states, a medical examiner who worked in the coroner’s office.

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kickagrandma
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:30pm
Loved him way back when.
We have NO USE for hollywierd and anti-AMERICAN, anti-AMERICAN values, anti-GOD and pro-everything GOD hates.

For all who still believe and who do know: MERRY CHRISTMAS.

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Rob
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:29pm
******* or conservative?… I want to know if I am glad he is gone or not.

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- Rob
  Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:01pm
  Lib tard is automatically deleted????
  
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- FiscalConserv
  Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:29pm
  I’m sure someone will find out for you and tell you how to think.
  
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yiska8
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:27pm
I grew up watching him on “Quincy” with my parents on our huge wooden console tv in the 1980′s. Great memories.Great show. Great actor. Real entertainment is long since gone on television.
Thank you Mr. Klugman. God Bless.

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RetUSAFVet
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:27pm
That is a “CORONER”. Blaze, you need to hire some proof readers who actually know english.

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- fmbmitgt
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 2:26am
  Actually, “English” should be capitalized.
  
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- AZgirl9000
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:49am
  Government pays people to be corners? How square.
  
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