Jack Carter (comedian)
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| Jack Carter | |
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 Carter in 1949 |
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| Born | Jack Chakrin June 24, 1923 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, host, voice actor |
| Years active | 1942–present |
| Spouse | Paula Stewart Roxanne |
| Children | 2 sons, 2 daughters (Michael, Chase, Wendy, Vicki) |
| Signature |  |
Jack Chakrin (born June 24, 1923), known by his professional name of Jack Carter, is a Jewish-American comedian, actor and host. Brooklyn-born Carter had a long-running comedy act similar to fellow rapid-paced contemporaries Milton Berle and Morey Amsterdam. Carter is, arguably, the most prolific stand-up comedian in television history.
Carter was the host of an early television variety program called Cavalcade of Stars on the Dumont Network. He was lured away 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. The Jack Carter Show appeared under the banner of the Saturday Night Revue, NBC's two and a half hour Saturday night programming slot. Carter hosted his show for one hour each week followed by the ninety minute Your Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris.
His only major Broadway appearance was opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. in the 1956 musical Mr. Wonderful. He had previously 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 could do a fair Sullivan impression. He appeared as himself (along with his first 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. Other television appearances include as a guest panelist on Password. He also had a role in the 1969 made-for-television movie The Lonely Profession. He was also a frequent panelist on the television game show Match Game during the 1973-74 season and again during the early 1980s. He has also made appearances on television shows, including Diagnosis: Unknown, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Rockford Files, 7th Heaven, The Road West, Sanford and Son, and Tattletales, with his third wife Roxanne. He played himself as host of a hotel talent show in the 1964 Elvis Presley movie, Viva Las Vegas and voiced the aging cartoon producer Wilbur Cobb on The Ren and Stimpy Show.
He was cast as Arthur Spooner in the pilot episode of the CBS sitcom The King of Queens, but was replaced by Jerry Stiller before the series started regular production.
Now in his 80s, he is still performing on television. In 1996 he played Ray Kellum on an episode of Living Single entitled "Do You Take This Man's Wallet?". In 2009, Carter appeared on Monk, Desperate Housewives, and the movie The Great Buck Howard. He made one appearance on canceled ABC Family show Ruby and the Rockits as a football coach. He also performed in the iCarly episodes, "iGot a Hot Room" and "iStart a Fan War" in 2010. He can currently be seen in the Showtime series Shameless as Stan, the old racist bar owner.
