Jack Lord
| Jack Lord | |
|---|---|
 Lord as Lt. Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O |
|
| Born | John Joseph Patrick Ryan December 30, 1920 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 21, 1998 (aged 77) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S |
| Occupation | Artist, actor, director, producer, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1949–1980 |
John Joseph Patrick Ryan (December 30, 1920 – January 21, 1998), best known by his stage name Jack Lord, was an American television, film, and Broadway actor. He was best known for his starring role as Steve McGarrett in the American television program Hawaii Five-O from 1968 to 1980. Lord also appeared in several classic feature films earlier in his career, among them Man of the West (1958) starring Gary Cooper. He was the first actor to play recurring character Felix Leiter in the first James Bond film Dr. No (1962) starring Sean Connery.
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[edit] Early years
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jack Lord was the son of Irish-American parents. His father, William Lawrence Ryan, was a steamship company executive.[1] He grew up in Morris Park[2] (now known as Richmond Hill), Queens, New York.
Young Jack Ryan developed his equestrian skills on his mother's fruit farm[3] in the Hudson River Valley. He started spending summers at sea, and from the deck of cargo ships,[4] painted and sketched the landscapes he encountered — Africa, the Mediterranean and China. He was educated at St. Benedict Joseph Labre School,[2] John Adams High School, in Ozone Park, New York, Fort Trumbull United States Merchant Marine Academy,[5] then located in New London, Connecticut, graduating as an Ensign[6] with a Third Mates License. He attended New York University[1] on a football scholarship,[4] and earned a degree in Fine Arts.
He spent the first year of World War II with the War Department's Corps of Engineers, in building bridges in Persia.[2] He then returned to the Merchant Marine[7] as an Able Seaman before enrolling in the deck officer course at Fort Trumbull. While making maritime training films, he took to the idea of acting.
[edit] Career
Lord received training from Sanford Meisner[8] at the Neighborhood Playhouse.[9] He worked first as a car salesman[3] for Horgan Ford, then later as a Cadillac salesman in New York to fund his studies. Later he studied at the Actor's Studio.[10]
His Broadway debut was as Slim Murphy in Horton Foote's The Traveling Lady with Kim Stanley.[11] [12] The show ran for 30 performances, October 27, 1954 through November 20, 1954. Lord won the Theatre World Award[13] for his performance. Lord was then cast as Brick[14] in a replacement for Ben Gazzara in the 1955–1956 production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof[15]. Prior to that he had been in The Little Hut (his first play), The Illegitimist, and The Savage.
His first commercial film was in the 1949 cult movie[9] The Red Menace' aka Project X, an anti-Communist themed production. He was associate producer in his 1950 film Cry Murder. In 1957, Lord starred in Williamsburg: the Story of a Patriot,[16] which has run daily at Colonial Williamsburg since 1957. In 1958, Lord co-starred as Buck Walden in God's Little Acre,[17] the movie adaptation of Erskine Caldwell's 1933 novel.
Jack Lord was the first actor to play the character of Felix Leiter[18] in the James Bond film series, introduced in the first Bond film Dr. No. According to screenwriter Richard Maibaum, Lord demanded co-star billing, a bigger role and more money to reprise the Felix Leiter role[19] in Goldfinger which resulted in director Guy Hamilton casting the role to an older actor to make Leiter more of an American "M".
In 1962, Lord starred as series namesake Stoney Burke,[20] a rodeo cowboy from Mission Ridge, South Dakota. The basis for the series was real-life champion rodeo rider Casey Tibbs.[21] The series featured Warren Oates and Bruce Dern in recurring supporting roles. Lord credited Gary Cooper as his on-screen role model,[8] and the inspiration for his characterization of Stoney Burke.
Jack Lord was considered for the role of Eliot Ness in The Untouchables before Robert Stack won the role.[22] Other television guest appearances include such series as Bonanza, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Reporter starring Harry Guardino, The Fugitive, The Invaders, Rawhide, Ironside, and The F.B.I.. Lord also appeared on the first episode of the TV series, Have Gun, Will Travel. In 1968, Lord appeared with Susan Strasberg in the cult film The Name of the Game is Kill.[23]
According to William Shatner,[24] in 1966, Gene Roddenberry offered Lord the role of Captain Kirk on Star Trek, to replace Jeffrey Hunter whose wife was making too many demands. Lord asked for 50 percent ownership of the show, so Roddenberry offered the role to Shatner.
[edit] Hawaii Five-O
Jack Lord starred for twelve seasons on Hawaii Five-O as Detective Steve McGarrett.[25]
The famous opening shot is Lord on a penthouse roof of The Ilikai, Hawaii's first high-rise luxury resort, built by Hawaii-born Chinese financial real estate wizard Chinn Ho.[26] The Chin Ho Kelly[27] police detective played by Kam Fong was a tip of the hat to Ilikai developer Chinn Ho.
Lord's catchphrase, "Book 'em, Danno!",[25] became a part of pop culture history. He also instrumental in the casting of native Hawaiians wherever possible, instead of mainland actors.[25] It was Lord who insisted his character be given Ford Motor Company products to drive.[28]
Lord was a perfectionist. Creator Leonard Freeman died in 1974, and the show became a three-way ownership between Jack Lord, CBS and Freeman's estate,[25] with a contract that made Lord executive producer and gave him complete control over content. He was a hands-on partner who paid attention to minute details.[8] He was notorious for his battles with network executives.
[edit] Artist
During his years at NYU, Jack and his brother Bill opened the Village Academy of Arts.[2] Jack's childhood dream was to become an artist. His first professional sale was in 1941 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for his two linoleum cuts, entitled Vermont and Fishing Shacks, Block Island.[1]
[edit] Personal life
Lord's first marriage to Anne Willard ended in divorce in 1947.[1] Lord met his son (from his first marriage) only once when the boy was an infant. The boy was later killed in an accident at age thirteen.[28]
On January 17, 1949, Jack married Marie de Narde,[2] who gave up her own career in fashion design to devote her life to him. Marie designed Jack's off-camera wardrobe, as well as her own.
Lord was a chain-smoker who failed at traditional methods of quitting. It was his faith in God which broke his habit. According to Lord,[8] he and a friend visited a Catholic church where both kneeled while Lord promised God he would stop smoking.
Lord was also known for being a very cultured man who loved reading poetry out loud on the set of his TV show and as being somewhat reclusive[8] at his Honolulu home.
[edit] Death
Jack Lord, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease[29] in his last years, died of congestive heart failure at his home on January 21, 1998 in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 77. He left an estate of $40 million, and being a philanthropist in his lifetime, the entire estate went to various Hawaiian charities upon his wife Marie's death in 2005.[30]
[edit] Fan memorial
A bronze bust of Jack Lord by Hawaii sculptor Lynn Weiler Liverton was unveiled in a ceremony at the Kahala Mall on June 19, 2004.The Lords lived in a bungalow in the Kahala area, and they were known to frequent the neighborhood mall. The nonprofit Jack Lord Memorial Fund, which raised the money for the memorial, was co-chaired by British Hawaii Five-O fan Esperanza Isaac, and Lord's co-star Doug Mossman.[31] [32]
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | The Red Menace aka Project X | John Bates | |
| 1950 | The Tattooed Stranger | Det. Deke Del Vecchio | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Cry Murder | Tommy Warren | Associate producer |
| 1955 | The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Lt. Cmdr. Zachary 'Zack' Lansdowne | |
| 1956 | The Vagabond King | Ferrebouc | |
| 1957 | Tip on a Dead Jockey | Jimmy Heldon | |
| 1957 | Williamsburg: the Story of a Patriot | John Fry | |
| 1958 | The True Story of Lynn Stuart | Willie Down | |
| 1958 | God's Little Acre | Buck Walden | |
| 1958 | Man of the West | Coaley | |
| 1959 | The Hangman | Johnny Bishop | |
| 1960 | Walk Like a Dragon | Lincoln "Linc" Bartlett | |
| 1962 | Dr. No | Felix Leiter | |
| 1966 | Doomsday Flight, The | Special Agent Frank Thompson | Television film |
| 1967 | Ride to Hangman's Tree | Guy Russell | |
| 1968 | The Counterfeit Killer | Don Owens | |
| 1968 | The Name of the Game is Kill | Symcha Lipa | |
| 1980 | M Station: Hawaii | Admiral Henderson | Television film Director Executive producer |
| 2000 | Screwed | Det Steve McGarrett | Uncredited Archive footage |
| Year | Title | Role | Episode title/ Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Man Against Crime | The Chinese Dolls | |
| 1954 | Suspense | String | |
| 1955 | Danger | Season for Murder | |
| 1955 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Buckskin | |
| 1955 | Appointment with Adventure | Bill | Five in Judgment |
| 1955 | The Elgin Hour | Lieutenant Davis | Combat Medics |
| 1956 | The Philco Television Playhouse | This Land is Mine | |
| 1956 | Omnibus | One Nation | |
| 1956 | Westinghouse Studio One | Paul Chester | An Incident of Love |
| 1956 | Westinghouse Studio One | Matt | A Day Before Battle |
| 1957 | Conflict | Pattern for Violence | |
| 1957 | Climax! | Charlie Mullaney | Mr. Runyon of Broadway |
| 1957 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Dave Enderby | Three Bells to Perdido |
| 1957 | Gunsmoke | Myles Brandell Nate Brandell |
Doc's Reward |
| 1957 | Playhouse 90 | Jim Kester | Lone Woman |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Homer Aswell | Reunion |
| 1958 | U.S. Marshal | Matt Bonner | Sentenced to Death |
| 1958 | The Millionaire | Lee Randolph | The Lee Randolph Story |
| 1959 | Rawhide | Blake | Incident of the Calico Gun |
| 1959 | The Loretta Young Show | Joe | Marriage Crisis |
| 1959 | The Untouchables | Bill Hagen | The Jake Lingle Killing |
| 1959 | The Lineup | Army Armitage | The Strange Return of Army Armitage |
| 1959 | Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond | Dan Gardner | Father Image |
| 1960 | Bonanza | Clay Renton | The Outcast |
| 1960 | Naked City | Cary Glennon | The Human Trap |
| 1961 | Route 66 | Gabe Johnson | Play It Glissando |
| 1961 | The Americans | Charlie Goodwin | Half Moon Road |
| 1961 | Outlaws | Jim Houston | The Bell |
| 1961 | Stagecoach West | Russ Doty | House of Violence |
| 1961 | Stagecoach West | Johnny Kane | The Butcher |
| 1961 | Rawhide | Paul Evans | Incident of His Brother's Keeper |
| 1961 | Cain's Hundred | Wilt Farrell | Dead Load |
| 1962 | Checkmate | Ernie Chapin | The Star System |
| 1962 | Here's Hollywood | Himself | May 18, 1962 |
| 1962–1963 | Stoney Burke | Stoney Burke | 32 episodes |
| 1964 | Dr. Kildare | Dr. Frank Michaels | A Willing Suspension of Disbelief |
| 1964 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Wally Walker | Man in a Hole |
| 1964 | The Reporter | Nick Castle | How Much for a Prince? |
| 1965 | Wagon Train | Lee Barton | The Echo Pass Story |
| 1965 | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Paul Campbell | The Long Ravine |
| 1965 | The Loner | Reverend Mr. Booker | The Vespers |
| 1965 | Combat! | Barney McKlosky | The Linesman |
| 1965 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Abe Perez | The Crime |
| 1965 | Twelve O'Clock High | Lt. Col. Preston Gallagher | Big Brother |
| 1966 | Laredo | Jab Harlan | Above the Law |
| 1966 | Twelve O'Clock High | Col. Yates | Face of a Shadow |
| 1966 | The F.B.I. | Frank Andreas Shroeder | Collison Course |
| 1966 | The Virginian | Roy Dallman | High Stakes |
| 1966 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Don Owens | The Faceless Man |
| 1966 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Harry Marcus | Storm Crossing |
| 1966 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself | |
| 1967 | The Invaders | George Vikor | Vikor |
| 1967 | The Fugitive | Alan Bartlett | Goodbye My Love |
| 1967 | Ironside | John Trask | Dead Man's Tale |
| 1967 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Pharos Mandor | The Master's Touch |
| 1968 | The High Chaparral | Dan Brookes | The Kinsman |
| 1968–1980 | Hawaii Five-O | Det Steve McGarrett | 281 episodes |
| 1969 | The Mike Douglas Show | Himself | |
| 1969 | The Ed Sullivan Show | Himself | Audience bow |
| 1978 | 30th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | Himself | |
| 1979 | Good Morning America | Himself | |
| 1980 | The Whales That Wouldn't Die | Narrator | |
| 1999 | The James Bond Story | Felix Leiter | Archive footage |
| 2007 | La tele de tu vida | Det Steve McGarrett | Archive footage |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Day, Carol (9 February 1998). "Stranger in Paradise". People 49 (5).
- ^ a b c d e "About Jack Lord, Actor and Artist". The Richmond Hill Historical Society. http://www.richmondhillhistory.org/JackLord.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Book 'em Danno-Jack Lord Dies". Star-News. 23 January 1998.
- ^ a b Mifflin, Lawrie (23 January 1998). "Jack Lord, 77, Helped Direct And Starred In 'Hawaii Five-O". The New York Times.
- ^ Peterson, B (12 January 1992). "Jack Lord Remained in Hawaii to Paint". The Buffalo News.
- ^ Laurent, Lawrence (1 July 1973). "Jack Lord Finds Heaven in Hawaii". The Toledo Blade.
- ^ Rawlins, Michael R (2003). The Last American Sailors: A Wild Ride in the Modern Merchant Marine. IUniverse. p. 47. ISBN 978-0595301171.
- ^ a b c d e Laurent, Lawrence (16 January 1972). "No Resting, Coasting for Lord". Sarasota Hreald-Tribune.
- ^ a b Vallance, Tom (23 January 1998). "Obituary: Jack Lord". The Independent-UK. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-jack-lord-1140283.html.
- ^ Brode, Douglas; Parker, Fess (2009). Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–present. University of Texas Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0292718494.
- ^ "The Traveling Lady". Internet Broadway Database. http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=2471. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ Krampner, Jon (2006). Female Brando: The Legend of Kim Stanley. Back Stage Books. p. 87. ISBN 978-0823088478.
- ^ "Theatre World Awards". Theatre World Awards. http://www.theatreworldawards.org/award.html. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Internet Broadway Database. http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=50101. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ "Jack Lord Obit". Theatre World: 252. 1997–1998.
- ^ "Williamsburg: the Story of a Patriot". History.org. http://www.history.org/foundation/general/patriot_restored.cfm. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ Jarlett, Franklin (1977). Robert Ryan: A Biography and Critical Filmography. McFarland & Company. p. 233. ISBN 978-0786404766.
- ^ The Staff and Friends of Scarecrow (2004). The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide. Sasquatch Books. p. 569. ISBN 978-1570614156.
- ^ Goldberg, Lee The Richard Maibaum Interview p.26 Starlog #68 March 1983
- ^ Jackson, Ronald (2008). 50 Years Of The Television Western. AuthorHouse. p. 290. ISBN 978-1434359254.
- ^ Allen, Michael (1998). Rodeo Cowboys In The North American Imagination. University of Nevada Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0874173154.
- ^ Tucker, Kenneth (2000). Eliot Ness and the Untouchables: The Historical Reality and the Film and Television Depictions. McFarland & Company. p. 49. ISBN 978-0786407729.
- ^ Lisanti, Tom (2010). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews With 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies. McFarland & Company. p. 274. ISBN 978-0786461011.
- ^ Shatner, William; Fisher, David (2009). Up Till Now: The Autobiography. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 119. ISBN 0-312-56163-6.
- ^ a b c d Taylor, Philip M; Roberts, Graham (2005). The Historian, Television, and Television History. University Of Luton Press. pp. 77–94. ISBN 978-1860205866.
- ^ Gordon, Mike (02 July 2006). "Chinn Ho". Honolulu Advertiser. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/150/sesq4ho.
- ^ Rhodes, Karen (1997). Booking Hawaii Five-O : An Episode Guide and Critical History of the 1968–1980 Television Detective Series. McFarland & Company. p. 31. ISBN 978-0786401710.
- ^ a b Peck, Michael. "TV Guide-Our Take". TV Guide (TV Guide) (28 July 2005).
- ^ Fernandez, Collin (13 December 2007). "My battle with Alzheimer's". Daily Mail.
- ^ Daysog, Rick (22 January 2006). "From Jack and Marie Lord, a parting gift of $40 million". Honolulu Advertiser. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/22/ln/FP601220358.html.
- ^ Ryan, Tim (17 June 2004). "Busted!". Honolulu Advertiser. http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/06/17/features/story1.html.
- ^ "Jack Lord Statue". Hawaii Five-O Fan Club. http://www.hawaiifive0.org/statue.shtml. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
[edit] External links
- Jack Lord at the Internet Movie Database
- Jack Lord at the Internet Broadway Database
- "Jack Lord". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6904.
- Jack Lord early in career; NYP Library
- Jack Lord website a comprehensive website on Jack Lord
| Preceded by First |
Felix Leiter actor 1962 |
Succeeded by Cec Linder |
