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Jack Donner

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Jack Donner
Donner in Mission: Impossible (1969)
Born
Jake Doner

(1928-10-29)October 29, 1928
DiedSeptember 21, 2019(2019-09-21) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2019
Spouses
Elizabeth R. Ryan
(m. 1951, divorced)
(m. 1960, divorced)
(m. 1970; div. 1973)

Jack Donner (born Jake Doner;[1] October 29, 1928 – September 21, 2019)[2] was an American actor whose career in theater, television, and film extended over six decades.[3]

Career

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A native of Los Angeles, California, Donner worked in television and film since the 1950s including early work on The Guiding Light and As the World Turns. Honing his craft, he performed in seven successive seasons of New York City regional and stock theater.

Beginning in the 1960s he had many guest star and co-starring roles in shows including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Kojak, and The Streets of San Francisco. However, he was probably best known for his role of Romulan Subcommander Tal in the original Star Trek episode "The Enterprise Incident". He later returned as a Vulcan priest in the episodes "Kir'Shara" and "Home" of Star Trek: Enterprise.[4] Along with Joseph Ruskin and Clint Howard, he is one of only three actors to appear in both the original Star Trek series and Star Trek: Enterprise.[5] In 1998 he appeared in the uncredited role of Commander Kinwon in Power Rangers in Space. He had a recurring role on General Hospital as Nikolas and Spencer Cassadine's butler, Alfred.

Donner starred in Peaches Christ's black comedy film All About Evil and in Bryan Moore's adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's Cool Air. He also had a brief but memorable scene as a fire-and-brimstone prosecutor who demands death in the 1971 film The Night God Screamed.

He founded Oxford Theater with fellow actor Lee Delano. Their students included Barry Levinson, Craig T. Nelson, Barbara Parkins, and Don Johnson.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1958 Invisible Avenger Billy Sanchez
1962 Hand of Death Cop
1963 Escape from Hell Island Lyle Dennison
1967 Hotel Elliot Uncredited
1971 The Night God Screamed Prosecutor
1973 The All-American Boy Director Uncredited
1974 Black Starlet Fake Producer
1997 The Emissary: A Biblical Epic Captain
1997 Johnny Mysto: Boy Wizard King Arthur
1998 Gideon Mr. Taylor
1999 Stigmata Father Alameida
1999 Family Tree Joseph
1999 Retro Puppet Master Afzel Direct-to-video
2000 The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Average Grandpa
2001 Soulkeeper Smokey
2001 Island Prey Doctor
2002 Demon Under Glass Dr. William Bassett
2003 First Watch Paul Direct-to-video
2003 Exorcism Father John Lansing
2004 Imaginary Heroes Kenny
2007 The Invisible Morris Uncredited
2007 Brotherhood of Blood Paul Cramer
2007 Safe Harbour Mr. Feigenbaum
2007 Star Trek: Of Gods and Men Special Wedding Guest Direct-to-video
2007 Plot 7 Granpa Joe
2008 Lower Learning Old Curt
2008 Farm House Dark One / Dr. Miller
2008 How to Be a Serial Killer Mr. Wilson
2008 Four Christmases Grandpa
2009 Gurdian Abraham
2009 Michael Jackson's This Is It Gravedigger Uncredited
2010 All About Evil Mr. Twigs
2010 Anderson's Cross Dr. Landry
2010 Vampire Dr. William Bassett
2010 Privilege Rabbi Direct-to-video
2011 J. Edgar Edgar's Father
2011 Underground Gunther
2012 My Funny Valentine Mr. Triffalette
2013 Night of the Templar The Grand Master
2013 A New York Heartbeat Big Didi
2014 Dumbbells Old Man Buzz
2014 2 Bedroom 1 Bath Old Man Thompson
2014 Anatomy of Deception Travis
2018 Unthinkable Mr. Joseph Stone
2020 Unbelievable!!!!! Jack Donner Released posthumously

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1960 Death Valley Days Billy Crane Episode: "Pamela's Oxen"
1962 Dr. Kildare Dr. John Shea Episode: "Something of Importance"
1962 Have Gun – Will Travel Teasing Man at Hotel Carlton Episode: "Penelope"
1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Premier Karim Episode: "The Secret Sceptre Affair"
1965 My Favorite Martian Master of Ceremonies Episode: "I'd Rather Fight Than Switch"
1965 Get Smart The Courier Episode: "Aboard the Orient Express"
1966–1973 Mission: Impossible Various roles 11 episodes
1967 The Monkees Director S1:E28, "Monkees on the Line"
1968 I Dream of Jeannie Joe Episode: "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?: Part 1"
1968 Star Trek: The Original Series Tal Episode: "The Enterprise Incident"
1968 Judd, for the Defense Mr. Forster Episode: "The Gates of Cerberus"
1969 The Name of the Game Nate Pearson Episode: "The Inquiry"
1969 The Flying Nun Luis Pedrosa Episode: "Dear Aggie"
1971, 1973 Mannix Blair / Norton 2 episodes
1972 Mission Impossible John Dawson Episode "Committed"
1973 Griff Frankie Masters Episode: "Elephant in a Cage"
1973, 1975 Police Story Meeks / Henslowe 2 episodes
1974 The Manhunter Cully Barnes Episode: "The Doomsday Gang"
1975 Kojak Krakauer Episode: "Sweeter Than Life"
1977 The Streets of San Francisco Joseph Hess Episode: "Innocent No More"
1996 Baywatch Max Murat Episode: "Liquid Assets"
1996–1998 Days of Our Lives Judge DuBois / Maurice Renet 6 episodes
1998 Conan the Adventurer Blind Man Episode: "The Labyrinth"
1998 Power Rangers in Space Commander Kinwon 3 episodes
1999 Frasier Mr. Hawkins Episode: "Taps at the Montana"
1999 Charmed Judge Renault Episode: "The Power of Two"
1999 Shasta McNasty Evil Doctor Episode: "The Return of Buster"
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Judge Twigs Episode: "The Final Show"
2000 G vs E Judge Cody Episode: "Portrait of Evil"
2000 The District Mr. Bukich Episode: "The Jackal"
2000 The Privateers President Cameron Lascar Television film
2001 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cleric #1 Episode: "Spiral"
2001 Strong Medicine Josiah / Amish Elder Episode: "Silent Epidemic"
2002 Malcolm in the Middle Old Man Episode: "Lois' Makeover"
2002 Roswell Clayton Wheeler 2 episodes
2002 The Bernie Mac Show Jeremiah Episode: "The Sweet Life"
2003 7th Heaven Mr. McNeil Episode: "The One Thing"
2003 Scare Tactics Clayton Twigs Episode: "Bigfoot Attacks"
2004 According to Jim Old Man Episode: "The Hunters"
2004 Star Trek: Enterprise Vulcan Priest 2 episodes
2005 The Michael Jackson Trial Judge Rodney Melville 18 episodes
2005, 2006 Reno 911! Priest 2 episodes
2006 Freddie Don Episode: "The Search for Grandpa Four"
2006 Where There's a Will Dr. Whitehouse Television film
2006 Alias The Rose Episode: "No Hard Feelings"
2006 Lovespring International Old Soldier Episode: "Lydia's Last Night"
2006–2010 General Hospital Alfred 55 episodes
2007 Criminal Minds Old Nate Episode: "Legacy"
2007 Cold Case Maurice Habershaw '07 Episode: "Boy Crazy"
2008 Rodney Mr. Hocker Episode: "Finale"
2008 Happy Hour Don Episode: "The Election"
2008 Lewis Black's Root of All Evil Priest Episode: "Donald Trump vs. Viagra"
2009 In Gayle We Trust Lloyd Adams Episode: "Gayle and the Birthday Call"
2009 So This Is Love Jack 3 episodes
2010 Ghost Whisperer Man in Hospital Gown Episode: "The Children's Parade"
2010 Hot in Cleveland Arthur Episode: "Who's Your Mama?"
2010 Bones Crusty Episode: "The Maggots in the Meathead"
2013 The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex Papa Fabrizio Television film
2013 Bad Samaritans Francis Episode: "Pilot"
2014 Suburgatory Harold Episode: "Dalia Nicole Smith"
2015 Fear the Walking Dead Old Man Episode: "Pilot"
2015–2016 Con Man Dale 3 episodes
2016 Starship Excelsior Subcommander Tal Episode: "Tomorrow's Excelsior"
2017 OVER & OUT Mr. Grossman Television film
2017 The Guest Book Walter 5 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Book of Watermarks Prospero

References

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  1. ^ "Jake Doner, Born 10/29/1928 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  2. ^ "R.I.P. Jack Donner of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible". Me-TV Network. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  3. ^ "R.I.P. Jack Donner of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible". Me-TV Network.
  4. ^ "Talking to TOS & Enterprise Guest Jack Donner" (July 11, 2016). StarTrek.com.
  5. ^ Laurie Ulster (March 11, 2021). "13 Original Series Actors Who Couldn't Get Enough Trek". StarTrek.com.
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