JACK LEMMON BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Jack Lemmon was born on February 8, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA with the birth name, John Uhler Lemmon III. His parents were Mildred LaRue Lemmon and his father, John Uhler Lemmon Jr. was the president of Doughnut Corporation of America. At only age 4, in 1929 he made his first stage debut with his father in an amateur production of, "Gold in Them Thar Hills".  He was educated at Andover Academy and his father always thought his son would follow in his footsteps and become a successful business man.

After graduating from Harvard with a BA/BS in 1947 and also where he served as president of the prestigious Hasty Pudding Club, he moved to NYC and broke into show business.  He did briefly in 1945 Serve as communications officer (ensign) with the US Naval Reserve.

Lemmon's initial show business job in New York involved playing piano in the Old Knickerbocker Music Hall as an accompanist to the silent films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. He also performed in skits there and tended bar, among other tasks. During his early years in the business he continued doing summer stock.

In late 1949 Lemmon had the opportunity to appear in a television series, "That Wonderful Guy", along with Cynthia Stone, whom became his current girlfriend and later on May 7th, 1952, his wife.  Soon after the series was cancelled, Lemmon landed a job as master of ceremonies on a talent show named "Toni Twin Tim.".  The show had mixed reviews but it did not stop Lemmon and Stone from looking for their next opportunity.

Lemmon, was now in the 1950's, working regularly in television and landed a part in the Broadway revival of, "Room Service", (1953) a play from the 1930's, however this play closed after only 18 performances.  It did not matter though, because Hollywood was beckoned Lemmon. 

He signed a seven-year nonexclusive contract with Columbia Pictures that required him to do two films a year, with a studio option for a third. Unfortunately, as his career moved forward his marriage with Stone was not as strong. His first film under contract with Columbia records was, " It Should happen To You" (1954)  which caught the attention of critics. His second film was " Phfft" (1954) also great reviews.  His career was going strong and so was his personal life, as he reconciled with Stone.

In 1954, the couple had a son, Christopher born January 22nd. Lemmon next had a small role in, "My Sister Eileen" (1955),  but it was his fourth film that marked his entrance into the Hollywood pantheon in, "Mister Roberts" (1955), where he won an award for best supporting actor. That same year, Lemmon's received divorced summons from his wife, Stone.

During the late 1950's Lemmon continued working in television as well as film and in 1957 he appeared in, "Fire Down Below" where he received a credit as a song performer.  In 1959 Lemmon was paired with Tony Curtis in, "Some Like It Hot", (1959) where Lemmon gave one of the greatest performances of his career opposite Marilyn Monroe and received his first best actor nomination. 

The next year Lemmon starred in, "The Apartment," (1960) followed three years later with an appearance in, "Irma La Douce" (1963). Although he became established in comedy, Lemmon has shown an equal talent at tackling serious roles. His first major dramatic part came "Days of Wine and Roses" (1963), which earned him his 4th Academy Award.  Lemmon produced the 1967 Paul Newman film, "Cool Hand Luke".  In "The Odd Couple" (1968) he teamed up with Walter Matthau, his collaborator on many other projects, including "The Fortune Cookie" (1966). 

In 1971 he tried his hand at directing and the result was Kotch, starring Matthau and with a cameo appearance by Lemmon.  He earned a second Oscar for best actor in "Save the Tiger" and two political thrillers, "The China Syndrome" (1979) and "Missing" (1982), each earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.  Also in the 80's, this decade he appeared in the television films, "Long Day's Journey into Night" (1987) and "The Murder of Mary Phagan" (1988).

Lemmon's career remained busy and strong during the 1990's. At the beginning of the decade he appeared in a political drama, "JFK" (1991), and revived his partnership with Matthau. Together, they  made five movies during the decade, including, "Grumpy Old Men" (1993), "Grumpier Old Men" (1995), and "The Odd Couple II",  all of which enjoyed fair commercial success but mixed critical reviews. He did not neglect his Television side of the entertainment industry with remakes of, "12 Angry Men" and "Inherit the Wind", both of which earned him Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

In 1998, actor Ving Rhames handed his own Golden Globe for acting to Lemmon, in what became a famous awards-ceremony moment.  Lemmon's last important role came in the 1999 television film, "Tuesday's with Morrie", for which he won an Emmy award.  Matthau and Lemmon enjoyed a 34-year friendship until Matthau's death in 2000, working together on 11 films, most of which were produced in the 1990's.

Lemmon, was suffering from cancer, and 2 years later passed away on  June 27, 2001. He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award and received the award for best actor at the Cannes Film Festival.
 

Filmography

1999   Forever Hollywood
1999   Inherit The Wind
1999   Tuesdays With Morrie
1999   War Between Men & Women
1998   The Odd Couple II
1997   12 Angry Men
1997   Out to Sea
1997   Puppies For Sale
1996   Getting Away With Murder
1996   Hamlet
1996   My Fellow Americans
1996   A Weekend in the Country
1996   The Grass Harp
1995   Grumpier Old Men
1994   A Life in the Theatre
1993   Grumpy Old Men
1993   Infant of Paradise
1993   Short Cuts
1993   This Joint Is Jumpin'
1992   Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
1992   Glengarry Glen Ross
1992   The Player
1991   J.F.K.
1989   Dad
1989   The Murder of Mary Phagan
1987   Long Day's Journey Into Night
1986   That s Life!
1985   Macaroni
1984   Mass Appeal
1982   Missing 
1981   Buddy Buddy
1980   Portrait of a 60% Perfect Man
1980   Tribute
1979   Ken Murray: Shooting Stars
1979   The China Syndrome
1977   Airport 77
1976   Alex & the Gypsy
1976   Gentleman Tramp
1974   The Front Page 
1974   The Prisoner of Second Avenue
1973   Save the Tiger
1972   Avanti!
1972   The War Between Men and Women
1971   Kotch 
1970   The Out-of-Towners 
1969   The April Fools
1968   The Odd Couple
1967   Luv
1966   The Fortune Cookie
1965   How to Murder Your Wife 
1965   The Great Race
1964   Good Neighbor Sam 
1963   Irma la Douce
1963   Under the Yum Yum Tree
1962   Days of Wine and Roses
1962   Stowaway in the Sky
1962   The Notorious Landlady
1961   The Wackiest Ship in the Army
1960   Pepe
1960   The Apartment
1959   It Happened to Jane
1959   Some Like It Hot 
1959   Voyage En Balloon
1958   Bell, Book and Candle 
1958   Cowboy
1957   Fire Down Below
1957   Operation Mad Ball 
1956   You Can't Run Away From It
1955   Mister Roberts 
1955   My Sister Eileen
1955   Three For the Show 
1954   Phffft!  
1953   It Should Happen to You