Jack Palance

[MA-Caver]

Passes away at 87

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15657511/
Tough guy from early on, his film debut came in 1950, playing a murderer named Blackie in “Panic in the Streets.”

After a war picture, “Halls of Montezuma,” he portrayed the ardent lover who stalks the terrified Joan Crawford in 1952’s “Sudden Fear.” The role earned him his first Academy Award nomination for supporting actor.

The following year brought his second nomination when he portrayed Jack Wilson, the swaggering gunslinger who bullies peace-loving Alan Ladd into a barroom duel in the Western classic “Shane.”

That role cemented Palance’s reputation as Hollywood’s favorite menace, and he went on to appear in such films as “Arrowhead” (as a renegade Apache), “Man in the Attic” (as Jack the Ripper), “Sign of the Pagan” (as Attila the Hun) and “The Silver Chalice” (as a fictional challenger to Jesus).

Forty-one years after his auspicious film debut, Palance played against type, to a degree. His “City Slickers” character, Curly, was still a menacing figure to dude ranch visitors Crystal, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, but with a comic twist. And Palance delivered his one-liners with surgeon-like precision.

He was great and I'll miss him. Anyone remember his performance at the 1992 Academy Awards... doing 1 arm push-ups! His comment afterwards on that was hilarious...

When Palance accepted his Oscar for best supporting actor he delighted viewers of the 1992 Academy Awards by dropping to the stage and performing one-armed push-ups to demonstrate his physical prowess.
“That’s nothing, really,” he said slyly. “As far as two-handed push-ups, you can do that all night, and it doesn’t make a difference whether she’s there or not.”

 

[exile]

He was great---tougher than tough, maybe the toughest screen character of all time. And he was a good, good actor...

 

[pstarr]

They don't make 'em like that anymore...

 

[arnisador]

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[shesulsa]

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[IcemanSK]

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[Jonathan Randall]

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[Drac]

RIP Sir..:asian: Floating around out there are versions of him playing Dracula as well as Mr Hyde..His versatility is not a common trait among the "new" actors .

 

[exile]

RIP Sir..:asian: Floating around out there are versions of him playing Dracula as well as Mr Hyde..His versatility is not a common trait among the "new" actors .

You're right, Drac---he was an outstanding actor from an era when movie stars earned their celebrity to a large extent on the basis of their acting skills, even the very glamourous ones---a long-gone era...

 

[bcbernam777]

What can I say, a great actor, there are few that where as good, and no one will everbe able to fill his shoes. A damn pity, but at least he was with family, that is a blessing.

 

[terryl965]

:asian:

 

[Drac]

What can I say, a great actor, there are few that where as good, and no one will everbe able to fill his shoes. A damn pity, but at least he was with family, that is a blessing.

Amen...

 

[Ping898]

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[bushidomartialarts]

jack palance? i was expecting him to outlive me....

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[Brian R. VanCise]

:asian:

 

[Jade Tigress]

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