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Actor Jack Klugman began on television in 1950 and became known as a character actor ( in "Twilight Zone" and many other series) until he broke through as the co-star of "The Odd Couple" from 1970-75 and the star of "Quincy M.E." from 1976-83. One of his most enduring roles, though, was as Juror #5 in the jury room in the Oscar-nominated 1957 film "Twelve Angry Men." Klugman portrayed the youngest-seeming juror and he was the last survivor among the cast that included Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Ed Begley and Martin Balsam.
"Twelve Angry Men," originally a TV teleplay for CBS by Reginald Rose, and later a stage play, was directed by Sidney Lumet in his film debut and produced by Fonda. It lost the best picture Oscar to "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and Lumet lost to David Kean for best director.
Klugman died today, at home in Northridge by some media accounts and at home in Woodland Hills in some others. He won three Emmy Awards and was nominated for a Tony in 1960 for portraying the boyfriend of Ethel Merman's character in "Gypsy" on Broadway.
A trailer for "Twelve Angry Men" is below:
Screen grab: Klugman, right, with Marshall
