Born as Volodymyr Palanyuk in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, Palance was of Ukranian descent and was the son of an anthracite coal miner.
Palance worked in the coal mines in his youth and was also a boxer. In the late 1930s he started a professional boxing career. Fighting under the name Jack Brazzo, Palance reportedly compiled a record of 15 consecutive victories with 12 knockouts before losing a decision to future heavyweight contender Joe Baksi.
With the outbreak of World War II, Palance's boxing career ended and he went into the military. Palance's rugged face, which took many beatings in the boxing ring, was disfigured when he bailed out of his burning B-24. Plastic surgeons repaired the obvious damage but left him with a distinctive, somewhat gaunt look. After much reconstructive surgery, he was discharged in 1944.
Palance graduated from Stanford University in 1947 with an AB in Drama; during that time, in order to pay the bills, he worked as a short order cook, a waiter, a soda jerk, a lifeguard at Jones Beach as a lifeguard, and as a photographer's model.
In 1947, Palance made his Broadway debut replacing Marlon Brando in “Streetcar Named Desire”. His performance got him quickly noted by critics and his looks and gruff manner got him noticed by the public. Three years later he made his screen debut, in the movie Panic in the Streets (1950). The movie was passed by, but Palance’s odd screen presence and brilliant skill as an actor made a huge impression on Hollywood. No one had ever seen a leading man quite like Jack before.
It was at this time, while Jack went back to finish his contractual agreement with “Streetcar” that mega superstar Joan Crawford was persuaded to meet with him about a small part in a film she was preparing to start. Joan went down to catch a performance of Palance’s and was awestruck by his performance.
“He’s perfect.” She said after the show to her manager.
“He’d be great in the role of the thug.” He agreed.
“I want him for the male lead.”
When Jack was informed of this, he almost said no.
“I couldn’t believe she wanted me,” he said in later years. “This was Joan Crawford. She could get anyone. Anyone she wanted. I didn’t understand why she wanted me. I was really shitting myself, and I didn’t want to do it. Then my agent sent me the script and I thought it was brilliant. I loved this guy. I loved the way his mind worked. I was still pretty keyed up about Joan though, so I wanted to meet her and sit her down and ask her what the hell she was thinkin’. So, well….we met at this fancy restaurant and every Goddamm waiter was falling all over themselves serving her and lighting her cigarette and treating her like some Goddamm performing chimp. I thought it was stupid and I felt really bad for her. I asked her if she was okay with all this, and she said:
“What choice do I have, really?”
I thought that was great. Just great. She seemed like a good ole gal, and in person, I have to admit, she was a great lookin’ broad.
Then I asked her why she wanted me when she could have had some pretty boy like Alan Ladd or something. And looked at me really hard, and smiled and said:
“Because Alan Ladd can’t act. You can.”
It was the best dinner I ever ate.”
This is a wonderful performance in this film by Palance. He’s lithe and gallant and everything a leading man needs to be. He’s also terrific next to Joan. They make a wonderful team. His steamy romance with Gloria Garaham is the stuff legends are made of. Palance brought a very interesting and unusual presence to the screen and its all here in this film. The moment when he’s stalking Crawford as she hides silently in the closet is eerie and incredibly rich. Neither of them speak, but then, neither of them has to.
He was quickly recognized for his skill as a blossoming character actor, and received an Academy Award nomination for only his third film role, as Lester Blaine in Sudden Fear.
He earned his second Oscar nomination playing cold-blooded gunfighter Jack Wilson in 1953s cinema classic Shane. Another terrific performance from Palance, and one that’s solid western. His swagger, his growl, and his defiance of what’s right and what’s right are unbeatable. A wonderful performance.
Several other Western roles followed, but he would also play such varied roles as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and Attila the Hun. And, in one of my favorite old scary movies, “Torture Garden”, playing a maniacal gardener.
In 1957, Palance won an Emmy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Mountain McClintock in the Playhouse 90 production of Rod Serling's Requiem for a Heavyweight.
Jean-Luc Godard persuaded him to take on the role of Hollywood producer Jeremy Prokosch in the 1963 nouvelle vague movie Le Mépris, with Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli. Although the main dialogue was in French, Palance spoke only English. This is an odd film although beautifully filmed. Jack and Brigitte steamed up the screen and an affair has always been rumored.
While still busy making movies, in the 1980s, Palance also co-hosted (with his daughter Holly Palance), one of my favorite series: Ripley's Believe It or Not. Watching Palance relish every word of every story always mad it much more fun for me to take a peek at the seven toed tap dancing sloth.
Appearing in Young Guns and Tim Burton's Batman reinvigorated Palance's career and demand for his services kept him involved in new projects each year right up until the turn of the century. I still remember Palance’s death scene.
The 80’s were not particularly kind to Palance , but he kept himself busy with Television and some minor film roles. Then, out of the blue Billy Crystal called with a film offer that would change the actor’s life.
“City Slickers” is not only a funny movie, it’s also a moving portrayal and homage to the old West. Crystal was a long time fan of the aging Palance, and wanted no one else but him to play Curly Washburn. Palance is at once, hilarious, defiant, confident and touching. It’s very rare that a comedic performance wins an Oscar, but this one was certainly deserved.
Of course, Jack being Jack, he had to go down in history not only finally winning his only Academy Award in 1992, but as the one handed push up King, Palance has no equal. It brought the house down, and is still a Golden Oscar Moment. Stepping onstage to accept the award, the intimidating fit 6' 4" actor looked down at 5' 7" Oscar host Billy Crystal (who was also his co-star in the movie), and joked:
"Billy Crystal... I crap bigger than him."
He then dropped to the floor and demonstrated his ability, at age 73, to perform his one-handed push-ups.
(The following year, host Crystal arrived on stage atop a giant model of the Oscar statuette, towed by Palance).
Palance had a great turn in a “Sarah Plain and Tall: Winter’s End”. And then his last film a wonderful made for Television movie “When We Were Grown Ups” co starring the marvelous Faye Dunaway (who earlier in her career played an axe wielding, wire hanging hating Joan Crawford in the national disaster and camp Champion known as “Mommie Dearest”)
Palance may not be the most recognized name in the world, but his face and his presence is unmistakable. He was the last of a dying breed: The Great Character Actor. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore. He will be missed, but at least there’s a diverse and eye popping legacy in film he’s left behind.
JACK TRIVIA
Has never watched any of his own movies.
According to a website honoring movie celebrities that flew in B-24s, Palance burned his face severely while bailing out of a B-24 which was on fire during a training flight in Tucson in 1942 (that would probably have been the Davis-Monthan Army Air Corps base at that time) and after several surgeries was discharged in 1944. He is described as a "pilot in training".
Speaks six languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Italian, Spanish, French and English.
Once fell asleep in his square during a taping of "The Hollywood Squares" .
His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is in front of the display window of Fredericks of Hollywood.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1992.
During the early phases of pre-production for The Day the Earth Stood Still, 20th Century-Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck suggested Palance for the role of the robot Gort. The role was eventually filled by a much taller non-actor.
Son Cody was born in December of 1955.
While an understudy to Marlon Brando in the Broadway production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," Brando, who was into athletics, rigged up a punching bag in the theater's boiler room and invited Jack to work out with him. One night, Jack threw a hard punch that missed the bag and landed square on Brando's nose. The star had to be hospitalized and understudy Palance created his own big break by going on for Brando. Jack's reviews as Stanley Kowalski helped get him a 20th Century-Fox contract.
Was forced to decline the role of Gen. Chang in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country due to scheduling conflicts over his work on City Slickers. He went on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "City Slickers". Christopher Plummer was eventually cast as Chang.
Was infamous in Hollywood for his Method-style acting, in a time when Marlon Brando was one of its few practitioners. Once, while filming a fight scene with Burt Lancaster, Palance actually punched the unsuspecting Lancaster in the face. Tough guy Lancaster responded by socking Palance in the gut, causing him to vomit.
In 1994 he provided the voice of Rothbart in the The Swan Princess , his character is featured doing one-handed push-ups.
Studied acting with Michael Chekhov in Hollywood.
"The only two things you can truly depend upon are gravity and greed."
Palance worked in the coal mines in his youth and was also a boxer. In the late 1930s he started a professional boxing career. Fighting under the name Jack Brazzo, Palance reportedly compiled a record of 15 consecutive victories with 12 knockouts before losing a decision to future heavyweight contender Joe Baksi.
With the outbreak of World War II, Palance's boxing career ended and he went into the military. Palance's rugged face, which took many beatings in the boxing ring, was disfigured when he bailed out of his burning B-24. Plastic surgeons repaired the obvious damage but left him with a distinctive, somewhat gaunt look. After much reconstructive surgery, he was discharged in 1944.
Palance graduated from Stanford University in 1947 with an AB in Drama; during that time, in order to pay the bills, he worked as a short order cook, a waiter, a soda jerk, a lifeguard at Jones Beach as a lifeguard, and as a photographer's model.
In 1947, Palance made his Broadway debut replacing Marlon Brando in “Streetcar Named Desire”. His performance got him quickly noted by critics and his looks and gruff manner got him noticed by the public. Three years later he made his screen debut, in the movie Panic in the Streets (1950). The movie was passed by, but Palance’s odd screen presence and brilliant skill as an actor made a huge impression on Hollywood. No one had ever seen a leading man quite like Jack before.
It was at this time, while Jack went back to finish his contractual agreement with “Streetcar” that mega superstar Joan Crawford was persuaded to meet with him about a small part in a film she was preparing to start. Joan went down to catch a performance of Palance’s and was awestruck by his performance.
“He’s perfect.” She said after the show to her manager.
“He’d be great in the role of the thug.” He agreed.
“I want him for the male lead.”
When Jack was informed of this, he almost said no.
“I couldn’t believe she wanted me,” he said in later years. “This was Joan Crawford. She could get anyone. Anyone she wanted. I didn’t understand why she wanted me. I was really shitting myself, and I didn’t want to do it. Then my agent sent me the script and I thought it was brilliant. I loved this guy. I loved the way his mind worked. I was still pretty keyed up about Joan though, so I wanted to meet her and sit her down and ask her what the hell she was thinkin’. So, well….we met at this fancy restaurant and every Goddamm waiter was falling all over themselves serving her and lighting her cigarette and treating her like some Goddamm performing chimp. I thought it was stupid and I felt really bad for her. I asked her if she was okay with all this, and she said:
“What choice do I have, really?”
I thought that was great. Just great. She seemed like a good ole gal, and in person, I have to admit, she was a great lookin’ broad.
Then I asked her why she wanted me when she could have had some pretty boy like Alan Ladd or something. And looked at me really hard, and smiled and said:
“Because Alan Ladd can’t act. You can.”
It was the best dinner I ever ate.”
This is a wonderful performance in this film by Palance. He’s lithe and gallant and everything a leading man needs to be. He’s also terrific next to Joan. They make a wonderful team. His steamy romance with Gloria Garaham is the stuff legends are made of. Palance brought a very interesting and unusual presence to the screen and its all here in this film. The moment when he’s stalking Crawford as she hides silently in the closet is eerie and incredibly rich. Neither of them speak, but then, neither of them has to.
He was quickly recognized for his skill as a blossoming character actor, and received an Academy Award nomination for only his third film role, as Lester Blaine in Sudden Fear.
He earned his second Oscar nomination playing cold-blooded gunfighter Jack Wilson in 1953s cinema classic Shane. Another terrific performance from Palance, and one that’s solid western. His swagger, his growl, and his defiance of what’s right and what’s right are unbeatable. A wonderful performance.
Several other Western roles followed, but he would also play such varied roles as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and Attila the Hun. And, in one of my favorite old scary movies, “Torture Garden”, playing a maniacal gardener.
In 1957, Palance won an Emmy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Mountain McClintock in the Playhouse 90 production of Rod Serling's Requiem for a Heavyweight.
Jean-Luc Godard persuaded him to take on the role of Hollywood producer Jeremy Prokosch in the 1963 nouvelle vague movie Le Mépris, with Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli. Although the main dialogue was in French, Palance spoke only English. This is an odd film although beautifully filmed. Jack and Brigitte steamed up the screen and an affair has always been rumored.
While still busy making movies, in the 1980s, Palance also co-hosted (with his daughter Holly Palance), one of my favorite series: Ripley's Believe It or Not. Watching Palance relish every word of every story always mad it much more fun for me to take a peek at the seven toed tap dancing sloth.
Appearing in Young Guns and Tim Burton's Batman reinvigorated Palance's career and demand for his services kept him involved in new projects each year right up until the turn of the century. I still remember Palance’s death scene.
The 80’s were not particularly kind to Palance , but he kept himself busy with Television and some minor film roles. Then, out of the blue Billy Crystal called with a film offer that would change the actor’s life.
“City Slickers” is not only a funny movie, it’s also a moving portrayal and homage to the old West. Crystal was a long time fan of the aging Palance, and wanted no one else but him to play Curly Washburn. Palance is at once, hilarious, defiant, confident and touching. It’s very rare that a comedic performance wins an Oscar, but this one was certainly deserved.
Of course, Jack being Jack, he had to go down in history not only finally winning his only Academy Award in 1992, but as the one handed push up King, Palance has no equal. It brought the house down, and is still a Golden Oscar Moment. Stepping onstage to accept the award, the intimidating fit 6' 4" actor looked down at 5' 7" Oscar host Billy Crystal (who was also his co-star in the movie), and joked:
"Billy Crystal... I crap bigger than him."
He then dropped to the floor and demonstrated his ability, at age 73, to perform his one-handed push-ups.
(The following year, host Crystal arrived on stage atop a giant model of the Oscar statuette, towed by Palance).
Palance had a great turn in a “Sarah Plain and Tall: Winter’s End”. And then his last film a wonderful made for Television movie “When We Were Grown Ups” co starring the marvelous Faye Dunaway (who earlier in her career played an axe wielding, wire hanging hating Joan Crawford in the national disaster and camp Champion known as “Mommie Dearest”)
Palance may not be the most recognized name in the world, but his face and his presence is unmistakable. He was the last of a dying breed: The Great Character Actor. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore. He will be missed, but at least there’s a diverse and eye popping legacy in film he’s left behind.
JACK TRIVIA
Has never watched any of his own movies.
According to a website honoring movie celebrities that flew in B-24s, Palance burned his face severely while bailing out of a B-24 which was on fire during a training flight in Tucson in 1942 (that would probably have been the Davis-Monthan Army Air Corps base at that time) and after several surgeries was discharged in 1944. He is described as a "pilot in training".
Speaks six languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Italian, Spanish, French and English.
Once fell asleep in his square during a taping of "The Hollywood Squares" .
His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is in front of the display window of Fredericks of Hollywood.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1992.
During the early phases of pre-production for The Day the Earth Stood Still, 20th Century-Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck suggested Palance for the role of the robot Gort. The role was eventually filled by a much taller non-actor.
Son Cody was born in December of 1955.
While an understudy to Marlon Brando in the Broadway production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," Brando, who was into athletics, rigged up a punching bag in the theater's boiler room and invited Jack to work out with him. One night, Jack threw a hard punch that missed the bag and landed square on Brando's nose. The star had to be hospitalized and understudy Palance created his own big break by going on for Brando. Jack's reviews as Stanley Kowalski helped get him a 20th Century-Fox contract.
Was forced to decline the role of Gen. Chang in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country due to scheduling conflicts over his work on City Slickers. He went on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "City Slickers". Christopher Plummer was eventually cast as Chang.
Was infamous in Hollywood for his Method-style acting, in a time when Marlon Brando was one of its few practitioners. Once, while filming a fight scene with Burt Lancaster, Palance actually punched the unsuspecting Lancaster in the face. Tough guy Lancaster responded by socking Palance in the gut, causing him to vomit.
In 1994 he provided the voice of Rothbart in the The Swan Princess , his character is featured doing one-handed push-ups.
Studied acting with Michael Chekhov in Hollywood.
"The only two things you can truly depend upon are gravity and greed."
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Comments
- 1 May 2023, 16:29Now look at where you are. Success is the best revenge. You are loved.
♥️♥️♥️♥️🙌 - 23 Jun 2021, 07:08We have picnic table rentals and many more products are available on rent. Visit our website for complete details.
Chicago Land Event Rentals. - 29 Mar 2014, 03:16Hypocritical. Beyond stupid. Disgusting. Racist. Misogynistic. Uneducated, deliberately ignorant. Uncouth. Greedy. Self-absorbed. Arrogant. Unredeemable. I hope karma gives it to him, right up his…
- 22 Feb 2014, 03:52I got a kick out of this. Saw it on FB first, and posted it on my page. Really well done. I wonder how long it took them to find all these clips.
- 12 Feb 2014, 02:50Someone is off his meds. What in the hell is he talking about. This paragraph makes absolutely no sense.
I have to put up with my Rush-listening brother-in-law every time I visit my family in Ohio.…
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Rest in peace.
-- sheila
Declaring “I’m Ukrainian, not Russian”, Palance walks out of Russian Film Festival in Hollywood
(NT) - A week of "Russian Nights" in Los Angeles culminated with an awards ceremony on April 22 at the prestigious Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. The gala event was held at the end of a weeklong "festival that celebrates Russian contributions to the world of art." The program of cinema, theater and music visual arts was sponsored in part by the Russian Ministry of Culture and enjoyed the support of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Scheduled to receive "narodney artyst" awards (cleverly translated as "the Russian People's Choice Award") were two Oscar winning actors: Dustin Hoffman and Jack Palance – both of whom trace their roots to Ukraine.
In accepting his award, Dustin Hoffman noted that his grandparents came from "Kiev, Russia" and expressed gratitude to the "Russian people" for helping defeat Germany. He thanked them for saving his grandmother who otherwise "may have ended up as a bar of soap."
Next in line for the Russian government's highest artistic award was Jack Palance. Born Walter Palahniuk in Pennsylvania in 1918, Palance won the Academy Award in 1992 for his memorable portrayal of Curly in "City Slickers". Palance, proud as a Kozak of his Ukrainian heritage, is chairman of the Hollywood Trident Foundation.
After being introduced, Palance said "I feel like I walked into the wrong room by mistake. I think that Russian film is interesting, but I have nothing to do with Russia or Russian film. My parents were born in Ukraine: I'm Ukrainian. I'm not Russian. So, excuse me, but I don't belong here. It's best if we leave."
Palance and his entourage proceeded to get up and go. He was accompanied by four other guests that included his wife Elaine, and the Hollywood Trident Foundation's president, Peter Borisow. Palance refused to accept the award, even in private, or to view "72 Meters", the movie being screened as the festival finale.
Speaking from Los Angeles, Borisow commented on Hoffman's statements: "I don't think it's necessarily Hoffman's fault. I think it's tragic that he doesn't even know his own family history. His ignorance of the basic facts is shocking. That Hoffman lends himself, hopefully unwittingly, to denigration of Ukrainians (and thus of himself), as he did by endorsing a festival that featured the highly offensive and racist movie '72 Meters' is very disappointing."
--amelie / rae
The great thing about Crawford, is no matter what is said about her, or HAS been said, the woman knew what she doing...most of the time. She really adored Palance and was amazed at his ease in front of the camera.
I LOVE that Sudden Fear story. LOVE it!!