Click here to visit the new home of AOLTV!

Hot on HuffPost TV:

See More Stories
EDITION: U.S.
CA Canada US United States UK United Kingdom
Powered by i.TV
February 10, 2012
 
CONNECT    

Jack Palance dies at 87

by Joel Keller, posted Nov 10th 2006 7:58PM

Jack PalanceJack Palance is one of those actors who has been around for so long and has been seen in so many varied projects, that when he dies, every type of entertainment publication feels compelled to run his obituary.

Palance died today of natural causes in his California home. He was 87. Palance is probably best known for his long career playing tough-guy roles in movies like Shane and City Slickers (for which he won an Oscar and did those one-handed pushups at the ceremony). On TV, played the lead role on Playhouse 90's landmark 1957 production of Requiem for a Heavyweight, which won a Peabody award. But younger TV fans will likely remember him as the host of the show Ripley's Believe It or Not, which ran from 1982-1986 on ABC.

God, was it creepy when he ended one of those segments about someone with two noses or some other equally freaky subject by slowly saying in his calm, low tone, "Believe it... (inhale) or not." Gave the teenaged me the willies. But I tuned in each and every week. Gonna miss the guy.

Link Squad

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

11 Comments

Filter by:
janice

Does anybody know, did Jack Palance do a frangrance/after shave commercial?

November 17 2006 at 8:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dennis

It wasn't only his voice at the end of Ripley's Believe It Or Not, but that almost devilishly evil arched eyebrow and crooked smile that he gave with it. I always wished that he had made a taping of horror stories...I'm sure the goosebumps would never go down. But, yes, he was a fine screen presence and took over whatever scene he was in just by BEING in it even if he had nothing to do or say. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him either personally, or on the screen.

November 11 2006 at 2:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
erroneous_nick

Joel, you're absolutely right about his voicing the end of the Ripley's Believe It Or Not series. Jack Palance could say things and make them sound so sinister, so creepy, I think he could actually scare someone to death with that voice.

I guess he had to go sometime, but damn I'll miss him.

November 11 2006 at 12:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cdpf

I was crushed to hear of Jack Palance's unexpected death. My heart goes out to his family and they are in my prayers...we have lost a great actor and his unforgetable characters that he played over many decades of his acting career. I remember when he won an Oscar for "City Slickers" Mr. Palance mentioned at that time that he waited 42 years to get an Academy Awards. He sure had paid his dues. I'll miss his one hand pushup that he did at the Oscars several years back. God bless Jack Palance!!!!

November 10 2006 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jan

Jack Palance was such a memorable person from one project to the next. I will never forget his most distinct voice. I loved watching Believe It Or Not and he was what made City Slickers. God Bless and may you rest in peace. My condolences to his family and many many friends on his passing.

November 10 2006 at 10:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JOHN

A TRULY GREAT CLASSIC ACTOR.

November 10 2006 at 10:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ron Fitzgerald

I remember when Jack was asked by Jerry Lewis to portray Mr.Muscular Distrophy. Jack didn't want to do it,but Jerry convinced him it was for the good of the "KIDS". Man was he scary!when he said " Don't donate to this program or MS and maybe someday soon I'll come visit you or maybe...a memeber of your family! God! what a moment!!!

November 10 2006 at 10:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa from NYC

A class act all the way.. always I will remember his one hand push ups at the Oscars years ago :)

November 10 2006 at 9:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Akbar Fazil

I will always remember him as the glowing hand bad guy in Buck Rogers.

November 10 2006 at 9:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dwacon_com

Sorry to hear of the loss of this great actor.

November 10 2006 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

Follow Us

TV Squad Hot Topics

From Our Partners