SUMMARY: Jack Lemmon (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) American actor, comedian
Jack Lemmon Quotes
Jack Lemmon Books

Jack Lemmon was a famous actor to whom we most place him in comedic movies. He was a two time Academy Award winner and starred in some classic movies like “Some like it Hot”, “The Odd Couple”, and “The Out-of-Towners.” Jack Lemmon came into the movie business in the 1950’s and remained there until his death in 2001. He was dearly loved and remembered by the acting business and those who enjoyed watching him as an actor.

Jack Uhler Lemmon III was born in Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton Massachusetts in August of 1925. Not quick enough to make it to the hospital room, Jack Lemmon was born in an elevator. He was the son of John Uhler Lemmon Jr. and Mildred Burgess LaRue. Lemmon went to school at the Phillips Andover Academy and here he taught himself how to play the piano. By the time he entered Harvard, he was elected President of the Hasty Pudding Club. After college he was enrolled in World War II as a stint in the Navy and then returned to graduate from Harvard at the age of 22 with a college degree. After being discharged from the Navy he moved to New York City and there decided to take up acting professionally. He supported himself by playing the piano in a bar and for silent movies until he landed some jobs in radio, television, and Broadway. By the early 1950’s Jack Lemmon had made appearances in hundreds of different TV roles.

Lemmon married twice in his life and has one son, Christ Lemmon who was born in 1954 with his first wife. His second child is a daughter named Courtney who was born with his second wife in 1966.

Achievements and Roles
Lemmon’s first big hit was in a movie with Judy Holliday in the 1954 comedy, “It should happen to you.” As a result he worked with many other leading actresses onscreen. Marilyn Monroe, Shirley MacLaine, Doris Day, and Rita Hayworth are among a few of the women he built his acting career with. Billy Wilder really took to Lemmon and made him the star in many of his films like “Some like it Hot”, and “The Fortune Cookie.”

In 1956 Jack Lemmon received the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for “Mister Roberts” and “Save The Tiger.” This proved to be a very big deal as he was the first actor to get the Oscar for both movies. He has also been nominated for other the Best Actor Oscar for the movies “Missing” and “American Film Institute.”

As Jack Lemmon learned how to play the piano as a teenager he also proved to have somewhat of a singing career. In 1958 he recorded his own album with Marilyn Monroe. He also played the piano on his “Frank Sinatra-type” album. The album called “A twist of Lemmon” was released in 1959.

Lemmon is often remembered for appearing alongside act Walter Matthau. They appeared in many movies together and won the hearts of many Americans. Some movies they played as the duo act we remember were “The Odd Couple”, “Grumpy Old Men”, and “Grumpier Old Men.” The film “Grumpy Old Men” was a surprisingly big hit thus the filming of the sequel “Grumpier Old Men.” The only role that Jack Lemmon played a more serious part in which he died was in “The China Syndrome” in 1979. For this role he won the Best Actor Award and then won it again in 1982 for the film “Missing.” He is the only actor to ever receive it twice.

In 1998 at the Golden Globe Awards Jack Lemmon was nominated for the Best Actor in a made for TV movie for Twelve Angry Men. He ultimately lost to Ving Rhames, but was asked by Rhames to join him onstage. Thames gave the award to Lemmon, a move that stunned the audience and himself.

Jack Lemmon is remembered as one of the best liked actors in Hollywood. He always took time for people; to talk with them and to teach them. He died of Carcinoma and Metastic cancer on June 17 2001