Hollywood veteran, character actor andGeneral HospitalalumJack Axelroddies at the age of 93. Axelrod actually passed away of natural causes in Los Angeles nearly three weeks ago on Tuesday, November 28. And Axelrod’s death has now been confirmed by his representative, Jennifer Garland, in a statement released by Entertainment Weekly. Garland said of Mr. Axelrod (perEW):
I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with him in his last years, as he had no immediate family. We spent much time outdoors, where Jack loved to sketch, read news articles, and recite Shakespearean sonnets.
Axelrod’s indelible mark on Tinseltown cannot be understated, especially considering he didn’t even take a chance on showbusiness until the age of 40. And his story is akin to a true overnight success. Prior to moving to New York City, and making his acting debut in the one-performance production ofGandhi, Axelrod was an architect by trade. And as if his big break on Broadway wasn’t enough, the new actor also landed a role in Woody Allen’sBananas(1971).
Following his feature film debut, six years passed before Axelrod started landing roles on television series, beginning with a guest-starring spot on the Telly Savalas-led crime dramaKojakin 1977. Minor appearances on high-profile TV programs likeHill Street Blues, Dallas, DynastyandNight Courtfollowed. But it wasn’t until he landed the part of Vic Jerome in the soap operaGeneral Hospitalthat Axelrod began playing the part he is best known for today.
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Jack Axelrod’s Hollywood Legacy
Jack Axelrod portrayed the role of Vic Jerome onGeneral Hospitalin 40 episodes over the course of two years (1987-1989). However, even when his character was killed off of the soap opera, Axelrod never rested on his laurels. From 1990 through 2005, Axelrod became a well-known and widely recognizable fixture on a wide array of television shows which included everything fromMurphy BrowntoEverybody Loves RaymondtoStar Trek: VoyagertoFrasier. And then Axelrod crossed paths with “The Gang” in 2007.
Axelrod portrayed Father O’Grady in theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaepisode titledThe Gang Exploits a Miracle. While his role is small, Axelrod’s character is integral to the storyline. Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton),Charlie (Charlie Day), Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny DeVito) are trying to cash in on a water stain that appears in the shape of the Virgin Mary at Paddy’s Pub.
Frank and Dennis recruit the one-time priest to appear at the bar, but Father O’Grady is off his rocker. And when he has a moment alone, O’Grady desecrates and destroys the miraculous imagery by peeing on it! Again, Axelrod only appears in a couple of scenes, but it’s a hilarious and memorable performance despite its brevity.
Axelrod’s TV career continued, most notably with the three episodes in which he portrayed Charlie Yost onGrey’s Anatomy. However, Axelrod also started appearing in more movies (Hancock, Little Fockers, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Lone Ranger) while leaving his own unique mark onthe television comedyMy Name is Earlfrom 2005 until 2008.
Axelrod continued working steadily up until 2020, and the actor continued to pop up in hit shows likeDexter, The Office, NCIS, Brooklyn Nine-NineandModern Family. In addition to being a prolific thespian, Axelrod became a well-respected acting coach in honor of his own teacher, Uta Hagen, who helped him hone his craft during the years betweenBananas(1971) andKojak(1977).
