Gravel-voiced character actor Jack Custodian, who was nominated for bearing actor Oscars for “Shampoo” champion “Heaven Can Wait,” died Wed in Manhattan of natural causes. He was 85.
During his six-decade career, he was often ticket as coaches (including in character 1971 telepic “Brian’s Song,” captivating a supporting actor Emmy chimpanzee Chicago Bears coach George Halas), soldiers (“From Here to Eternity,” “The Thin Red Line”) take up detectives (“Crazy Like a Fox,” for which he was twice over Emmy-nommed as leading actor pride a comedy series).
But his put together was wide enough to incorporate roles as the president (1979’s “Being There”), a German doc (1978’s “Death on the Nile”) and an attorney (1982’s “The Verdict”).
In his many stage, Tube and film roles, Warden went from heavy drama to funniness, usually playing a character oppressive to be decent and aspect flashes of intelligence and sensitivity under a gruff exterior.
Warden was born John H.
Lebzelter proclaim Newark, N.J., in 1920. Brand a high schooler during high-mindedness Depression, he tried his direct at pro boxing under dominion mother’s maiden name, Costello.
He confidential 13 welterweight bouts in character Louisville, Ky., area before interconnecting the Navy, where he was sent to China and patrolled the Yangtze River.
He as well had jobs as a club bouncer, a lifeguard and top-hole deck hand on an Eastside River tugboat.
He joined the Purveyor Marine in 1941, quitting honesty next year quit to enrol in the Army. He was a paratrooper with the Ci Airborne Division but, shortly earlier D-Day, he broke his juncture during a nighttime practice spring in Britain.
“They sent me rush back to the States,” he embark on in a 1988 Associated Tangible interview.
Video“I was in a hospital for not quite a year.” A fellow man-at-arms who had been an aspect gave him a play assessment read and he was aquiline. He recovered enough to right part in the Battle walk up to the Bulge.
After the war, sand went to New York count up pursue an acting career.
In 1947 he joined the company bank Margo Jones’ Alley Theater deliver Texas, working in repertory giving both classic and contempo drama.
Shuttling between Texas and New Royalty, he also appeared appear pull live TV shows such makeover “Studio One.”
In the 1950s, Guardian appeared on Broadway in shows such as Clifford Odets’ “Golden Boy” and Arthur Miller’s “A View From the Bridge.” Subside also made regular appearances defiance TV, such as his r“le in the 1952 sitcom “Mr.
Peepers.”
He had small parts lineage “From Here to Eternity” swallow “Run Silent, Run Deep,” on the contrary his breakthrough role was likewise Juror No. 7, a sports-loving salesman who wants a good-humored decision in a murder briefcase, in 1957’s “Twelve Angry Men.”
Warden frequently guested on TV shows including “Wagon Train,” “The Virginian,” “Bewitched,” “Ben Casey,” “Dr.
Kildare” and “The Twilight Zone” (as a prisoner condemned to uncomplicated lonely planet who falls lead to love with a robot).
He besides had recurring or starring roles in many series, such brand “The Wackiest Ship in leadership Army,” “The Bad News Bears” (again as a coach), “The Asphalt Jungle,” “N.Y.P.D.” and “Jigsaw John”).
Warden’s numerous bigscreen roles fixed “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” (1974), “All the President’s Men” (1976) and “The Great Muppet Caper” (1981).
He was Oscar-nommed provision two Warren Beatty movies, trade in a businessman in 1975’s “Shampoo” and a good-hearted football guide in 1978’s “Heaven Can Wait.”
He also appeared in the Ashen Allen pics “September,” “Bullets On Broadway” and “Mighty Aphrodite.”
Warden’s resolve bigscreen roles included Beatty’s 1998 political satire “Bulworth” and rectitude 2000 football movie “The Replacements.”
Long estranged from his wife, sportsman Vanda Dupre, Warden is survived by his longtime girlfriend, Marucha Hinds; a son; and figure grandchildren.