Jack Lemmon-TCM’s Star of The Month

I am so excited about TCM’s star of the month, Jack Lemmon! One of the things I’d like to add on to this blog is a little blurb each month on TCM’s Star of The Month, so here it goes. I love Jack Lemmon. I have never seen him on anything I didn’t like because even if the movie was so-so, it had Jack Lemmon and that is all that mattered to me.

Jack Lemmon was one versatile actor, although he is known for his comedic roles, he also played serious roles as well. Did you know?

1. Jack graduated from Harvard University in 1947 at the age of 22.
2. He knew he wanted to be an actor at the tender age of 8.
3. Was a member of the US Navy right after graduating Harvard
4. Taught himself the piano, and played the harmonica and bass fiddle (my inspiration because I am just now learning the piano)
5. Debbie Reynolds had a major crush on him (per Carrie Fisher)

Known by Billy Wilder as an actor that “overacted,” but Billy loved him anyway, in fact, Jack was his favorite. In Wilder’s biography, Nobody’s Perfect, Wilder is quoted as saying, “Lemmon, I would describe him as a ham, a fine ham, and with ham you have to trim a little fat.” In the same book Lemmon is quoted as saying: “I am particularly susceptible to the parts I play… If my character was having a nervous breakdown, I started to have one.” Don’t you just see this in his roles? That is exactly what made his characters come to life for us. He made them believable and tangible.

Jack won two Oscars, one as best supporting actor in 1956 for Mr. Roberts and Best Actor in 1973 for his role in Save the Tiger, making him the first actor to win both Oscars (supporting actor and actor). He was nominated Best Actor for his role in Some Like it Hot, and for his role in the controversial movie, Missing. In 1982 the AFI awarded him “A Lifetime Achievement Award.” Jack’s favorite role was the one of Joe Clay, the young, spirited, alcoholic businessman in The Days of Wine and Roses, (1962). Thirty years later he said that when he delivered the line in the movie, “My name is Joe Clay and…I am an alcoholic,” that line was all too real, that he, in fact, was an alcoholic. He struggled with it and only towards the end of his life did he recover from alcoholism.

Lemmon was one of the most liked, or loved Hollywood stars. His best friend was Walter Matthau, I could’ve guessed that one. In addition to the above mentioned awards, Jack was nominated Best Actor 17 more times, 2 Cannes Film Festival Awards, 6 Golden Globe Awards, but nominated 22 times, surpassing Meryl Streep. What a career and what a man. Jack Lemmon died June 2001, and is buried by his buddy Walter Matthau. Visit TCM to see what films TCM will be featuring each Wednesday this month with Jack Lemmon.

My favorites:

The Out of Towners
The Days of Wine and Roses
The Apartment
Some Like it Hot
Prisoner of Second Ave