Jason Wingreen
Born(1920-10-09)October 9, 1920
Brooklyn, New York, US
DiedDecember 25, 2015(2015-12-25) (aged 95)
Los Angeles, California, US
OccupationActor
Years active1955-1994

Jason Wingreen (October 9, 1920 – December 25, 2015) was an American actor.[1]

From the early 1960s Wingreen was a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[2]

Early years

Born in 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in Howard Beach, Queens, attended John Adams High School, and graduated from Brooklyn College in 1941.[3] While at Brooklyn College, he participated in the Varsity Dramatic Society.[4] Wingreen was Jewish.[3] Wingreen originally planned to become a newspaper reporter after writing about high school sports for the Brooklyn Eagle during his high school years.[5] After serving in World War II, Wingreen was one of the founders of the famed Circle in the Square Theater company in New York's Greenwich Village, and he appeared for the first time on Broadway in two 1954 plays: The Girl on the Via Flaminia and Fragile Fox.[6]

Film

In 1958, Wingreen had the role of Nichols in the 20th Century Fox production The Bravados.[7]

Wingreen lent his voice to the bounty hunter Boba Fett (portrayed by Jeremy Bulloch) in the 1980 sequel to Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back. For the DVD release of the film in 2004, Wingreen's voice was replaced by New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison in continuity with the 2002 prequel Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in which the character is revealed to be a clone of Morrison's Jango Fett who acts as Boba's father.

Stage

Wingreen helped to found the Circle in the Square Theatre in Greenwich Village.[5] On Broadway, he played in The Girl on the Via Flaminia and Fragile Fox, both in 1954.[8]

Television

Wingreen was known for his role as Harry Snowden on the television sitcom All in the Family and its continuation series, Archie Bunker's Place.[2]

Prior to this, Wingreen was a regular during the 1960-61 season of The Untouchables, playing Police Captain Dorsett. He performed in "A Stop at Willoughby," "The Midnight Sun," and "The Bard," three episodes of the original Twilight Zone series. He also appeared on the original Star Trek series, making him one of the few people involved with both Star Wars and Star Trek. Wingreen also had a recurring role as Judge Arthur Beaumont in the series Matlock, and has guest-starred in numerous other series, including Mission: Impossible, The Outer Limits, Bonanza, The Rockford Files, and The Fugitive.

In 1979, he was a part of the ensemble cast of the acclaimed TV mini-series Roots: The Next Generations.

Death

Wingreen died at the age of 95 at his home in Los Angeles, California, on December 25, 2015.[6] He is survived by his son, two grandchildren and his sister, Harriet.[9][10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes ref
1969 Marlowe Camera Store Clerk
1970 The Dunwich Horror Sheriff Harrison
1980 The Empire Strikes Back voice of Boba Fett
[11][12][13][14]
Airplane! Dr. Brody
[15]
1984 Oh God! Hotel Manager
[16]

Television

Year Title Role Notes ref
1955 The Armstrong Circle Theatre Guest Episode: "Crisis (AKA Jet Pilot)" (S 6:Ep 33)
1956 Playhouse 90 The Captain Episode: "Forbidden Area (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1)
1957 Kraft Television Theatre Sweeny Episode: "The Killer Instinct" (S 10:Ep 52)
1958 Steve Canyon Guest Episode: "Operation Heartbeat" (S 1:Ep 4)
The Rough Riders Degnan Episode: "The Duelists" (S 1:Ep 4)
Playhouse 90 Reporter with Capone Episode: "Seven Against the Wall" (S 3:Ep 11)
Alcoa Theatre Gene Vermeth Episode: "Coogan's Reward" (S 2:Ep 15)
1959 Alcoa Theatre Hirsh Episode: "The Best Way To Go" (S 2:Ep 38)
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Theater Manager Episode: "Caper at the Bijou (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1)
Five Fingers Dentist Episode: "The Man With The Triangle Heads" (S 1:Ep 5)
The Troubleshooters Pophir Episode: "Pipeline" (S 1:Ep 8)
Playhouse 90 Blair Episode: "The Tunnel" (S 4:Ep 6)
Adventures in Paradise Romer Episode: "The Bamboo Curtain" (S 1:Ep 10)
1960 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Mr. McGruder Episode: "Love Is a Fallacy" (S 1:Ep 22)
Johnny Staccato Desk Sergeant Episode: "A Nice Little Town" (S 1:Ep 25)
Bourbon Street Beat Ben Anderson Episode: "Swamp Fire" (S 1:Ep 27)
Twilight Zone Train Conductor Episode: "A Stop at Willoughby" (S 1:Ep 30)
Wanted: Dead or Alive Nick Peters Episode: "Journey for Josh" (S 3:Ep 3)
The Untouchables Turner Episode: "The Mark Of Cain" (S 2:Ep 5)
1961 Surfside 6 Simm Epispode: "License to Steal" (S 1:Ep 19)
The Twilight Zone Mr. Shuster Episode: "The Midnight Sun" (S 3:Ep 10)
1962 Margie Wallace Episode: "The Wolf of Wall Street: (S 1:Ep 25)
The Untouchables Second Hood Episode: "The Pea" (S 4:Ep 5)
Disney's World of Color narrator [17]
The Untouchables Phil Banyas Episode: "The Eddie O'Gara Story" (S 4:Ep 7)
1963 Outer Limits Fred Severn Epsiode: "O.B.I.T." (S 1:Ep 7)
The Fugitive Tim Cates
  • Episode: "See Hollywood and Die" (S 1:Ep 8)
  • Uncredited
Bonanza Hank Episode: "The Way of Aaron" (S4:Ep 24)
1964 The Fugitive Friar Episode: "Angels Travel on Lonely Roads, part 1" (S 1:Ep 24)
The Outer Limits Bill Turner Episode: "The Special One" (S 1:Ep 28)
Bonanza Luke Episode: "Enter Thomas Bowers" (S 5:Ep 30)
The Outer Limits Coroner Leland Episode: "Expanding Human" (S 2:Ep 4)
Twelve O'Clock High Major Rosen Episode: "Pressure Point" (S 1:Ep 6)
Slattery's People Mr. Samuels Episode: "Question: Where Vanished the Tragic Piper?" (S 1:Ep 7)
Profiles in Courage Reporter Episode: "The Mary S. McDowell Story" (S 1:Ep 2)
Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre Birdie Max Episode: "Parties to the Crime" (S 2:Ep 7)
Profiles in Courage Hanson Episode: "Thomas Hart Benton" (S 1:Ep 3)
The Fugitive Photographer Episode: "The Iron Maiden" (S 2:Ep 13)
1965 The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Hackie Episode: "The Deadly Decoy Affair" (S 1:Ep 15)
Twelve O'Clock High Major Rosen Episode: "The Clash: (S 1:Ep 21)
Dr. Kildare Painter Episode: "Do You Trust Your Doctor?" (S 4:Ep 23)
The Rogues Guest Episode: "The Pigeons of Paris" (S 1:Ep 25)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Mikhil Brynov Episode: "The Exile" (S 1:Ep 27)
Kraft Suspense Theatre Savadow Episode: "Kill No More" (S 2:Ep 23)
The Fugitive Jack Episode: "Three Cheers for Little Boy Blue" (S 3:Ep 6)
Amos Burke: Secret Agent Gunter Ernst Episode: "The Weapon" (S 1:Ep 9)
The Loner Lucas Episode: "Hunt the Man Down" (S 1:Ep 13)
1966 The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Loser in Casino Episode: "The Birds and the Bees Affair" (S 2:Ep 18)
The Wild Wild West Policeman Episode: "The Night of the Whirring Death: (S 1:Ep 20)
Get Smart KAOS Agent #2 Episode: "Stakeout on Blue Mist Mountain" (S 1:Ep 24)
Blue Light Adolf Hitler Episode: "Invasion by the Stars" (S 1:Ep 9)
The Fugitive Reporter Episode: "The 2130" (S 3:Ep 27)
A Man Called Shenandoah Hotel Clerk Episode: "Requiem for the Second" (S 1:Ep 32)
Felony Squad Joe Caslin Episode: "A Walk To Oblivion" (S 1:Ep 2)
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Fahd Episode: "The Prisoner of Zalamar Affair: (S 1:Ep 2)
Shane Ira Jackson Episode: "Day of the Hawk" (S 1:Ep 7)
Run for Your Life Harbormaster Episode: "The Man Who Had No Enemies" (S 2:Ep 10)
1967 Captain Nice Thug 1 Episode: "That Thing" (S 1:Ep 3)
The Fugitive Nebbs Episode: "Concrete Evidence" (S 4:Ep 18)
The Green Hornet Doctor Episode: "Bad Bet on a 459--Silent" (S 1:Ep 21)
Felony Squad Morrie Episode: "Target!" (S 1:Ep 24)
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Dictator Episode: "The Phi Beta Killer Affair" (S 1:Ep 25) [18]
Please Don't Eat the Daisies Doctor Episode: "When I Was a Young Man" (S 2:Ep 25)
The Road West Norman Todd Episode: "The Agreement" (S 1:Ep 28)
The Invaders Clerk Episode: "The Trial" (S 2:Ep 6)
Felony Squad Collier Episode: "Hit and Run, Run, Run" (S2:Ep 8)
Ironside Bell Captain Episode: "Light at the End of the Journey: (S 1:Ep 10)
Judd, for the Defense Judge Episode: "To Kill A Madman" (S 1:Ep 12)
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Security Guard
  • Episode: "The Maze Affair" (S 4:Ep 13)
  • Uncredited
1968 Cimarron Strip Mr. Glass Episode: "Heller" (S 1:Ep 17)
The Guns of Will Sonnett Milby Episode: "Stopover in a Troubled Town" (S 1:Ep 22)
Judd, for the Defense Judge Episode: "The Devil's Surrogate" (S 1:Ep 23)
Felony Squad Art Rice Episode: "Kiss Me, Kill You" (S 3:Ep 5)
Ironside Man Episode: "I, the People" (S 2:Ep 7)
The Name of the Game District Attorney Episode: "The Ordeal" (S 1:Ep 10)
Star Trek Dr. Linke Episode: "The Empath" (S 3:Ep 12)
Mission: Impossible Official Episode: "The Play" (S 3:Ep 9)
Adam-12 Mr. Kerr Episode: "Log 122: Christmas - The Yellow Dump Truck" (S 1:Ep 13)
1969 Ironside Sam Freeman Episode: "Rundown on a Bum Rap" (S 2:Ep 17)
Mannix Barney Episode: "The Solid Gold Web" (S 2:Ep 23)
1970 CBS Playhouse Guest Episode: "The Day Before Sunday" (S 3:Ep 3)
Mayberry R.F.D. Mr. Desmond Episode: "Emmett Takes a Fall" (S 2:Ep 15)
1971 All in the Family Harry Snowden
1973 Miracle on 34th Street Halloran
Outrage Mr. Bunce
1974 Honky Tonk
The Terminal Man Instructor
1975 Hustle Jim Lang
1977–1983 Archie Bunker's Place Harry Snowden
1978 Vega$ Hank Adamek Uncredited
1979 Captain America Doctor #2
1987–1991 Matlock Judge Arthur Beaumont 11 episodes
1989 Mama's Family Fred Gebhardt
1991 General Hospital Judge Mattson Episode: "1.7242" [19]

References

  1. ^ "Jason Wingreen". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b Phillips, Michael (February 29, 2008). "If I ruled the Oscars (insert your idea here)". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ^ a b Bowie, Stephen. "An Interview With Jason Wingreen: Part One". The Classic TV History Blog. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  4. ^ "Brooklyn College Play Honors Dr. Gideonse". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 3, 1939. p. 13. Retrieved October 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ a b "Wingreen: Bunker's Bartender". The Ottawa Journal. August 23, 1980. p. 90. Retrieved October 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (January 1, 2016). "Jason Wingreen Dead: 'All in the Family Bartender' Was 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media.
  7. ^ "'The Bravados' at Capitol". The Berkshire Eagle. September 4, 1958. p. 8. Retrieved October 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "Jason Wingreen". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. ^ Mendelson, Will (January 2, 2016). "Star Wars Actor Jason Wingreen Dead at 95". Us Weekly. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Osborn, Alex (January 2, 2016). "ORIGINAL VOICE OF BOBA FETT, JASON WINGREEN, DIES AT 95". IGN. j2 Global. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  11. ^ Nathan, Ian. "The 500 greatest movies of all time, No. 3: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)". Empire. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  12. ^ "Film features: 100 Greatest Movies Of All Time". Total Film. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "100 Greatest Films of All Time". AMC Filmsite.org. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  14. ^ "The 100 Best Movies of All Time by Mr. Showbiz". AMC Filmsite.org. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  15. ^ Abrahams, Jim; Zucker, David; Zucker, Jerry; Davidson, Jon (2000). Airplane! DVD audio commentary (DVD). Paramount Pictures. ((cite AV media)): |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  16. ^ "Oh, God!". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  17. ^ "(TV listing)". Standard-Speaker. December 15, 1962. p. 19. Retrieved October 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ^ "(TV listing)". Naugatuck Daily News. March 14, 1967. p. 6. Retrieved October 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. ^ "General Hospital". IMBd. Amazon.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.

External links

Categories