Jack Carter (comedian)

Jack Chakrin (June 24, 1922 – June 28, 2015), known by his stage name Jack Carter, was an American comedian, actor and television presenter. Brooklyn-born Carter had a long-running comedy act similar to fellow rapid-paced contemporaries Milton Berle and Morey Amsterdam.

Life and career
Carter was born in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, in 1922 to a Jewish family. Carter served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He hosted an early television variety program called Cavalcade of Stars on the DuMont Network. He was lured to NBC to host his own program titled The Jack Carter Show. Carter recommended Jackie Gleason take his place as host of Cavalcade of Stars. The Jack Carter Show appeared under the banner of the Saturday Night Revue, NBC's 2 1/2 hour Saturday night programming slot. Carter hosted his show for one hour each week followed by the 90-minute Your Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. Carter remained friends with Sid Caesar his entire life and delivered the eulogy at his funeral.

His only major Broadway appearance was opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. in the 1956 musical Mr. Wonderful. He had previously replaced Phil Silvers in the Broadway show Top Banana. He was a frequent guest on The Ed Sullivan Show during the 1960s and early 1970s, and was known for his impression of Ed Sullivan. He appeared as himself (along with his then-wife Paula Stewart) in the comedy series The Joey Bishop Show. In the late 1960s, he was the host of a game-show pilot called Second Guessers. The pilot did not sell. He was also a frequent panelist on the television game show Match Game during the 1973–1974 season and again during the early 1980s. In 1975, he appeared as a guest star on the quiz show $10,000 Pyramid with contestant Liz Hogan Schultz, and appeared as the ill-fated mayor in the cult horror film Alligator in 1980.

Starting in the 1970s, Carter was on more than ten Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts for some popular television stars and sports personalities.

He made appearances on many television series, including Diagnosis: Unknown, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Rockford Files, The Wild Wild West, Tales of Tomorrow, The Kallikaks, The Ren and Stimpy Show, 7th Heaven, Diagnosis Murder, The Road West, Sanford and Son, Tattletales, Monk, Rules of Engagement, ICarly, Desperate Housewives, and Shameless and voice work on King of The Hill. His last round of work included a cameo on New Girl and a voice on Family Guy. He was a guest on Norm Macdonald's video podcast, Norm Macdonald Live in 2014.

Carter died on June 28, 2015, at his home in Beverly Hills, California, of respiratory failure.

Selected filmography

 * It Happened to Jane (1959) - Stenographer (uncredited)
 * The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962) - Lt. Billy Monk
 * Viva Las Vegas (1964) - Casino Performer (uncredited)
 * The Extraordinary Seaman (1969) - Chief Gunners Mate Orville Toole
 * The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler (1971) - Dwight Chiles
 * Hustle (1975) - Herbie Dalitz
 * Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) - Male Journalist
 * The Amazing Dobermans (1976) - Solly Kramer
 * The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington (1977) - Senator Caruso
 * Record City (1978) - Manny
 * The Glove (1979) - Walter Stratton
 * Alligator (1980) - Mayor
 * The Octagon (1980) - Sharkey
 * Separate Ways (1981) - Barney Brodsky
 * History of the World, Part I (1981) - Rat Vendor - The French Revolution
 * Heartbeeps (1981) - Catskil (voice)
 * The Funny Farm (1983) - Philly Beekman
 * Hambone and Hillie (1983) - Lester Burns
 * Love Scenes (1984) - Sidney
 * The Trouble with Dick (1986) - Samsa
 * W.A.R.: Women Against Rape (1987) - Frank Bower
 * Arena (1989) - Announcer
 * Satan's Princess (1990) - Old Priest
 * Cyber-C.H.I.C. (1990) - Dr. Burburagmus
 * Caged Fury (1990) - Mr. Castaglia
 * Sexpot (1990) - Cal Farnsworth
 * In the Heat of Passion (1992) - Stan
 * The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them (1992) - Rabbi
 * Prima Donnas (1995) - Sen. Robertson
 * Killer per caso (1997) - Honda Civic driver
 * Always Say Goodbye (1997) - Jerry Feldman
 * October 22 (1998) - Pawnbroker
 * The Modern Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1998) - Young Guy
 * Play It to the Bone (1999) - Dante Solomon
 * One Last Ride (2004) - Sid
 * Cougar Club (2007) - Party Guest - Stan's Friend
 * The Great Buck Howard (2008) - Himself
 * Let Go (2011) - Frosty
 * Mercy (2014) - Mr. Bello (final film role)