Jack Lemmon, RIP

June 28, 2001 2:53 AM

Jack Lemmon, RIP
These things seem to happen all at once....Johm Lee Hooker, now Jack Lemmon...such a pity :-(
posted by tomcosgrave (21 comments total)

I can barely type right now. Jack Lemmon's work was without a doubt the greatest single influence on me as a would-be actor.

The man was just... oh, fucking hell, I can't even do this right now. I'm just going to curl up into a little ball.
posted by toddshot at 3:06 AM on June 28, 2001

I always thought he played the same kind of character till he acted Al Pacino of the screen in Glen Gary Glen Ross. Not may people can claim to have done that.

Being an actor, he'll live on, to some extent, through the body of his work.
posted by davehat at 3:27 AM on June 28, 2001

He utterly, utterly ruled in Glengarry Glen Ross. Sad stuff.
posted by frenetic at 3:32 AM on June 28, 2001

"That's the way it crumbles... cookie-wise."
posted by ZachsMind at 4:15 AM on June 28, 2001

I wish he would have made the cut at Pebble Beach. I loved everything he was in.
posted by vanderwal at 4:43 AM on June 28, 2001

I just watched Grumpier Old Men the other night with my girlfriend and we talked about his and Walter Mattheu's careers. A funny duo, and now both gone. It is sad.
posted by a3matrix at 6:10 AM on June 28, 2001

What's funny is that I never really got into Jack Lemmon. I haven't seen most of his films, not even the more recent Grumpy ones. But a while ago, when I was in my "let's watch some old movies from way back in the day" mood, I rented Some Like It Hot. I was truly surprised at the comedic perfection of it all, including a simply hilarious performance by Lemmon.

Good stuff.
posted by dequinix at 6:55 AM on June 28, 2001

Nearly a year exactly after Matthau...fitting, in a somber way. RIP, Ensign Pulver.
posted by davidmsc at 7:26 AM on June 28, 2001

He was so good that he managed not to embarrass neither himself nor his fans even when he acted in dreadful stuff like "Dad" (Ted Danson, enough said)

http://us.imdb.com/Name?Lemmon,+Jack

My personal favorites: The Apartment and Irma La Douce. You can't do any better than that
posted by matteo at 8:11 AM on June 28, 2001

In a recent discussion about movies that can always make you stop what you're doing, sit down and watch, I had but two answers: anything with Kevin Spacey and anything with Jack Lemmon. (Interesting as Spacey was a protegé of Lemmon.) Even bad flicks (the aforementioned Dad and the dreadful Two If By Sea) could be somewhat redeemed by the Lemmon's subtle way of making it seem like he was there to act. dammit, and if the material was subpar, so what, his performance wouldn't be. I shall go out tonight and rent Missing (one of his finest hours) in remembrance of a film great. RIP, Jack.
posted by Dreama at 9:07 AM on June 28, 2001

>could be somewhat redeemed by the Lemmon's subtle way of making it seem like he was there to act<

isn't he the one who said an actor's job wasn't to critique the script but to act it? - rcb
posted by rebeccablood at 9:16 AM on June 28, 2001

I wasn't too happy with Jack being cast as Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond the movie, but I would have never wanted a cast change in this manner.

RIP Jack.
posted by riffola at 10:46 AM on June 28, 2001

I can't think of many people (famous or otherwise) who were so smart, talented, humane and well-liked--and recognized in their lifetime. No tears, just a chuckle and a tip of the hat to one of the best, buddyboy.
posted by aflakete at 11:25 AM on June 28, 2001

John Lee Hooker was mentioned at the top, but please don't forget Carroll O’Connor.

3 fantastic entertainers. the circle is finished; no more deaths please.
posted by o2b at 12:27 PM on June 28, 2001

Actually, I think we have two more to go:

Kings of a music genre:
Boozoo Chavis (zydeco), John Lee Hooker (blues), ????

Actors:
Caroll O'Connor, Jack Lemmon, ?????
posted by fooljay at 12:42 PM on June 28, 2001

And all we're left with Chris Lemmon...tragic indeed.
posted by jdiaz at 12:46 PM on June 28, 2001

Days of Wine and Roses have passed.
posted by capt.crackpipe at 1:33 PM on June 28, 2001

and don't forget Anthony Quinn...
posted by harrycaul at 1:45 PM on June 28, 2001

Maybe something heavy could just fall on Kevin Costner, and end all the neadless suffering right there.
posted by dong_resin at 1:56 PM on June 28, 2001

Needless, dagnabitt.
posted by dong_resin at 1:57 PM on June 28, 2001

Joan Sims died yesterday too. Of course, she's totally unknown outside of the UK, but was a much loved character in the Carry On series of films.
posted by wackybrit at 6:25 PM on June 28, 2001