Education:     Carnegie Institute of

Technology, PA; American Theatre Wing

Slouchy, gravel-voiced character player of stage, TV, and the occasional film, became a beloved TV star as the amiable but supremely sloppy Oscar Madison on the long-running TV version of "The Odd Couple" (ABC, 1970-75). Prior to that triumph—which netted him the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1971 and 1973—Klugman had made a name for himself on the New York stage and several major TV shows of the 1950s and 60s. Very much a New Yorker, he fit right into such quintessential 50s NY movies as Sidney Lumet's 12 ANGRY MEN (1957) and CRY TERROR (1958). Klugman's other feature credits include Blake Edwards' DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (1962) and THE DETECTIVE (1968).

Klugman's expressive mug was perfectly suited to the small screen. He appeared on such memorable "Golden Age" series as "Studio One," "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" and "The U.S. Steel Hour." His sympathetic Everyman quality made him a compelling protagonist in tense episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Twilight Zone." Klugman delivered an Emmy award-winning performance in a guest spot on "The Defenders" in the classic "Blacklist" (1962) episode. Despite his previous successes, he seemed born to play Oscar Madison opposite Tony Randall's equally indelible Felix Unger. Though Oscar's sloppiness was every bit as pathological as his roomie's neatness, Klugman's down-to-earth persona made his character more endearing.

Klugman remained a major TV figure with his follow-up series, "Quincy, M.E." (NBC, 1976-83). A dramatic change of pace, the series featured him as a rather grave but crusading coroner who invariably became personally involved in investigating crimes. The initial two-hour movie "Fight City Hall...To the Death!" set the tone for the subsequent series of TV movies and episodes. Klugman's next series, "You Again?," was a short-lived sitcom about a father whose quiet solitary life is disrupted by the arrival of his estranged teenage son (John Stamos).

Throughout his long, busy career, Klugman was a regular face on TV in specials, movies, sitcoms and pilots. He also returned to the stage periodically, often in touring and stock productions of Neil Simon's original play, The Odd Couple. His other theatrical credits include Saint Joan, Mister Roberts, I'm Not Rappaport and the original Broadway production of Gypsy. He has slowed down in his later years while battling throat cancer, but he returned to TV for THE ODD COUPLE: TOGETHER AGAIN, a 1993 CBS TV movie.

Filmography:

1956   TIMETABLE   

1957   12 ANGRY MEN

As their fellow jurors look on, Juror #8 (Henry Fonda, left) plays the role of the victim while juror #3 (Lee J.Cobb)

reenacts the knifing murder under deliberation by the frustrated jury of 12 Angry Men

1958   CRY TERROR 

1962   DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES 

1963   ACT ONE      

1963   I COULD GO ON SINGING    

1963   THE YELLOW CANARY        

1965   HAIL, MAFIA/DA NEW YORK MAFFIA UCCIDE/JE VOUS SALUE MAFIA    

1966   FAME IS THE NAME OF THE GAME 

1968   THE DETECTIVE      

1968   THE SPLIT    

1969   GOODBYE, COLUMBUS        

1971   WHO SAYS I CAN'T RIDE A RAINBOW?     

1973   POOR DEVIL  

1976   ONE OF MY WIVES IS MISSING     

1976   TWO MINUTE WARNING      

1994   PARALLEL LIVES