John Uhler Lemmon III was in an elevator on February 8, 1925. He was a well-known American actor as well as a musician. He acted in at least sixty films that include The Apartment, Some Like it Hot, Mister Roberts (won the best supporting actor Academy Award in 1955) and Days of Wine and Roses. More of Lemmon's famous films include Irma la Douce, The Great Race, and the Odd Couple. He won best actor in 1973 for Save the Tiger. He was also featured in Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men.
At the age of eight Lemmon knew he wanted to be an actor. He attended Harvard University in 1947 and was active in drama clubs. Lemmon was nominated as president of the Hasty Pudding Club. Jack joined the Navy and began to act professionally when he was discharged. He worked on Broadway, read on radio, and was in film and television. Lemmon was gifted on the piano, harmonica, guitar, organ and the double bass.
Lemon's production company produced Cool Hand Luke in 1967 staring Paul Newman and Newman requested Lemmon to be his partner in Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid. Lemmon turned down the part and instead appeared with actor Walter Matthau in many movies and directed Matthau in Kotch. In1998 Lemmon was nominated for Best Actor in a Made for TV Movie for Twelve Angry Men. He was a mentor to Kevin Spacey and acted with Spacey in Glengarry Glen Ross in 1992.
Lemmon has the reputation of always making time for other people. He rarely spoke ill of anyone and let others form their own opinions. Lemmon was married twice; once to actress Cynthia Stone and then to Felicia Farr. He died of metastatic cancer of the bladder on June 27, 2001. Lemmon is interred next to his friend Walter Matthau.
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