Sydney Lassick (July 23, 1922 – April 12, 2003) was an American character actor perhaps best known for his role as Charlie Cheswick in the feature film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Lassick's first name was sometimes spelled Sidney.
Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Russian Jewish immigrants. Lassick, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and afterwards studied drama at DePaul University, began acting in both films and TV shows in the late 1950s.
Lassick is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Charlie Cheswick, a whiny and childish manic depressive patient in the 1975 Academy Award-winning film One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Other memorable roles include a fey Fairy Godfather in the lowbrow Sinderella and the Golden Bra; Mr. Fromm, the spitefully sarcastic English teacher in the 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel Carrie; the perverse and abusive innkeeper Ernest Keller in slasher horror The Unseen; the slimy Charlie P. in the cult film Sonny Boy; and the effeminate lackey Gopher in Deep Cover (1992). Lassick also was the voice of Straycatcher #2 in the 1992 animated feature film Tom and Jerry: The Movie.
In television, Lassick guest starred on such shows as Eight Is Enough, Baretta, Hawaii Five-O, Barney Miller, Matt Houston, Moonlighting, Night Court, Knots Landing, Dream On and The X-Files. While usually a supporting actor, he played the lead in an episode of Amazing Stories called "Remote Control Man".
Death Lassick died of complications of diabetes at age 80 in Midway Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Lassick was buried at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. His grave marker is a simple small stone memorial showing only his name and the Star of David.
Filmography + Lassick's filmography Year Title Role Notes 1958 The Bonnie Parker Story Scout Master 1959 Paratroop Command Interpreter Al Capone Hot Dog Vendor Uncredited 1964 Sinderella and the Golden Bra Fairy Godfather As Sid Lassick 1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Charlie Cheswick 1976 Carrie Mr. Fromm 1977 The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington Percy Bowlder The Billion Dollar Hobo Mitchell 1978 China 9, Liberty 37 Sheriff's friend 1979 Hot Stuff Hymie Skatetown, U.S.A. Murray 1941 Salesman Uncredited 1980 Alligator Luke Gutchel As Sidney Lassick The Unseen Ernest Keller 1981 History of the World: Part I Applecore Vendor 1982 Pandemonium Man in Bus Station Partners Photo Shoot Assistant Uncredited Fast-Walking Ted Forty Days of Musa Dagh Osman 1984 Silent Madness Sheriff Liggett Night Patrol Peeping Tom As Sidney Lassick Monaco Forever American Tourist 1985 Stitches Sheldon Mendlebaum 1986 Ratboy Lee 'Dial-A-Prayer' 1987 Body Slam Shapiro 1988 Lady in White Mr. Lowry The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck Wolfgang Meyer 1989 Sonny Boy Charlie P. Out on Bail Otis T. Smiley Curse II: The Bite George Tale of Two Sisters Dad Judgement Dr. Henry Silver 1990 Pacific Palisades Mr. Beer Smoothtalker Mr. Nathan Wishful Thinking Dr. Harding 1991 Committed Gow Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Franklin The Art of Dying Wallie Shakes the Clown Peppy the Clown Cool as Ice Roscoe 1992 Deep Cover Gopher Judgement Dr. Henry Silver Miracle Beach Tooth Fairy Tom and Jerry: The Movie Straycatcher #2 Voice 1993 Eye of the Stranger Oli Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Competition Announcer 1994 Future Shock Mr. Johnson 1996 Freeway Woody Wilson Johns Al Squanderers Peter Chisholm 1997 American Vampire Bruno 1999 Man on the Moon Crystal Healer 2000 Something to Sing About Elderly Man Final film role
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1976Serpico Goldman Episode: "The Deadly Game"FamilyBenson Margotte2 episodes1977BuncoTV movieMan from AtlantisSmithEpisode: "The Hawk of Mu"Eight Is Enough Mr. KaminskyEpisode: "Dark Horse"BarettaDavey Scafali"Who Can Make the Sun Shine?"Tabitha WarlockEpisode: "What's Wrong with Mister Right?"1978Hawaii Five-O BenileaEpisode: "Invitation to Murder"Kaz Episode: "Which Side Are You On?"Greatest Heroes of the BibleKing AgadizMiniseries1978-1980Barney MillerMr. Cummings/Victor Carse2 episodes1979The Cracker FactoryErnie1981Archie Bunker's Place Sid1983Gloria Dr. MontegoEpisode: "Class Struggle"Matt Houston BradyEpisode: "Needle in a Haystack"1984Night Court LeoEpisode: "Pick a Number"1985Amazing StoriesWalter Poindexter Episode: "Remote Control Man"1986Moonlighting NeighborEpisode: "The Bride of Tupperman"1991Gabriel's Fire Liebowitz Episode: "One Flew Over the Bird's Nest"1992On the Air Mr. Zoblotnick 2 episodes1994Dream On Mr. Janovic Episode: "Martin Tupper in 'Magnum Farce'"1997The X-Files Chuck Forsch Episode: "Elegy"
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