Jack Axelrod (January 25, 1930 – November 28, 2023) was an American actor, architect, and acting teacher. He worked extensively in theater before becoming known for supporting and guest roles in film and television. He appeared as Victor Jerome on the daytime soap opera General Hospital from 1987 to 1989, and later had recurring and guest roles on television series including My Name Is Earl and Grey's Anatomy. His film appearances included Woody Allen's Bananas (1971), Hancock (2008), Little Fockers (2010), Super 8 (2011), and The Lone Ranger (2013).
Early life
Axelrod was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 25, 1930. Before establishing himself as an actor, he studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley and became a licensed architect. His early professional experience included architectural work in Seattle.
A high-school teacher encouraged Axelrod to pursue architecture after noticing his abilities in drawing and mathematics. He obtained his architect's license in 1966. The same profile described his transition from architecture to acting and noted that he had appeared in 38 theatrical productions between 1967 and 1975.
Axelrod also spent time traveling, including a period in Chile, where he worked on a novel titled The Architect. He eventually moved toward a full-time career in acting in 1966. During his acting studies in New York, he studied with acting teacher Uta Hagen.
Career
Theater
Axelrod's career was rooted in theater. His early stage work included regional theater and productions of Uncle Vanya, The Trial of the Catonsville 9, and The Miser. He later performed in productions in New York and across the United States.
Axelrod appeared on Broadway in the 1970 production of Gandhi, playing Jinnah Sahib. The production opened at the Playhouse Theatre on October 20, 1970, and closed after one performance. He subsequently appeared in the Broadway production of Herzl in 1976, playing Edouard Bacher and several other parts as an understudy.
In 1984, Axelrod played Barney in the Los Angeles Repertory Theatre production of Barry Pritchard's The Day Roosevelt Died, alongside Anne Gerety. The same period included his appearance as Webber, a theater manager, in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera production of Gypsy.
Axelrod subsequently appeared frequently in regional theater. In 1989, he played Nat in Pioneer Theatre Company's production of Herb Gardner's I'm Not Rappaport in Salt Lake City. The following year, he played Ben in Pioneer Theatre Company's production of Neil Simon's Broadway Bound.
In 1995, Axelrod played Sigmund Freud in the Pope Theatre Company's production of Terry Johnson's Hysteria. His performance was reviewed describing as combining humor with the character's suffering.
Axelrod later played Morrie Schwartz in productions of Tuesdays with Morrie, based on the memoir by Mitch Albom. In 2004, he appeared as Morrie at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach, California. Axelrod's portrayal of the character was reviewed as Morrie's physical condition deteriorates. In 2006, he again played Morrie in a Center Repertory Company production in Walnut Creek, California, an appearance that was the subject of a profile in J.
Film and television
Axelrod made his screen debut in Woody Allen's political comedy Bananas (1971), in which he played Lieutenant Arroyo. Axelrod later recalled his experience making the film in a 2006 interview, including his meeting with Allen and his work on the production in Puerto Rico.
His television career included guest and recurring appearances across drama and comedy series. His most substantial television role was Victor Jerome on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital, a role he played from 1987 to 1989. Axelrod later recalled that he had initially expected to work on the series for only a few days, but ultimately remained for approximately two and a half years.
Axelrod also appeared as the "Electrolarynx Guy" on the NBC comedy My Name Is Earl and as Charlie Yost, nicknamed "Really Old Guy", on Grey's Anatomy.
His later film appearances included Hancock (2008), Little Fockers (2010), Super 8 (2011), J. Edgar (2011), and The Lone Ranger (2013).
Teaching
In addition to acting, Axelrod worked as an acting teacher at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and also discussed his earlier teaching at Brandeis University.
His teaching work continued alongside his acting career. His later professional biography listed teaching affiliations with a number of universities and acting programs.
Death
Axelrod died in Los Angeles on November 28, 2023, at the age of 93. His death was attributed to natural causes, according to his representative.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1971 Bananas Arroyo 1985 The Incredible Sensorium Professor Phineas Templeton Flagg Short film 1990 Faith Don Bassaro 1997 Walking to Waldheim Eddie Bromberg Short film 1999 Through Thick and Thin Gus Short film 2001 Road to Redemption Arnold 2008 Hancock Convict 2008 Winged Creatures Sam 2009 Labor Pains O'Keefe 2009 Table for Three Musician #1 2010 Little Fockers Chappy 2010 Ollie Klublershturf vs. the Nazis Poppy Klublershturf Short film 2011 Super 8 Mr. Blakely 2011 Transformers: Dark of the Moon Simmons Tileman 2011 J. Edgar Caminetti 2013 Coffee Town Elderly Man 2013 The Lone Ranger Telegraph Operator 2015 Adulthood Uncle Al 2020 Bad Therapy Dr. Cherbenko
Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 Kojak Forensics Man 1 episode 1983–1984 Dallas Mr. Dettinger 2 episodes 1984 Hill Street Blues Salesman 1 episode 1985 Not My Kid Harlan Crockett Television film 1986 The Judge Dr. Ben Foster 1 episode 1987 Dynasty Charlie 1 episode 1987 Outlaws Livingston 1 episode 1987–1989 General Hospital Victor Jerome 40 episodes 1989 Night Court Mr. Williams 1 episode 1989–1990 Knots Landing Arnie Zimmer 3 episodes 1990 Hammer, Slammer, & Slade Television film 1992 Murphy Brown Leon, Gene's Tailor 1 episode 1993 Love, Cheat & Steal Mario Columbard Television film 1999 Everybody Loves Raymond Lodge Member 1 episode 1999 Boy Meets World Organ Grinder 1 episode 1999 Good vs Evil Jacobus Blitzer 1 episode 1999 Jack & Jill Husband 1 episode 1999 Dharma & Greg Bartender 1 episode 2000 Gideon's Crossing Elderly Man 1 episode 2000 Vice Mr. Reinert 2000 Something to Sing About Mr. Thompson Television film 2000 Star Trek: Voyager Chorus #1 1 episode 2001 Alias Giovanni Donato 1 episode 2001 Philly 1 episode 2001 The Division Mr. Kanter 1 episode 2002 In-Laws Mr. Jenkins 1 episode 2003 It's All Relative Uncle Paddy 1 episode 2003 Frasier Old Frasier 1 episode 2004 Blowing Smoke Sid Television film 2004 The Help Grandpa Eddie 5 episodes 2005 Malcolm in the Middle Sheldon 1 episode 2006 Christmas Do-Over Elderly Neighbor Television film 2006 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Father O'Grady 1 episode 2006 Scrubs Italian Man 1 episode 2005–2008 My Name Is Earl Electrolarynx Guy / Old Man / Fake Father 8 episodes 2006–2007 Grey's Anatomy Charlie Yost 3 episodes 2009 Star-ving Ira Silver 4 episodes 2009 Secret Girlfriend Retired Golfer 1 episode 2010 Hawthorne Burt 2 episodes 2010 Private Practice Oscar Schmitt 1 episode 2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Janitor 2 episodes 2011 Fred & Vinnie Leo 2011 Hot in Cleveland Ernie 1 episode 2011 Love Bites Little Old Man 1 episode 2011 Franklin & Bash Old Man 1 episode 2011 Dexter Nelson 1 episode 2012 The Beauty Inside Alex #25 5 episodes 2012 Raising Hope Henry 1 episode 2012 Animal Practice Old Man 1 episode 2012 The Office Old Man 1 episode 2012 Shameless Old Guy 1 episode 2012–2013 NCIS Shmeil Pinkhas 2 episodes 2013 Family Tools Mr. Kurtz 1 episode 2013 Hawaii Five-0 Ezra Clark 1 episode 2014 Mulaney Elderly Veteran 1 episode 2014 Mystery Girls Bill Sanderson 1 episode 2014 Legit Old Man 1 episode 2014 Kirstie Hal Kleinman 1 episode 2015 Playing House 1 episode 2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Martin 1 episode 2016 Ray Donovan Leo 2 episodes 2016 Animals. Old Mike 1 episode, voice 2016 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Henry Coles 1 episode 2017 Dice Rabbi Marshak 2 episodes 2017 Baskets Herb 2 episodes 2018 Station 19 Mr. Paige 1 episode 2018 Speechless Older Man 1 episode 2018 No Activity Steve 3 episodes 2019 Modern Family Harvey / Bert 2 episodes
Stage credits
Production Role Year / period Gandhi Jinnah Sahib 1970 Herzl Edouard Bacher and others 1976 The Day Roosevelt Died Barney 1984 Gypsy Webber 1984 I'm Not Rappaport Nat 1989 Broadway Bound Ben 1990 Hysteria Sigmund Freud 1995 Tuesdays With Morrie Morrie Schwartz 2004, 2006
References
External links
Jack Axelrod at the Television Academy