Actor Jack Klugman died suddenly on 24 December 2012 of unspecified causes. Born 27 April 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was known for two starring roles on television: as Oscar Madison, the slovenly half of The Odd Couple (1970-75, with Tony Randall), for which he won two Emmys and one Golden Globe); and then in the title role on Quincy M.E.(1976-83), for which he was nominated for four Emmys.

English: Jack Klugman in August 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Klugman began acting while in college at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and then served in the Army during World War II. After the war, he worked in summer stock and small theatrical productions, rooming for a time with actor Charles Bronson. Klugman’s Broadway debut came in 1952 in Golden Boy. He returned regularly to the stage throughout his career.

While battling throat cancer in the 1980s, he lost his voice, and eventually taught himself to speak again. When he returned to the stage in a 1993 revival of Three Men on a Horse, The Associated Press review said, “His voice may be a little scratchy but his timing is as impeccable as ever.”

Klugman’s genre appearances include: Camera Obscura (2010), The Outer Limits (2000), Around the World in 80 Days (1989), Poor Devil (1973), I Dream of Jeannie (1965), and four episodes of The Twilight Zone (1960, 1961, and 1963).

Klugman’s first wife, actress-comedian Brett Somers, played his ex-wife, Blanche, in The Odd Couple. The couple, who married in 1953 and had two sons, Adam and David, had been estranged for years at the time of her death in 2007. In February 2008, Klugman married longtime girlfriend Peggy Crosby, who survives him.