- Jack Axelrod, a Hollywood veteran, passes away at 93
- Axelrod starred in TV shows such as General Hospital and Grey’s Anatomy and movies like Woody Allen’s Bananas
- Despite his small role, Axelrod’s portrayal of Father O’Grady on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was memorable
Character actor Jack Axelrod, known for his roles in popular TV shows and movies, passed away at the age of 93. He died of natural causes in Los Angeles on November 28, and his passing was confirmed by his representative, Jennifer Garland, in a statement given to Entertainment Weekly.
Garland shared her memories of Axelrod, saying, “I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with him in his last years, as he had no immediate family. We spent much time outdoors, where Jack loved to sketch, read news articles, and recite Shakespearean sonnets.”
Axelrod started his acting career at the age of 40, with his debut in the one-performance production of Gandhi. Prior to this, he worked as an architect. His first role in a feature film was in Woody Allen’s Bananas (1971).
After his film debut, Axelrod began landing roles in TV series, starting with a guest appearance on the crime drama Kojak in 1977. He went on to appear in television shows like Hill Street Blues, Dallas, Dynasty and Night Court before landing his most well-known role as Vic Jerome in General Hospital. Axelrod played the part for 40 episodes between 1987 and 1989.
Following his time on General Hospital, Axelrod continued to work in television, appearing in shows such as Murphy Brown, Everybody Loves Raymond, Star Trek: Voyager, and Frasier. In 2007, he guest-starred on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Father O’Grady, a memorable and hilarious character despite only appearing in a few scenes.
Axelrod’s career spanned the small screen in TV series like Grey’s Anatomy and My Name is Earl and big-screen movies like Hancock, Little Fockers, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and The Lone Ranger. He continued to act until 2020, appearing in hit shows such as Dexter, The Office, NCIS, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Modern Family. In addition to his acting, Axelrod was a respected acting coach, honoring his own teacher Uta Hagen, who helped him hone his craft over the years.
Rest in peace, Mr. Axelrod.