The son of a bakery business owner, Lemmon was born Feb. 8, 1925; legend has it the birth was in an elevator at a Newton, Mass., hospital. In 1972, at the 44th Academy Awards, Jack Lemmon presented the Honorary Academy Award to silent screen legend Charlie Chaplin. "Hope!

[37] In 1995, Lemmon was awarded the inaugural Harvard Arts Medal.

He was unabashedly passionate about certain causes, such as the environment and animal rights, and was never one to shy away from controversial films or blunt language.

A seductress role was played by Lemmon's wife, Felicia Farr. But the Oscar for best actor eluded Lemmon till 1973 when he won for "Save the Tiger."

He underwent surgery a month ago to remove an inflamed gall bladder. In the last 50 years, it would be hard to name many actors who had more impact on American cinema than Lemmon.

“From his comic turns in ‘Mister Roberts’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’ to his flawed characters in ‘Save the Tiger’ and ‘Days of Wine and Roses’ to his suddenly politicized common men in ‘Missing’ and ‘The China Syndrome,’ Mr. Lemmon has sent one consistent message to his audiences, ‘This could be you,’ ” Samuel G. Freedman wrote years ago in the New York Times. Although off-screen, the two thespians maintained they shared a much more peaceable relationship, it was never lacking in the chemistry they shared. You don't have to agree with the point of view that the author had, but if it the 1975 biography "Lemmon.

He also won the Cannes Film Festival's best actor award for "The China For his part, Lemmon, though proud of his work, often gave much of the credit for his success to fate. [3][8] For about a year in New York City, he worked unpaid as a waiter and master of ceremonies at the Old Knick bar on Second Avenue. Another great business associate was Billy Wilder, who directed him in some of his classics. Cowan. [3] Columbia's head Harry Cohn wanted to change Lemmon's name, in case it was used to describe the quality of the actor's films, but he successfully resisted. Summarizing his special place in the history of entertainment, Cowen, his longtime spokesman, had this to say: "He is one of the greatest actors in the history of the business. [1][6] He attended John Ward Elementary School in Newton and the Rivers School in Weston, Massachusetts. Indeed, the three roles earned him Academy Award nominations and he won an Oscar for “Mister Roberts.”.

After graduating from Philips Academy in Andover, Mass., Lemmon attended Harvard University, where, as a junior, he served as president of its Hasty Pudding theatrical club. Jack Lemmon, whose gift for broad physical comedy and soul-searching drama made him one of Hollywood’s most beloved and accomplished actors, has died. Lemmon was nominated for a Tony Award the second and last time for a revival of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night in 1986;[33] Lemmon had taken the lead role of James Tyrone in a production directed by Jonathan Miller.

[The producers] misjudge, and you misjudge. [41] As the 1970s progressed, Lemmon increased his drinking to cope with stress.