Actor Jack Palance dies

11-13-2006, 02:43 PM

Actor Jack Palance dies
In California Fri Nov 10, 5:31 PM ET

Jack Palance, the craggy-faced menace in "Shane," "Sudden Fear" and other films who turned to comedy at 70 with his Oscar-winning self-parody in "City Slickers," died Friday.

Palance died of natural causes at his home in Montecito, Calif., surrounded by family, said spokesman Dick Guttman. Palance was 85 according to Associated Press records, but his family gave his age as 87.

When Palance accepted his Oscar for best supporting actor he delighted viewers of the 1992 Academy Awards by dropping to the stage and performing one-armed push-ups to demonstrate his physical prowess.

"That's nothing, really," he said slyly. "As far as two-handed push-ups, you can do that all night, and it doesn't make a difference whether she's there or not."

That year's Oscar host, Billy Crystal, turned the moment into a running joke, making increasingly outlandish remarks about Palance's accomplishments throughout the night's awards presentations.

It was a magic moment that epitomized the actor's 40 years in films. Always the iconoclast, Palance had scorned most of his film roles.

"Most of the stuff I do is garbage," he once told a reporter, adding that most of the directors he worked with were incompetent.

Movie audiences, however, were electrified by the actor's chiseled face and hulking presence, and a calm, low voice that made him all the more chilling.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-13-2006, 08:04 PM

He was one of those guys that made you even more nervous when he started to smile.

wolf · 11-13-2006, 08:49 PM

There was always something special about his particular brand of gravelly-voiced menace.

Even in the version of Dracula he did that I don't think anyone but me liked.

Pangloss62 · 11-13-2006, 09:19 PM

Palance was amazing in Goddard's "Contempt." That movie ranks in my top 5 pantheon.

11-13-2006, 02:43 PM	#1
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Actor Jack Palance dies Actor Jack Palance dies In California Fri Nov 10, 5:31 PM ET Jack Palance, the craggy-faced menace in "Shane," "Sudden Fear" and other films who turned to comedy at 70 with his Oscar-winning self-parody in "City Slickers," died Friday. Palance died of natural causes at his home in Montecito, Calif., surrounded by family, said spokesman Dick Guttman. Palance was 85 according to Associated Press records, but his family gave his age as 87. When Palance accepted his Oscar for best supporting actor he delighted viewers of the 1992 Academy Awards by dropping to the stage and performing one-armed push-ups to demonstrate his physical prowess. "That's nothing, really," he said slyly. "As far as two-handed push-ups, you can do that all night, and it doesn't make a difference whether she's there or not." That year's Oscar host, Billy Crystal, turned the moment into a running joke, making increasingly outlandish remarks about Palance's accomplishments throughout the night's awards presentations. It was a magic moment that epitomized the actor's 40 years in films. Always the iconoclast, Palance had scorned most of his film roles. "Most of the stuff I do is garbage," he once told a reporter, adding that most of the directors he worked with were incompetent. Movie audiences, however, were electrified by the actor's chiseled face and hulking presence, and a calm, low voice that made him all the more chilling.

11-13-2006, 08:04 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	He was one of those guys that made you even more nervous when he started to smile. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-13-2006, 08:49 PM	#3
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	There was always something special about his particular brand of gravelly-voiced menace. Even in the version of Dracula he did that I don't think anyone but me liked. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-13-2006, 09:19 PM	#4
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Underrated Palance was amazing in Goddard's "Contempt." That movie ranks in my top 5 pantheon. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

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