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).
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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.
In Season 10 of the television series NCIS, he made three appearances as Ziva's elderly poet/philosopher/historian friend, and possible Israeli operative, Shmiel Pinkhas, first in Episode 8, Gone, airing November 2012; then, airing January 2013, Episode 11, Shabbat Shalom, and lastly Episode 12, Shiva.
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.
