Jack Carter, who had been in the entertainment industry for over seven decades, has died. He was 93.
Carter died of respiratory failure at his Beverly Hills home Sunday.
Carter was an inescapable face on early television, hosting Cavalcade of Stars in 1949. A year later, he moved on to host The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter and made frequent appearances on Texaco Star Theatre with Milton Berle. He also starred on the Colgate Comedy Hour, a show that featured the likes of Ed Wynn, Jimmy Durante, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.
As Variety notes, Carter started his professional career in Call Me Mister on Broadway. He also performed in Top Banana, Guys and Dolls, Critics Choice, The Odd Couple, Oliver!, Sugar and A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum. Carter even hosted the first televised Tony Awards in 1956.
Carter continued working on television as recently as last year, with a role on Showtime’s Shameless. Other recent cameos included roles in Desperate Housewives, Parks & Recreation, Rules of Engagement, New Girl and even iCarly.
But Carter was always best known for his variety show appearances in the ‘50s and ‘60s. As USA Today, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show over 50 times.
Over on the movie side, Carter appeared in Viva Las Vegas with Elvis Presley, Mel Brooks’ History of the World - Part I and Alligator.
Carter, who was born Jack Chakrin and served in the Army during World War II, is survived by his wife Roxanne, their three children and two grandchildren.
image courtesy of Scott Kirkland/INFphoto.com