Jack Klugman Passes: The Odd Couple Legend And New Yorker

Even though he was born in Philadelphia and passed away in Los Angeles, Jack Klugman’s someone I always associate with New York City.

The reasons are simple: his role as Oscar Madison, the sloppy, smart but everyman sports writer friend and roommate to Felix Unger, expertly played by the late Tony Randall. Klugman’s ties to New York, both before and after The Odd Couple. But most of all, that simple, all-knowing, seen-it-all way that’s the hallmark of almost everyone from New York City and expressed by Klugman and other actors like the late Jerry Orbach of Law and Order.

Scott Feinberg posted what would be the last interview with Mr. Klugman, and for 45 minutes:

I can’t remember an episode of The Odd Couple I missed – mostly because I wanted to see that time when both Felix and Oscar were just going to explode. But, fortunately, it never happened, and as a teenager, I learned alot about tolerating the differences in others, especially with friends and family.

Jack Klugman.

RIP.

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