Victor E. Tayback (January 6, 1930 – May 25, 1990) was an American actor. He is known for his role as Mel Sharples in the film ''

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' is a 1974 American comedy drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Robert Getchell. It stars Ellen Burstyn as a widow who travels with her preteen son across the Southwestern United States in se ...

'' (1974) and the television series ''

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

'' (1976–1985). The latter earned him two consecutive

Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

and a

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

nomination.

Life and career

Tayback was born in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, to Helen (née Hanood) and Najeeb James Tayback. His parents were immigrants from

Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

. He moved with his family to

Burbank Burbank may refer to: Places Australia * Burbank, Queensland, a suburb in Brisbane United States * Burbank, California, a city in Los Angeles County * Burbank, Santa Clara County, California, a census-designated place * Burbank, Illinois, ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

during his teenage years and attended Burbank High School, from which he graduated in 1947. He also attended Glendale Community College and the Frederick A. Speare School of Radio and TV Broadcasting. Tayback served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

before beginning his acting career at the age of 25. A lifetime member of the

Actors Studio The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded ...

, he was a familiar face on television in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on numerous series, including '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'', ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...

'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...

'', '' Here Come the Brides'', ''

That Girl ''That Girl'' is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from September 8, 1966 to March 19, 1971. It starred Marlo Thomas as the title character Ann Marie, an aspiring (but only sporadically employed) actress, who moves from her hometown of Brewster ...

'' , ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Moor ...

'', '' The Partridge Family'', '' All in the Family'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'', ''

Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. Gu ...

'', ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...

'', and '' The Love Boat''. He also appeared in many films such as '' Bullitt'' (1968), '' Papillon'' (1973), '' The Gambler'' (1974), ''

The Cheap Detective ''The Cheap Detective'' is a 1978 American mystery comedy film written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore. It stars Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, a parody of Humphrey Bogart. The film is a parody of Bogart films such as ''Casablanca'' ...

'' (1978), and '' All Dogs Go to Heaven'' (1989), as well as more than 25 stage productions, including '' Twelve Angry Men'', ''

The Diary of Anne Frank ''The Diary of a Young Girl'', also known as ''The Diary of Anne Frank'', is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherl ...

'', '' Death of a Salesman'', and '' Brighton Beach Memoirs''. He was the co-founder of the theater troupe Company of Angels. Tayback's most famous role was diner owner Mel Sharples in both the film ''

'' (1974) and the television series ''

'' (1976–1985). He was the only actor in the original film to reprise his role for the rest of the series. For the role, he was nominated for a

in 1978 and won two consecutive

in 1980 and 1981.

Filmography

*''

The Power of the Resurrection ''The Power of the Resurrection'' is a 1958 American feature film directed by Harold D. Schuster and starring Richard Kiley, Jon Shepodd, Morris Ankrum. The film is also known as ''The Passion and the Power of the Christ''. Plot A young man soon ...

'' (1958) – Simon the Canaanite *''

T-Bird Gang ''T-Bird Gang'' is a 1959 American film directed by Richard Harbinger in his first and final film. It was co-written by and starring John Brinkley and Tony Miller with Edwin Nelson; all of them had appeared in several of Roger Corman's films. Pl ...

'' (1959) – Cop #1 at gas station *''

Gangster Story ''Gangster Story'' is a 1959 American crime film directed by and starring Walter Matthau. The film was edited by Radley Metzger. This was the only film Matthau directed. He married co-star Carol Grace in 1959. Plot summary A mobster is hiding ...

'' (1959) – Norm, Resort Guard (uncredited) *'' North to Alaska'' (1960) – Roustabout (uncredited) *''

Five Minutes to Live ''Five Minutes to Live'' is a 1961 American neo-noir crime film directed by Bill Karn. It was re-titled ''Door-to-Door Maniac'' for an American International Pictures re-release in 1966. The film stars Johnny Cash, who wrote and sang the title so ...

'' (1961) – Fred Dorella *''Surftide 77'' (1962) – Arms *''

Five Weeks in a Balloon ''Five Weeks in a Balloon, or, A Journey of Discovery by Three Englishmen in Africa'' (french: Cinq semaines en ballon) is an adventure novel by Jules Verne, published in 1863. It is the first novel in which he perfected the "ingredients" of his ...

'' (1962) – European Agent (uncredited) *''

Love with the Proper Stranger ''Love with the Proper Stranger'' is a 1963 American romantic comedy-drama film made by Pakula- Mulligan Productions and Boardwalk Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Robert Mulligan and produced by Alan J. Paku ...

'' (1963) – Cye (uncredited) *''

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round ''Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' is a 1966 crime film written and directed by Bernard Girard, and starring James Coburn, Camilla Sparv, Aldo Ray, Nina Wayne, Todd Armstrong, Robert Webber, Rose Marie and Harrison Ford in his film debut. P ...

'' (1966) – Denver Police Detective Merchant (uncredited) *'' Gambit'' (1966) – Plainclothes Officer at TWA Counter (uncredited) *''

With Six You Get Eggroll ''With Six You Get Eggroll'' is a 1968 American romantic comedy film directed by Howard Morris and starring Doris Day, Brian Keith, Barbara Hershey, George Carlin, and Pat Carroll. It was the first film that was produced by the CBS Television Net ...

'' (1968) – Truck Driver *'' Bullitt'' (1968) – Pete Ross *'' Blood and Lace'' (1971) – Calvin Carruthers *''

Every Little Crook and Nanny ''Every Little Crook and Nanny'' is a 1972 comedy film starring Victor Mature who came out of retirement to play the role. It was his first major film role since 1966. "They caught me when I felt like saying yeah," said Mature.Aljean Harmetz, "Vict ...

'' (1972) – Ganucci Strong-Arm Man (uncredited) *''Maxie'' (1973) – Smedke *''

Emperor of the North Pole ''Emperor of the North Pole'' is a 1973 American action adventure film directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Keith Carradine, and Charles Tyner. It was later re-released on home media (and is more widely known) under ...

'' (1973) – Yardman *'' The Blue Knight'' (1973) – Neil Grogan *''

The Don Is Dead ''The Don Is Dead'' is a 1973 American crime film directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Christopher Trumbo, Michael Butler, and Marvin H. Albert, adapted from Albert's novel of the same name. It stars Anthony Quinn, Frederic Forrest, R ...

'' (1973) – Ralph Negri *'' Papillon'' (1973) – Sergeant *'' Thunderbolt and Lightfoot'' (1974) – Mario Pinski *'' The Gambler'' (1974) – One *''

'' (1974) – Mel *''

Report to the Commissioner ''Report to the Commissioner'' is a 1975 American crime drama film based on James Mills' 1972 novel. It involves a rookie cop (Michael Moriarty) in the New York City Police Department who is assigned a special missing person case, which in fact ...

'' (1975) – Lt. Seidensticker *''

Lepke Louis Buchalter, known as Louis Lepke or Lepke Buchalter, (February 6, 1897March 4, 1944) was an American mobster and head of the Mafia hit squad Murder, Inc., during the 1930s. Buchalter was one of the premier labor racketeers in New York City ...

'' (1975) – Lucky Luciano *'' The Black Bird'' (1975) – Warren Finley, Police Lieutenant *''

No Deposit, No Return ''No Deposit, No Return'' is a 1976 American crime comedy film directed by Norman Tokar and produced by Walt Disney Productions. The film was written by Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson, and stars David Niven, Darren McGavin, Don Knotts, Herschel Be ...

'' (1976) – Big Joe *''

The Big Bus ''The Big Bus'' is a 1976 American disaster comedy film starring Joseph Bologna and Stockard Channing, and directed by James Frawley. A spoof of the disaster movie genre (which was popular at the time), it follows the maiden cross-country trip ...

'' (1976) – Goldie *'' Special Delivery'' (1976) – Wyatt *''

Mansion of the Doomed ''Mansion of the Doomed'' (U.K. theatrical title: ''The Terror of Dr. Chaney''; also known as ''Massacre Mansion'', ''Eyes'', ''Eyes of Dr. Chaney'' and ''House of Blood'') is a 1976 American exploitation horror film directed by Michael Pataki an ...

'' (1976) – Detective Simon *''

The Shaggy D.A. ''The Shaggy D.A.'' is a 1976 American comedy film and a sequel to '' The Shaggy Dog'' (1959) produced by Walt Disney Productions. It was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Don Tait. As with the first film in the series, it takes some ...

'' (1976) – Eddie Roschak *'' The Choirboys'' (1977) – Zoony *''

'' (1978) – Lt. DiMaggio *'' Treasure Island'' (1985) – Silver *'' Weekend Warriors'' (1986) – Sgt. Burdge *'' The Underachievers'' (1987) – Coach *''

Loverboy Loverboy is a Canadian rock band formed in 1979 in Calgary, Alberta. Loverboy's hit singles, particularly " Turn Me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend", have become arena rock staples and are still heard on many classic rock and classic hits r ...

'' (1989) – Harry Bruckner *''Criminal Act'' (1989) – The Exterminator (Greengrass) *''

Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers ''Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers'' is a 1989 comedy film directed by Jonathan Mostow. Plot A doctor and a mortician team up to do re-animation experiments on corpses using money borrowed from the mafia. When they can't pay it back, the mafia boss ...

'' (1989) – Lou *'' All Dogs Go to Heaven'' (1989) – Carface Caruthers (voice) *''Horseplayer'' (1990) – George Samsa

Television

* ''

'' (1976-1985) as Mel Sharples * '' Griff'' as Captain Barney Marcus. Series starred Lorne Greene in title role and

Ben Murphy Benjamin Edward Murphy (born Benjamin Edward Castleberry Jr., March 6, 1942) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Kid Curry in the ABC television series ''Alias Smith and Jones''. Early life Murphy was born in Jonesboro, Ar ...

* '' Khan!'' as Lt. Gubbins * ''

I Dream Of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually marrie ...

'' as Turhan In the episode “This Is Murder” * '' Buckskin'' (Episode: "The Battle of Gabe Pruitt") – Claude * ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'' (Episode: "A Man with a Problem") (1958) – Man Talking to Cabdriver * '' 77 Sunset Strip'' (1960) (Episode: Trouble in the Middle East) Bearded Rebel * '' Rawhide'' (Episode: "The Gray Rock Hotel") (1965) – Monte * '' F Troop'' (Episode: "Corporal Agarn's Farewell To The Troops") (1965) – Bill Colton * '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' (Episode: "The Re-Collectors Affair") (1965) – Sargent * '' Daniel Boone'' (Episode: "Onatha") (1966) – Hongas * ''

Family Affair ''Family Affair'' is an American sitcom starring Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966, to March 4, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do engineer and bachelor Bill Davis (Keith) as he attempte ...

'' (Episode: 8 Season 1 "Who's Afraid of Nural Shpeni?") (1966) - Policeman * ''

'' (Episode: "Ladies From St. Louis") (1967) – Gaines * '' Get Smart'' (Episode: "Appointment in Sahara") (1967) – Jamal * '' The Monkees'' (Episodes: "Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers", "Son of a Gypsy" and "Art for Monkees' Sake") (1966–1967) – Chuche / Rocco / George * '' Here Come the Brides'' (recurring logger (1968-1970). * '' Star Trek: The Original Series'' (Episode: " A Piece of the Action") (1968) – Jojo Krako * ''

'' as Max . season 3, episode 12 (1968) * ''

Lancer A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by Persia, India, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...

'' (Episode: "Devil's Blessing") (1969) - Porter *'' The Bill Cosby Show'' (Episode: "The Fatal Phone Call") (1969) - Calvin *''

'' (Episode 358 "Caution, Easter Bunny Crossing". Season 11 Episode 25) (1970) - Everett Gaskell *'' The Partridge Family (Episode: Danny & The Mob) 1971 *''

'' (Episode: "Second Story Story") (1971) – Officer Jackson * ''

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typic ...

'' (Episode: "The Good Fairy Strikes Again") (1971) – Officer #1 * ''

'' (Episode: "Suitable for Framing") (1971) – Sam Franklin * ''

The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

'' (Episode: "The Natural") (1971) - Ed Larch * ''

'' (Episode: "Dark Journey") (1972) - Neil Parks * ''

Arnie Arnie is a masculine given name, frequently a shortened version of Arnold. It may refer to: People * Arnie Arenz (1911–1985), American National Football League quarterback in 1934 * Arnie Beyeler (born 1964), American minor league baseball pl ...

'' (Episode: "Boom or Bust") (1972) – Sergeant * '' The Bold Ones: The New Doctors'' (Episode: "Is This Operation Necessary?") (1972) – Frank Wells * '' Emergency!'' (Episode: "Boot") (1973) – truck driver. * '' All in the Family'' (Episode: "Et Tu, Archie?") (1974) – Joe Tucker * ''

Barney Miller ''Barney Miller'' is an American sitcom television series set in a New York City Police Department police station on East 6th St in Greenwich Village. The series was broadcast on ABC Network from January 23, 1975, to May 20, 1982. It was created ...

'' (Episode: "Stakeout", "The Social Worker") (1975) – Mr. Savocheck / master forger * ''

The Practice ''The Practice'' is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley centering on partners and associates at a Boston law firm. The show ran for eight seasons on ABC, from March 4, 1997, to May 16, 2004. It won an Emmy in 1 ...

'' (Episode: "The Choice") (1976) – Frankie Nyles * ''

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ''Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'' is an American satirical soap opera that aired in daily weeknight syndication from January 1976 to July 1977. The series follows the titular Mary Hartman, an Ohio housewife attempting to cope with various bizarre ...

'' (Episode: 29, Season: 1) (1976) * '' Hawaii Five-O'' (Episode: "Bones of Contention" ; "Angel in Blue") (1975–1978) – Martin Lynch / Parmel * '' The Eddie Capra Mysteries'' (Episode: "How Do I Kill Thee?") (1978) – Logan * ''

$weepstake$ ''Sweepstakes'', stylized as ''$weepstake$'', is an American anthology television series that aired in the United States on NBC during the 1978-79 United States network television schedule#Tuesday, 1978-79 television season. It depicts the lives o ...

'' (Episode: "Billy, Wally and Ludmilla, and Theodore") (1979) – Sgt. Yarbrough * '' The Love Boat'' (Episode: "Friends & Lovers; Sergeant Bull; Miss Mother") (1980) – Sgt. Harry Beluski * ''

Flo ''Flo'' is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of ''Alice'' that aired on CBS from March 24, 1980, to June 30, 1981. The series starred Polly Holliday reprising her role as sassy and street-smart waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castl ...

'' (Episode: "What Are Friends For?") (1981) – Mel Sharples * ''

'' (1979–1983, Multiple) – George Walters / Norman Atkins / Chet Nolan / Melvyn Mews * ''

T. J. Hooker ''T. J. Hooker'' is an American police drama television program starring William Shatner in the title role as a 15-year veteran police sergeant. The series premiered as a mid-season replacement on March 13, 1982, on ABC and ran on the network un ...

'' (Episode: "Hooker's War") (1982) – Lt. Pete Benedict * ''

Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...

'' (Episode: "Relative Loss") (1983) – Wallace Egan * '' Finder of Lost Loves'' (Episode: "Maxwell Ltd: Finder of Lost Loves Pilot") (1984) – Thomas Velasco * ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

'' (Episode: "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder") (1986) – Sal Domino * '' Crazy Like a Fox'' (1986) * '' The Love Boat'' (1977–1987, Multiple) – Himself / Jack Hamilton / Shelley Sommers / 'Dutch' Boden / Sgt. Harry Beluski / Harry Stewart * ''

Adderly ''Adderly'' is a Canadian television adventure-drama series which aired from 1986 to 1988. It was broadcast on both Canadian TV and on CBS in the United States. It starred Vancouver-born Winston Rekert as "charming and witty V.H. Adderly," an ope ...

'' (1987) – Gregorin * ''

Tales from the Darkside ''Tales from the Darkside'' is an American anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero. Debuting in October 1983 with a pilot episode and then being picked up for syndication in September 1984, the show ran for 4 seasons through July ...

'' (Episodes: "The New Man", (as Alan Coombs) Season 1, 1984, and "Basher Malone" (as Tippy Ryan) Season 4, 1988) * '' MacGyver'' (1990, Episode: "Jenny's Chance") – George Henderson (final television appearance)

Awards and nominations

Personal life

Tayback was married to Sheila Maureen Barnard (1932–2001) from March 16, 1963, until his death on May 25, 1990. They had a son, Christopher (born 1963), who is a business trial lawyer and former prosecutor.

Death

Tayback died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

at the age of 60 in

Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia * Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre *Glendale, Queensland, ...

on May 25, 1990. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

References

External links

Vic Tayback biography, as cast member from "Alice"
* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tayback, Vic 1930 births 1990 deaths American male film actors American people of Syrian descent American people of Arab descent American male stage actors American male television actors American male voice actors Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners Male actors from Glendale, California Male actors from New York City Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 20th-century American male actors People from Brooklyn

Life and career

Filmography

Television

Awards and nominations

Personal life

Death

References

Further reading

External links