Rick Jason
Encyclopedia
Rick Jason born Richard Jacobson, was an American
actor
, born in New York City
, and most remembered for his role as 2nd Lt. Gil Hanley in the ABC
television
drama Combat! (1962–1967).
in Manhattan. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II
from 1943 to 1945.
After the War, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
on the GI Bill, and held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
. While in attendance at a New York
play, he was spotted by Hume Cronyn
, who then cast him in Now I Lay me Down to Sleep
. The role earned Jason a Theater World Award and a Hollywood contract with Columbia Pictures
.
Later on, M-G-M was searching for an actor to replace Fernando Lamas
in the movie Sombrero
and gave the role to Jason, who was earlier released from Columbia Pictures
. It was a success and it led to The Saracen Blade and This Is My Love.
Fox signed him for the male lead role in The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
and later signed for a multi-picture contract. His first project was an adaptation of John Steinbeck
's The Wayward Bus
, which earned him critical acclaim. A string of good performances, both in films and on television, then followed. In 1958, Jason played the lead in The Fountain of Youth
, an innovative half-hour unsold pilot written and directed by Orson Welles
which won the Peabody Award
(decades later, Jason would participate in a panel discussion of what it was like to work with Welles at The Paley Center for Media).
Soon after, Jason received offers for television series. He guest starred on ABC
's anthology series, The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
. In 1954, he played Joaquin Murietta in an episode of Jim Davis
's syndicated
western
series Stories of the Century
, the story of a railroad detective
investigating crime in the American West. Jason starred in 1960 as insurance
investigator Robin Scott in The Case of the Dangerous Robin. Jason also appeared on the NBC
interview program Here's Hollywood
, in the Rawhide
episode Incident in the Valley of Shadow, and co-starred in 1969 with George Maharis
, Janet Leigh
and Jack Albertson
in the ABC movie The Monk
.
In 1962, he starred as Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. Gil Hanley on the series Combat!, probably his most memorable role. The show also starred Vic Morrow
as Sgt. Chip Saunders and Conlan Carter
as Doc. It lasted for five seasons and 152 episodes.
After Combat!, Rick returned to theater. He also made films in Japan
and Israel
. In 1970 he took the lead in the pilot for Prudence and the Chief. His TV career went well in the '70s and '80s, when he appeared in shows like Matt Houston
, Police Woman
, Murder, She Wrote
, Moonlighting
, Wonder Woman
, Fantasy Island
, Airwolf
and Dallas
. In 1973, he was a frequent character on The Young and the Restless
.
After his retirement, he kept busy by doing voice-overs for commercials and wrote an autobiography called Scrapbooks of My Mind, published posthumously. In 2000, Jason attended a Combat! reunion in Las Vegas
with fellow cast members. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound one week later on October 16, 2000 in Moorpark, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and most remembered for his role as 2nd Lt. Gil Hanley in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama Combat! (1962–1967).
Biography
An only child of Jewish parents, Jason was expelled from several prep schools before graduating from Rhodes Preparatory SchoolRhodes Preparatory School
Rhodes Preparatory School was a private school located at 11 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York City, USA. There was a lower school with students in seventh and eighth grades and an upper school for students from grades nine through twelve. For a brief period in its history, there were also...
in Manhattan. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1943 to 1945.
After the War, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
on the GI Bill, and held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. While in attendance at a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
play, he was spotted by Hume Cronyn
Hume Cronyn
Hume Blake Cronyn, OC was a Canadian actor of stage and screen, who enjoyed a long career, often appearing professionally alongside his second wife, Jessica Tandy.-Early life:...
, who then cast him in Now I Lay me Down to Sleep
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Now I lay me down to sleep is a classic children's prayer from the 18th century. The version printed in The New England Primer goes:Now I lay me down to sleep,I pray the Lord my soul to keep,If I shall die before I wake,...
. The role earned Jason a Theater World Award and a Hollywood contract with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
.
Later on, M-G-M was searching for an actor to replace Fernando Lamas
Fernando Lamas
Fernando Álvaro Lamas was an Argentine-born actor and director, and the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early life and career:...
in the movie Sombrero
Sombrero
Sombrero in English refers to a type of wide-brimmed hat originating in Mexico. In Spanish, however, it is the generic word for "hat", which originates from "sombra", meaning "shade"....
and gave the role to Jason, who was earlier released from Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. It was a success and it led to The Saracen Blade and This Is My Love.
Fox signed him for the male lead role in The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts is a 1956 film directed by Frank Tashlin. The feature starred Tom Ewell, Sheree North, and Rita Moreno. It is a comedy about a man whose marriage begins to fail when his wife gets drafted.-Cast:*Tom Ewell as Gregory Whitcomb...
and later signed for a multi-picture contract. His first project was an adaptation of John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
's The Wayward Bus
The Wayward Bus
The Wayward Bus is a novel by American author John Steinbeck, originally published in 1947. Steinbeck dedicated this novel to "Gwyn", presumably a reference to his second wife Gwyndolyn Conger...
, which earned him critical acclaim. A string of good performances, both in films and on television, then followed. In 1958, Jason played the lead in The Fountain of Youth
The Fountain of Youth (film)
The Fountain of Youth is a 1956 TV pilot for a proposed Desilu TV series which was never produced, and was subsequently televised once, on September 16, 1958 for NBC's Colgate Theatre...
, an innovative half-hour unsold pilot written and directed by Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
which won the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
(decades later, Jason would participate in a panel discussion of what it was like to work with Welles at The Paley Center for Media).
Soon after, Jason received offers for television series. He guest starred on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's anthology series, The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse is an American dramatic anthology series that aired on ABC from 1953 to 1955, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. The show was hosted by Arlene Dahl , Anita Colby , and, finally, Polly Bergen -Guest stars:* Claude Akins...
. In 1954, he played Joaquin Murietta in an episode of Jim Davis
Jim Davis (actor)
Jim Davis was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap Dallas, a role which he held up until his death in April 1981.-Biography:...
's syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
series Stories of the Century
Stories of the Century
Stories of the Century is a Western television series that ran in syndication through Republic Pictures between January 23, 1954, and March 11, 1955.-Synopsis:...
, the story of a railroad detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
investigating crime in the American West. Jason starred in 1960 as insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
investigator Robin Scott in The Case of the Dangerous Robin. Jason also appeared on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
interview program Here's Hollywood
Here's Hollywood
Here's Hollywood is an American celebrity interview program which aired on weekday afternoons on NBC at 4:30 Eastern time from September 26, 1960, to December 28, 1962.-Overview:...
, in the Rawhide
Rawhide (TV series)
Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
episode Incident in the Valley of Shadow, and co-starred in 1969 with George Maharis
George Maharis
George Maharis is an American actor who portrayed Buz Murdock in the first three seasons of the TV series Route 66...
, Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh
Janet Leigh , born Jeanette Helen Morrison, was an American actress. She was the wife of actor Tony Curtis from June 1951 to September 1962 and the mother of Kelly Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis....
and Jack Albertson
Jack Albertson
Jack Albertson was an American character actor dating to vaudeville. A comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, Albertson is perhaps best known for his roles as Manny Rosen in The Poseidon Adventure , Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Amos Slade in the 1981 animated film The Fox...
in the ABC movie The Monk
The Monk (1969 film)
The Monk was a made-for-television movie that aired on the ABC Movie of the Week. It was classified as a suspense thriller and was set and filmed in San Francisco. It was first broadcast on October 21, 1969.-Plot:...
.
In 1962, he starred as Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. Gil Hanley on the series Combat!, probably his most memorable role. The show also starred Vic Morrow
Vic Morrow
Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor whose credits include a starring role in the 1960s TV series Combat!, prominent roles in a handful of other television and cinema dramas, and numerous guest roles on television...
as Sgt. Chip Saunders and Conlan Carter
Conlan Carter
Chester Conlan Carter is a former film and television actor best known for the role of "Doc", featured in sixty-six episodes of the Rick Jason and Vic Morrow ABC World War II television series Combat!...
as Doc. It lasted for five seasons and 152 episodes.
After Combat!, Rick returned to theater. He also made films in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 1970 he took the lead in the pilot for Prudence and the Chief. His TV career went well in the '70s and '80s, when he appeared in shows like Matt Houston
Matt Houston
Matt Houston is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1985. Created by Lawrence Gordon, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling.-Synopsis:...
, Police Woman
Police Woman (TV series)
Police Woman is an American television police drama starring Angie Dickinson that ran on NBC for four seasons, from September 13, 1974, to March 29, 1978.-Synopsis:...
, Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
, Moonlighting
Moonlighting (TV series)
Moonlighting is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 3, 1985, to May 14, 1989. The network aired a total of 66 episodes...
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman (TV series)
Wonder Woman is an American television series based on the DC Comics comic book superhero of the same name. Starring Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and Lyle Waggoner as Steve Trevor, the show originally aired from 1975 to 1979....
, Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, Airwolf
Airwolf
Airwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
and Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
. In 1973, he was a frequent character on The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
.
After his retirement, he kept busy by doing voice-overs for commercials and wrote an autobiography called Scrapbooks of My Mind, published posthumously. In 2000, Jason attended a Combat! reunion in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
with fellow cast members. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound one week later on October 16, 2000 in Moorpark, California.