Jack Palance
Highest Rated: 100% Sudden Fear (1952)
Lowest Rated: 13% The Silver Chalice (1954)
Birthday: Feb 18, 1919
Birthplace: Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, USA
Possessing a face seemingly carved out of granite and a voice filled with equal parts gravel and menace, actor Jack Palance was an easy choice to play the heavy, but it was his underutilized intelligence and humor that allowed him to occasionally break free from Hollywood typecasting, with wonderfully unpredictable results. Following an auspicious Broadway debut, the young actor burst onto the screen with deliciously nasty performances in "Panic in the Streets" (1950), "Sudden Fear" (1952) and "Shane" (1953). However, despite having already garnered a pair of Academy Award nominations, Palance soon found himself being pigeon-holed as either a crook or a killer. Well regarded projects like "The Big Knife" (1955) and "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (CBS, 1956) gave audiences a glimpse of Palance's versatility. Seeking out work in Europe, the ex-pat actor took part in such diverse efforts as the cut-rate adventure "Sword of the Conqueror" (1961) and the French New Wave drama "Le Mepris" ("Contempt") (1963). With rewarding film roles becoming sparse, Palance found a modicum of success on television with endeavors such as a chilling adaptation of "Dracula" (CBS, 1974) and as the host of "Ripley's Believe It or Not" (ABC, 1982-86). Palance bookended his expansive résumé with a late-career comeback when he parodied his own villainous persona in the comedy feature "City Slickers" (1991), a performance that won the veteran actor his only Academy Award. Long regarded as the quintessential movie bad guy, Palance had the last laugh when his impromptu, one-handed push-up demonstration during his Oscar acceptance became one of the most iconic and hilarious moments in the televised ceremony's broadcast history.
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | 45% | Back When We Were Grownups | Paul "Poppy" Davitch (Character) | - | 2004 |
| No Score Yet | 61% | Prancer Returns | Old Man Richards (Character) | - | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | 49% | Treasure Island | Long John Silver (Character) | - | 1999 |
| No Score Yet | 72% | Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End | John Witting (Character) | - | 1999 |
| No Score Yet | 33% | Marco Polo | Beelzebub (Character) | - | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | I'll Be Home for Christmas | Bob (Character) | - | 1997 |
| No Score Yet | 33% | Ebenezer | Ebenezer Scrooge (Character) | - | 1997 |
| No Score Yet | 67% | Buffalo Girls | Bartle Bone (Character) | - | 1995 |
| 17% | 31% | City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold | Duke Washburn (Character) | $43.4M | 1994 |
| 14% | 22% | Cops and Robbersons | Jake Stone (Character) | $10.5M | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics | Dr. Jeremy Wheaton (Character) | - | 1994 |
| 50% | 66% | The Swan Princess | Lord Rothbart (Voice) | $9.8M | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | Cyborg 2 | Mercy (Character) | - | 1993 |
| No Score Yet | 60% | Keep the Change | Overstreet (Character) | - | 1992 |
| 90% | 64% | City Slickers | Curly Washburn (Character) | $119.8M | 1991 |
| No Score Yet | 15% | Solar Crisis | Travis (Character) | - | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | 9% | Outlaw of Gor | Xenos (Character) | - | 1989 |
| 30% | 52% | Tango & Cash | Yves Perret (Character) | $61.8M | 1989 |
| 71% | 84% | Batman | Boss Carl Grissom (Character) | $250.7M | 1989 |
| 41% | 76% | Young Guns | Lawrence G. Murphy (Character) | $43.4M | 1988 |
| 85% | 88% | Bagdad Cafe | Rudi Cox (Character) | $17.9K | 1987 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales of the Haunted | Stokes (Character) | - | 1985 |
| 73% | 40% | Alone in the Dark | Frank Hawkes (Character) | - | 1982 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Evil Stalks This House | Stokes (Character) | - | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story | Whitey Robinson (Character) | - | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | 56% | Hawk, the Slayer | Voltan (Character) | - | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alien Warning | Joe Taylor (Character) | - | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Without Warning | Joe Taylor (Character) | - | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | 0% | Angels' Brigade | Mike Farrell (Character) | - | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Sensuous Nurse | Mr. Kitch (Character) | - | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cocaine Cowboys | Raphael (Character) | - | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | 16% | The Shape of Things to Come | Omus (Character) | - | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Unknown Powers | Unknown (Character) | - | 1979 |
| No Score Yet | 0% | One Man Jury | Lt. Wade (Character) | - | 1978 |
| No Score Yet | 35% | God's Gun (A Bullet from God) (Diamante Lobo) | Unknown (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | Safari Express | van Daalen (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | 25% | Welcome to Blood City | Frendlander (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mister Scarface | 'Scarface' Manzari (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Portrait of a Hitman | Jim Buck (Character) | - | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | 10% | Black Cobra | Judas Carmichael (Character) | - | 1976 |
| No Score Yet | 20% | The Cop in Blue Jeans |
Norman Shelley/ |
- | 1976 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | God's Gun | Sam Clayton (Character) | - | 1976 |
| No Score Yet | 83% | The Hatfields and the McCoys | Devil Anse Hatfield (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | 0% | The Four Deuces | Vic Morono (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bronk | Lt. Alex Bronkov (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Great Adventure | William Bates (Character) | - | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Africa Express |
Robert Preston/ |
- | 1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Godchild | Rourke (Character) | - | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | 10% | Craze | Neal Mottram (Character) | - | 1974 |
| 60% | 43% | Dracula | Unknown (Character) | - | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | 46% | It Can Be Done, Amigo | Sonny Bronston (Character) | - | 1973 |
| No Score Yet | 31% | Oklahoma Crude | Hellman (Character) | - | 1973 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Pozo del Odio | Hellman (Character) | - | 1973 |
| No Score Yet | 56% | Chato's Land | Capt. Quincey Whitmore (Character) | - | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Imagine | Himself (Character) | - | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Father Jack-Leg | Buck Santini (Character) | - | 1972 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Short and Happy Life of the Brothers Blue | Hillman (Character) | - | 1971 |
| 30% | 59% | The Horsemen | Tursen (Character) | - | 1971 |
| No Score Yet | 87% | Companeros | John (Character) | - | 1970 |
| 89% | 64% | Monte Walsh | Chet Rollins (Character) | - | 1970 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The McMasters | Kolby (Character) | - | 1970 |
| No Score Yet | 42% | Deadly Sanctuary | Antonin (Character) | - | 1970 |
| No Score Yet | 0% | They Came to Rob Las Vegas | Douglas (Character) | - | 1969 |
| No Score Yet | 33% | The Desperados | Parson Josiah Galt (Character) | - | 1969 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Battle of the Commandos | Col. Charley MacPherson (Character) | - | 1969 |
| No Score Yet | 19% | Che! | Fidel Castro (Character) | - | 1969 |
| 80% | 76% | The Mercenary | Ricciolo (Character) | - | 1968 |
| No Score Yet | 58% | Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde |
Dr. Henry Jekyll/ |
- | 1968 |
| No Score Yet | 46% | Torture Garden | Ronald Wyatt (Character) | - | 1967 |
| No Score Yet | 33% | Kill a Dragon | Rick Masters (Character) | - | 1967 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Spy in the Green Hat | Louis Strago (Character) | - | 1966 |
| 88% | 81% | The Professionals | Jesus Raza (Character) | - | 1966 |
| No Score Yet | 50% | Alice Through the Looking Glass | Jabberwock (Character) | - | 1966 |
| No Score Yet | 55% | Once a Thief | Walter Pedak (Character) | - | 1965 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Night Train to Milan |
Herr Bauer/ |
- | 1965 |
| 93% | 85% | Contempt | Jeremy Prokosch (Character) | $40.6K | 1963 |
| 89% | 66% | Barabbas | Torvald (Character) | - | 1962 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Sword of the Conqueror | Alboino (Character) | - | 1962 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Warriors Five | Jack (Character) | - | 1962 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Last Judgment | Matteoni (Character) | - | 1961 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Barbarians | Revak (Character) | - | 1960 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Mongols | Ogatai (Character) | - | 1960 |
| 40% | No Score Yet | Battle of Austerlitz | General Weirother (Character) | - | 1960 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Beyond All Limits | Jim Gatsby (Character) | - | 1959 |
| No Score Yet | 36% | Ten Seconds to Hell | Eric Koertner (Character) | - | 1959 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Man Inside | Milo March (Character) | - | 1958 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | House of Numbers |
Arnie Judlow/ |
- | 1957 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Flor de Mayo | Unknown (Character) | - | 1957 |
| No Score Yet | 18% | The Lonely Man | Jacob Wade (Character) | - | 1957 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Requiem for a Heavyweight | Harlan "Mountain" McClintock (Character) | - | 1956 |
| 100% | 77% | Attack! | Lt. Joe Costa, Fox Co. (Character) | - | 1956 |
| 88% | 58% | The Big Knife | Charles Castle (Character) | - | 1955 |
| No Score Yet | 56% | I Died a Thousand Times |
Roy Earle/ |
- | 1955 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kiss of Fire | El Tigre (Character) | - | 1955 |
| 43% | 33% | Sign of the Pagan | Attila (Character) | - | 1954 |
| 13% | 19% | The Silver Chalice | Simon The Magician (Character) | - | 1954 |
| No Score Yet | 40% | Second Chance | Cappy Gordon (Character) | - | 1953 |
| No Score Yet | 41% | Arrowhead | Toriano (Character) | - | 1953 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Flight to Tangier | Gil Walker (Character) | - | 1953 |
| No Score Yet | 30% | Man in the Attic | Slade (Character) | - | 1953 |
| 97% | 81% | Shane | Jack Wilson (Character) | - | 1953 |
| 100% | 84% | Sudden Fear | Lester Blaine (Character) | - | 1952 |
| 88% | 48% | Halls of Montezuma | Pigeon Lane (Character) | - | 1950 |
| 96% | 77% | Panic in the Streets | Blackie (Character) | - | 1950 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Studio Spotlight | Unknown (Character) | 2015 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Night Visions | Unknown (Character) | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Buffalo Girls | Bartle Bone (Character) | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Johnny Carson | Guest | 1991 1974 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Norm Crosby's Comedy Shop | Guest | 1978 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bronk | Lt. Alex Bronkov (Character) | 1975-1976 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What's My Line? | Guest | 1973 1964 1955 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Carol Burnett Show | Guest | 1968 |
| 100% | No Score Yet | The Man From U.N.C.L.E. | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1966 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zane Grey Theater | Unknown (Character) | 1956 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Suspense | Unknown (Character) | 1953 |
| 90% | No Score Yet | Lights Out | Unknown (Character) | 1950 |
QUOTES FROM Jack Palance CHARACTERS
Neal Mottram says: Awful lot of weirdos around and who can tell what it takes to please them.
Capt. Jesus Raza says: You want perfection, or nothing. The revolution was never perfect. We fight because we believe, we leave because we are disilliusioned, we return because we are lost, we die because we are committed.
Bill Dolworth says: To die for a woman is even more foolish, any woman, even her.
Bill Dolworth says: My word to Grant 'aint worth a plug nickle.
Rico (Henry Fardan) says: You gave your word to me.
Hans Ehrengard says: Mr Grant, I can make 'em go, but I can't make 'em do.
Curly says: [to Mitch] I crap bigger than you.
Shane says: I've heard that you're a low-down Yankee liar.
Jack Wilson says: Prove it.
Carl Grissom says: Jack Listen maybe we can cut a deal?
Joker/Jack Napier says: Jack? Jack is dead my friend you can call me Joker and as you can see im alot happier
Joker/Jack Napier says: Jack? Jack is dead my friend you can call me Joker and as you can see im alot happier.
Carl Grissom says: Jack, listen... maybe we can work some kind of deal.
Joker/Jack Napier says: Jack...? Jack is dead my friend. But you can call me... Joker. And as you can see, I'm a lot happier.
Joker/Jack Napier says: Jack? Jack is dead my friend. But you can call me... Joker. And as you can see, I'm a lot happier.
Carl Grissom says: My friend your luck is about to change!
Carl Grissom says: My friend, your luck is about to change!
Mitch Robbins says: Hi, Curly, kill anyone today?
Curly says: Day ain't over yet.