MovieChat Forums > Advise & Consent (1962) Discussion > RIP, George Grizzard, 1928-2007

RIP, George Grizzard, 1928-2007

posted 17 years ago by hobnob53
11 replies | jump to latest

I thought somebody ought to post a thread for George Grizzard on the site of his most famous movie role, that of the unprincipled Senator Fred Van Ackerman in 1962's ADVISE & CONSENT. Mr. Grizzard (born April 1, 1928) died in NYC on Tuesday, October 2, 2007, at 79.

George Grizzard was a brilliant and highly acclaimed actor, though unfortunately the best roles of his career were on stage (Broadway and elsewhere), in such plays as "The Desperate Hours", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", "The Disenchanted", "California Suite", and his Tony-award-winning (finally, after several unsuccessful nominations) performance in Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance". He also played Hamlet and essayed other Shakespearean roles and gave many other thoughtful and nuanced performances on stage for over five decades; but I say "unfortunately" because, as with all stage performances, there is no film record of his work, and it is lost forever except to memory (and, when the last audience member who saw his wonderful performances on stage passes from this earth, not even memory remains). Pity he was not chosen to reprise, say, his "Virginia Woolf" role in the film version. No disrespect to the excellent George Segal, but the other George, Grizzard, deserved the movie role.

In addition, George Grizzard was noted for his frequent TV work, including his Emmy-nominated turn as John Adams in "The Adams Chronicles" and his Emmy-winning role opposite his ADVISE & CONSENT co-star, Henry Fonda, in "The Oldest Living Graduate", as well as his numerous guest appearances on "Law & Order" (one of which, by chance, aired on TNT the day he died), "The Twilight Zone" and others.

His film appearances were relatively infrequent and clearly secondary to his stage work, but, besides A&C, he was notable in such films as FROM THE TERRACE, COMES A HORSEMAN, SMALL TIME CROOKS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WANDA JUNE, and many others. But clearly, ADVISE & CONSENT was his most famous, signature film role...although it must be said that his performance, as great as it was, was relatively limited compared with so much of his other work.

But he was a superb performer, and by all accounts a cultured and refined gentleman. He favored audiences in all mediums with his best efforts for over half a century and deserves to be remembered with respect and affection, as a man and as an actor. His talent speaks for itself. May he rest in peace, with our thanks for all the pleasure he gave us through his sharing that talent, disciplined by his hard and dedicated labor in his chosen profession.

[–] Clothes-Off 17 years ago

And aside from all those you just mentioned, he has a minor fanbase in those who know him from two appearances on The Golden Girls, once as the brother of Blanche's late husband and once as the husband himself in a dream sequence.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] edward-miller-1 17 years ago

And I hadn't even heard that he died. He was not mentioned on TCM's In Memoriam, which is currently airing daily between movies. However, there was lots of coverage on the Today Show this morning about Brittney's 16-year-old sister being pregnant. No further comment.

"If ah irritate you, jes think how ah irritate mahself."

[–] fordraff 17 years ago

When I read Grizzard's obit in The New York Times, I was stunned to discover that he was gay! His partner's name is William Tynan, and the Times review says that he is Grizzard's "only survivor." Anyone else know anything about Grizzard's life as a gay man? I'm a gay man myself and usually pick up on rumors about gay actors but never heard a whisper about George.

[–] hobnob53 17 years ago

As the OP of this thread, I also first read that Mr. Grizzard was gay in the Times obit. I had never heard it and as a straight man I suppose I was surprised, though I never care, think or know much about people's sexual orientation unless they make it part of their public life or persona. It must have been tough for him to keep his secret during the years when such notoriety might have had an adverse impact on his career -- although this wouldn't have affected his Broadway career, perhaps one reason he preferred the stage to the glare of TV and film (?). Anyway, it's all irrelevant to his talent, and he obviously never felt a need to make his private life public, and good for him -- if only all celebrities felt the same way (is someone reading this to you, Paris?). The only important thing as far as the public was concerned was his talent, period.

But -- I wondered how he felt about playing a gay-baiting Senator in "Advise and Consent"? I'll bet it made him uncomfortable, especially with the "message", if you will, that the only recourse for an exposed gay man is suicide. Thank God we've gotten past such moronic attitudes.

[–] stomaino 15 years ago

Of course, Charles Laughton was also gay and one has to wonder how that affected how he played his reaction to Brig Anderson's death.

Both Laughton and Grizzard were great actors and their real life just gives us another way of looking at their performances in this movie.

Sam Tomaino

[–] jgroub 14 years ago

Yeah, I was just going to post a similar response. I didn't know Grizzard was gay until reading this thread, but it makes the movie that much more interesting to know that both he and Laughton were gay.

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] jgroub 14 years ago

hobnob, I only knew him as that guy from the Twilight Zone. In fact, there were a number of Twilight Zone veterans in this movie, with Burgess Meredith, of course, being the king. But I don't remember the episodes Grizzard was in. IMDb has him listed as being in two episodes, In His Image and The Chaser, where he played Roger Shackleforth. That name sounds very familiar. Can you help me out?

EDIT - never mind, curiosity got the better of me. I found an episode summary here:

http://tzone.the-croc.com/original-twilight-zone-episode-guide.html

and now I totally remember exactly which episode he was in. (The "In His Image" episode was one of the hour-long episodes from 1963, and I never saw any of those.)

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] hobnob53 14 years ago

I didn't remember the names of the episodes, but the other one he was in (a half-hour show) had him given a love potion to make his girlfriend want him. Not a very interesting episode, but that was "The Chaser".

[–] jgroub 14 years ago

Yeah, that's the one I remembered. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either. I'd never seen the other - hour-long - episode.

But I instantly recognized him from the one I had seen - The Chaser.

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] hobnob53 14 years ago

He also had a recurring role as a well-heeled defense attorney, usually for well-to-do (but guilty) clients, in the first several seasons of Law and Order. TV and the stage were his most frequent acting venues; he did comparatively few films -- surprisingly, and disappointingly.

[–] PatFilm 14 years ago

One of those underrated character actors.

Respect to his legend!!