- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMorris Weinstein
- Height1.66 m
- In a 40-year stage, film, and television career, Weston played sleazy villains to hapless men going through midlife crises to clumsy comics. He was one of the bad guys who victimize a blind Audrey Hepburn in the 1967 cult classic Seule dans la nuit (1967) but meets his end at the hands of the number one Bad Guy Alan Arkin. He appeared in much lighter fare in Fleur de cactus (1969), Ne mangez pas les marguerites (1960), and Dirty Dancing (1987). In the last of these, he ran the Catskills resort that set the stage for romance between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
His stage work on Broadway included "California Suite" (1976) and "The Floating Lightbulb" (1971). For the latter, he received a Tony Award nomination for his role as the trashy manager. Also in 1981, Weston appeared opposite Alan Alda in The Four Seasons (1984) about the friendship between three middle-class, middle-aged couples. Other film credits include Les feux du théâtre (1958), Le Kid de Cincinnati (1965), L'Affaire Thomas Crown (1968), The Ritz (1976), and Ishtar (1987).- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous (updated by R.M. Sieger) - Born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of a shoe repairman, Jack Weston began acting at the age of ten. Encouraged by his father and a perceptive teacher in his public school, he was brought to the Cleveland Playhouse, where he joined their children's theater. He stayed with the company until he was drafted into the army at the age of 19.
After his stint in the military he moved to New York, where he appeared on Broadway in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday. He spent 18 weeks on the road in James Leo Herlihy's "Crazy October" with Tallulah Bankhead and Joan Blondell. He later won rave reviews as Gaetsno Proclo in Terrence McNally's "The Ritz", a role he later recreated in the film version (The Ritz (1976)). He starred in the national company of Neil Simon's "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers", followed by the Broadway production of Simon's "California Suite". Next came "Cheaters" and "Break a Leg" with Julie Harris. Weston received a Tony nomination for his role in Woody Allen's "The Floating Light Bulb".
Weston made his big-screen debut in Les feux du théâtre (1958), starring Henry Fonda, and has had an active career spanning more than 30 years and at least 25 films. His first major film role was in Ne mangez pas les marguerites (1960) starring Doris Day and David Niven. His film career became firmly established as he appeared with Steve McQueen in L'Affaire Thomas Crown (1968), Le Kid de Cincinnati (1965) and Branle-bas au casino (1961). He worked with Ingrid Bergman in Fleur de cactus (1969), Audrey Hepburn in Seule dans la nuit (1967) and Burt Reynolds in several films including Les poulets (1972) and Gator (1976). He appeared in Un nouveau départ (1971)--Elaine May's directorial debut--and worked for her again in Ishtar (1987). Weston has said that his favorite movie was Les quatre saisons (1981), written and directed by Alan Alda.
He did his first TV series, Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953), during "The Golden Age of Television" when the shows were shot live. He worked on The United States Steel Hour (1953), Playhouse 90 (1956), Perry Mason (1957), La quatrième dimension (1959), Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963), Gunsmoke (1955) and Les incorruptibles (1959), as well as a comedy-drama special with Lucille Ball and Bob Hope. He later performed in the BBC-TV production of Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected" and the TV miniseries Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue (1977).- IMDb mini biography by: frankfob2@yahoo.com
- SpousesLaurie Davis Gilkes(1993 - May 3, 1996) (his death)Marge Redmond(April 19, 1950 - 1990) (divorced)
- ChildrenNo Children
- RelativesAnthony Spinelli(Sibling)
- Friendly, Affable Characters; Speaks with a Lisp
- During World War II, he spent two years in Italy, courtesy of the U.S. Army, as an infantry company machine-gunner.
- Born in Cleveland, he was a Machine Gunner and USO performer in World War II before arriving in New York to start his theater career.
- Brother of actor, and adult film director/producer Anthony Spinelli.
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1981 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for Woody Allen's "The Floating Light Bulb."
- Uncle of adult film director/producer Mitch Spinelli.
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