An afternoon with ‘Oscar’

Jack Klugman talks about friendship, aging and his new projects

By: Kerri Williams
   EAST WINDSOR — His voice is more raspy and softer now than when we watched him on "The Odd Couple" and "Quincy." But with his dry sense of humor and signature plaid cap securely in place, there’s no mistaking Jack Klugman.
   He came out quoting Betty Davis to the more than 100 people, mostly seniors, gathered at Meadow Lakes in East Windsor last week. "Getting old is not for sissies," he told group.
   He went on to show five minutes of outtakes from the 1970s sitcom "The Odd Couple," which he starred in with Tony Randall. "I want you to laugh," he said. "And I can’t think of any better way."
   Life hasn’t always been a laughing matter for Mr. Klugman, 85, who grew up poor in South Philadelphia before breaking into acting. Later on in life, he struggled with both throat and prostate cancer and went through a period of years not able to speak.
   He recalled when Mr. Randall came to visit him in the hospital shortly after having cancer surgery and he told his friend, "Tony, I lost my voice."
   Tony’s response was, "Let’s face it, you never did sound like Richard Burton." Mr. Randall went on to assure his friend that he would definitely act again and went on to help make it happen.
   Mr. Klugman recently wrote a book about his relationship with Mr. Randall, who died two years ago, called "Tony and Me."
   "I didn’t realize how much I missed him until he left," Mr. Klugman told the audience. He remembered visiting museums with his buddy, who seemed to have knowledge on every subject. "Then in the cab on the way home he’d tell the best dirty joke you’ve ever heard."
   Mr. Klugman’s appearance on Thursday, Oct. 26 at Meadow Lakes is part of a new collaboration with The George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, called Encore, with the goal of making the arts more accessible to area seniors. Mr. Klugman is currently starring in "The Value of Names," which runs at the Playhouse from Tuesday, Nov. 14 to Sunday, Dec. 17. As part of the program, the playhouse will set aside an afternoon performance for older adults.
   "Seniors complain that they don’t experience as much arts and culture," said Joe Claffey, chief development officer with the Presbyterian Homes Foundation, which provides the funding for Encore. "And there are three reasons why: transportation, accessible seating and cost." The program is addressing all three, he added.
   Thursday’s program was the first time that Encore brought a speaker to Meadow Lakes. And Mr. Klugman was able to share with fellow seniors his own philosophy on getting older and making it through difficult times.
   His advice in facing a life-threatening illness is to always get a second opinion. The first surgeon Mr. Klugman consulted about his throat cancer advised a "total laryngectomy," he said. But when he insisted on seeing another doctor, he was told that there was no reason for the radical procedure.
   Mr. Klugman went on to say that he has gotten more at ease with the thought of death as he has gotten older. He is now the last remaining lead actor from the movie "The Twelve Angry Men," based on the famous play.
   "Most of my friends are gone," he said. "I have wonderful memories. I always thought I would be afraid to die. But no."
   For now, Mr. Klugman is enjoying getting back in touch with the audience that watched him for years on "The Odd Couple" and then again on "Quincy M.E.," where he played a coroner. During his time acting on those television shows, he didn’t think much about the people watching at home, he said. But on a recent book tour, he was moved by all the people who said he was a part of their lives.
   "People came up and said, ‘I grew up with you,’" he said. "I have touched a lot of people."
   Some of those people stayed around after Mr. Klugman’s talk Thursday to have him autograph a copy of his book or the playbill for "The Value of Names."
   The Rev. Frederick Mold, who lives at Meadow Lakes with his wife Doris, had Mr. Klugman sign his book. "This is a great opportunity to see him in person," he said, adding that Mr. Klugman’s perseverance through cancer was inspirational. "It’s such a blow for someone who earns a living speaking," he said.
   Sharon Eldridge, executive director at Meadow Lakes, said residents had been excited about the program all week. "Everybody has their favorite TV show," she said. "For me he’ll always be ‘Quincy.’"
   Another fan went even further with her admiration. "I want to take you home. That’s what I want," she told Mr. Klugman.