Vic Tayback


Victor Tayback was an American actor. He was best known for his role as diner owner Mel Sharples on the television sitcom Alice, as well as his multiple guest appearances on The Love Boat. The former earned him two consecutive Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Early life

Tayback was born on January 6, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, to Syrian Catholic immigrant parents Helen and Najeeb James Tayback . Both of his parents had emigrated to the United States from Aleppo. He moved with his family to Burbank, California during his teenage years and attended Burbank High School, from which he graduated in 1948. He also attended Glendale Community College and the Frederick A. Speare School of Radio and TV Broadcasting.

Career

Tayback served in the United States Navy before beginning his acting career at the age of 25. A lifetime member of the Actors Studio, he was a familiar face on television in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on numerous series, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Star Trek, Bonanza, Here Come the Brides, That Girl, Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Partridge Family, All in the Family, Fantasy Island, Columbo, Bewitched and The Love Boat. He also appeared in many films such as Bullitt, Papillon, The Gambler, The Cheap Detective, and All Dogs Go to Heaven, as well as more than 25 stage productions, including Twelve Angry Men, The Diary of Anne Frank, Death of a Salesman, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. He was the co-founder of the theatre troupe Company of Angels. He also appeared in television commercials, notably in 1968 with Richard Dreyfuss for the AMC Javelin.
Tayback's most famous role was as diner owner Mel Sharples in both the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and the television series Alice. He was the only actor in the original film to reprise his role for the rest of the series. For the role, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1978 and won two consecutive Golden Globe Awards in 1980 and 1981. In 1971, he made a guest appearance as Dirks in season 16, episode 19 of the long-running CBS Western series Gunsmoke.

Personal life

Tayback was married to Sheila Maureen Barnard from March 16, 1963, until his death on May 25, 1990. They had one son.

Death

Tayback died of a heart attack at age 60 on May 25, 1990. Tayback was pronounced dead at 1:56 a.m. at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where he was taken after his wife called paramedics. She said he had climbed out of bed, taken a few steps and collapsed. Tayback was a lifelong smoker and had a history of heart problems. He underwent a triple bypass in 1983.
He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

Filmography

Film

The Power of the Resurrection – Simon the CanaaniteT-Bird Gang – Cop #1 at gas station Gangster Story – Norm, Resort Guard North to Alaska – Roustabout Five Minutes to Live – Fred DorellaWith Six You Get Eggroll – Truck Driver Bullitt – Pete RossBlood and Lace – Calvin CarruthersEmperor of the North Pole – YardmanThe Blue Knight – Neil GroganThe Don Is Dead – Ralph NegriPapillon – SergeantThunderbolt and Lightfoot – Mario PinskiThe Gambler – OneAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore – Mel SharplesReport to the Commissioner – Lieutenant SeidenstickerLepke – Lucky LucianoNo Deposit, No Return – Big JoeThe Big Bus – GoldieSpecial Delivery – WyattMansion of the Doomed – Detective SimonThe Shaggy D.A. – Eddie RoschakThe Choirboys – ZoonyThe Cheap Detective – Lieutenant DiMaggioTreasure Island – SilverWeekend Warriors – Sergeant BurdgeThe Underachievers – CoachLoverboy – Harry BrucknerBeverly Hills Bodysnatchers – LouAll Dogs Go to Heaven – Carface Caruthers Horseplayer – George Samsa

Television

Alice as Mel SharplesGriff as Captain Barney MarcusKhan! as Lieutenant GubbinsI Dream of Jeannie as Turhan Buckskin – ClaudeAlfred Hitchcock Presents – Man Talking to Cab Driver77 Sunset Strip - Bearded RebelRawhide – MonteF Troop – Bill ColtonThe Man from U.N.C.L.E. – SargentDaniel Boone – HongasFamily Affair – PolicemanGunsmoke – Gaines; – Bill HankinsGet Smart – JamalThe Monkees - George / Rocco / ChucheHere Come the Brides Star Trek: The Original Series – Jojo KrakoThat Girl – Max Lancer – PorterThe Bill Cosby Show – CalvinBonanza – Everett GaskellThe Partridge Family – RoccoThe Mary Tyler Moore Show – Officer JacksonBewitched – Officer #1Columbo – Sam FranklinThe F.B.I. – Ed Larch / Neil ParksArnie – SergeantThe Bold Ones: The New Doctors – Frank WellsThe Rookies - Gus CaldwellEmergency! – Truck DriverAll in the Family – Joe TuckerBarney Miller – Mr. Savocheck / Master ForgerThe Practice – Frankie NylesMary Hartman, Mary Hartman Hawaii Five-O – Martin Lynch / ParmelThe Eddie Capra Mysteries – LoganGetting Married – Burt Carboni$weepstake$ – Sergeant YarbroughFlo – Mel SharplesFantasy Island – George Walters / Laura Walters / Norman Atkins / Chet Nolan / Melvyn MewsT. J. Hooker – Lieutenant Pete BenedictHotel – Wallace EganFinder of Lost Loves – Thomas VelascoMurder, She Wrote – Sal DominoCrazy Like a Fox – Pete RossThe Love Boat – Himself / Jack Hamilton / Shelley Sommers / 'Dutch' Boden / Sergeant Harry Beluski / Harry StewartAdderly – GregorinTales from the Darkside, Season 1, 1984, and "Basher Malone" MacGyver – George Henderson