Jack Donner | |
---|---|
![]() Donner in Mission: Impossible (1969) | |
Born | Jake Doner October 29, 1928 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Died | September 21, 2019 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 90)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1958–2019 |
Spouses | Elizabeth R. Ryan
(m. 1951, divorced) |
Jack Donner (born Jake Doner;[1] October 29, 1928 – September 21, 2019)[2] was an American actor whose career in theater, television, and film extended over six decades.[3]
Career
A native of Los Angeles, California, Donner worked in television and film since the 1950s including early work on The Guiding Light and As the World Turns. Honing his craft, he performed in seven successive seasons of New York City regional and stock theater.
Beginning in the 1960s he had many guest star and co-starring roles in shows including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Kojak, and The Streets of San Francisco. However, he was probably best known for his role of Romulan Subcommander Tal in the original Star Trek episode "The Enterprise Incident". He later returned as a Vulcan priest in the episodes "Kir'Shara" and "Home" of Star Trek: Enterprise.[4] Along with Joseph Ruskin and Clint Howard, he is one of only three actors to appear in both the original Star Trek series and Star Trek: Enterprise.[5] In 1998 he appeared in the uncredited role of Commander Kinwon in Power Rangers in Space. He had a recurring role on General Hospital as Nikolas and Spencer Cassadine's butler, Alfred.
Donner starred in Peaches Christ's black comedy film All About Evil and in Bryan Moore's adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's Cool Air. He also had a brief but memorable scene as a fire-and-brimstone prosecutor who demands death in the 1971 film The Night God Screamed.
He founded Oxford Theater with fellow actor Lee Delano. Their students included Barry Levinson, Craig T. Nelson, Barbara Parkins, and Don Johnson.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | Invisible Avenger | Billy Sanchez | |
1962 | Hand of Death | Cop | |
1963 | Escape from Hell Island | Lyle Dennison | |
1967 | Hotel | Elliot | Uncredited |
1971 | The Night God Screamed | Prosecutor | |
1973 | The All-American Boy | Director | Uncredited |
1974 | Black Starlet | Fake Producer | |
1997 | The Emissary: A Biblical Epic | Captain | |
1997 | Johnny Mysto: Boy Wizard | King Arthur | |
1998 | Gideon | Mr. Taylor | |
1999 | Stigmata | Father Alameida | |
1999 | Family Tree | Joseph | |
1999 | Retro Puppet Master | Afzel | Direct-to-video |
2000 | The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | Average Grandpa | |
2001 | Soulkeeper | Smokey | |
2001 | Island Prey | Doctor | |
2002 | Demon Under Glass | Dr. William Bassett | |
2003 | First Watch | Paul | Direct-to-video |
2003 | Exorcism | Father John Lansing | |
2004 | Imaginary Heroes | Kenny | |
2007 | The Invisible | Morris | Uncredited |
2007 | Brotherhood of Blood | Paul Cramer | |
2007 | Safe Harbour | Mr. Feigenbaum | |
2007 | Star Trek: Of Gods and Men | Special Wedding Guest | Direct-to-video |
2007 | Plot 7 | Granpa Joe | |
2008 | Lower Learning | Old Curt | |
2008 | Farm House | Dark One / Dr. Miller | |
2008 | How to Be a Serial Killer | Mr. Wilson | |
2008 | Four Christmases | Grandpa | |
2009 | Gurdian | Abraham | |
2009 | Michael Jackson's This Is It | Gravedigger | Uncredited |
2010 | All About Evil | Mr. Twigs | |
2010 | Anderson's Cross | Dr. Landry | |
2010 | Vampire | Dr. William Bassett | |
2010 | Privilege | Rabbi | Direct-to-video |
2011 | J. Edgar | Edgar's Father | |
2011 | Underground | Gunther | |
2012 | My Funny Valentine | Mr. Triffalette | |
2013 | Night of the Templar | The Grand Master | |
2013 | A New York Heartbeat | Big Didi | |
2014 | Dumbbells | Old Man Buzz | |
2014 | 2 Bedroom 1 Bath | Old Man Thompson | |
2014 | Anatomy of Deception | Travis | |
2018 | Unthinkable | Mr. Joseph Stone | |
2020 | Unbelievable!!!!! | Jack Donner | Released posthumously |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Death Valley Days | Billy Crane | Episode: "Pamela's Oxen" |
1962 | Dr. Kildare | Dr. John Shea | Episode: "Something of Importance" |
1962 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Teasing Man at Hotel Carlton | Episode: "Penelope" |
1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Premier Karim | Episode: "The Secret Sceptre Affair" |
1965 | My Favorite Martian | Master of Ceremonies | Episode: "I'd Rather Fight Than Switch" |
1965 | Get Smart | The Courier | Episode: "Aboard the Orient Express" |
1966–1973 | Mission: Impossible | Various roles | 11 episodes |
1967 | The Monkees | Director | S1:E28, "Monkees on the Line" |
1968 | I Dream of Jeannie | Joe | Episode: "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?: Part 1" |
1968 | Star Trek: The Original Series | Tal | Episode: "The Enterprise Incident" |
1968 | Judd, for the Defense | Mr. Forster | Episode: "The Gates of Cerberus" |
1969 | The Name of the Game | Nate Pearson | Episode: "The Inquiry" |
1969 | The Flying Nun | Luis Pedrosa | Episode: "Dear Aggie" |
1971, 1973 | Mannix | Blair / Norton | 2 episodes |
1972 | Mission Impossible | John Dawson | Episode "Committed" |
1973 | Griff | Frankie Masters | Episode: "Elephant in a Cage" |
1973, 1975 | Police Story | Meeks / Henslowe | 2 episodes |
1974 | The Manhunter | Cully Barnes | Episode: "The Doomsday Gang" |
1975 | Kojak | Krakauer | Episode: "Sweeter Than Life" |
1977 | The Streets of San Francisco | Joseph Hess | Episode: "Innocent No More" |
1996 | Baywatch | Max Murat | Episode: "Liquid Assets" |
1996–1998 | Days of Our Lives | Judge DuBois / Maurice Renet | 6 episodes |
1998 | Conan the Adventurer | Blind Man | Episode: "The Labyrinth" |
1998 | Power Rangers in Space | Commander Kinwon | 3 episodes |
1999 | Frasier | Mr. Hawkins | Episode: "Taps at the Montana" |
1999 | Charmed | Judge Renault | Episode: "The Power of Two" |
1999 | Shasta McNasty | Evil Doctor | Episode: "The Return of Buster" |
2000 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Judge Twigs | Episode: "The Final Show" |
2000 | G vs E | Judge Cody | Episode: "Portrait of Evil" |
2000 | The District | Mr. Bukich | Episode: "The Jackal" |
2000 | The Privateers | President Cameron Lascar | Television film |
2001 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Cleric #1 | Episode: "Spiral" |
2001 | Strong Medicine | Josiah / Amish Elder | Episode: "Silent Epidemic" |
2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Old Man | Episode: "Lois' Makeover" |
2002 | Roswell | Clayton Wheeler | 2 episodes |
2002 | The Bernie Mac Show | Jeremiah | Episode: "The Sweet Life" |
2003 | 7th Heaven | Mr. McNeil | Episode: "The One Thing" |
2003 | Scare Tactics | Clayton Twigs | Episode: "Bigfoot Attacks" |
2004 | According to Jim | Old Man | Episode: "The Hunters" |
2004 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Vulcan Priest | 2 episodes |
2005 | The Michael Jackson Trial | Judge Rodney Melville | 18 episodes |
2005, 2006 | Reno 911! | Priest | 2 episodes |
2006 | Freddie | Don | Episode: "The Search for Grandpa Four" |
2006 | Where There's a Will | Dr. Whitehouse | Television film |
2006 | Alias | The Rose | Episode: "No Hard Feelings" |
2006 | Lovespring International | Old Soldier | Episode: "Lydia's Last Night" |
2006–2010 | General Hospital | Alfred | 55 episodes |
2007 | Criminal Minds | Old Nate | Episode: "Legacy" |
2007 | Cold Case | Maurice Habershaw '07 | Episode: "Boy Crazy" |
2008 | Rodney | Mr. Hocker | Episode: "Finale" |
2008 | Happy Hour | Don | Episode: "The Election" |
2008 | Lewis Black's Root of All Evil | Priest | Episode: "Donald Trump vs. Viagra" |
2009 | In Gayle We Trust | Lloyd Adams | Episode: "Gayle and the Birthday Call" |
2009 | So This Is Love | Jack | 3 episodes |
2010 | Ghost Whisperer | Man in Hospital Gown | Episode: "The Children's Parade" |
2010 | Hot in Cleveland | Arthur | Episode: "Who's Your Mama?" |
2010 | Bones | Crusty | Episode: "The Maggots in the Meathead" |
2013 | The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex | Papa Fabrizio | Television film |
2013 | Bad Samaritans | Francis | Episode: "Pilot" |
2014 | Suburgatory | Harold | Episode: "Dalia Nicole Smith" |
2015 | Fear the Walking Dead | Old Man | Episode: "Pilot" |
2015–2016 | Con Man | Dale | 3 episodes |
2016 | Starship Excelsior | Subcommander Tal | Episode: "Tomorrow's Excelsior" |
2017 | OVER & OUT | Mr. Grossman | Television film |
2017 | The Guest Book | Walter | 5 episodes |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | The Book of Watermarks | Prospero |
References
- ^ "Jake Doner, Born 10/29/1928 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ "R.I.P. Jack Donner of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible". Me-TV Network. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
- ^ "R.I.P. Jack Donner of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible". Me-TV Network.
- ^ "Talking to TOS & Enterprise Guest Jack Donner" (July 11, 2016). StarTrek.com.
- ^ Laurie Ulster (March 11, 2021). "13 Original Series Actors Who Couldn't Get Enough Trek". StarTrek.com.