Broadway, FIlm and Television Star Jack Manning Dies at 93

Jack Manning, Broadway, film and television star died of natural causes at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes on August 31. He was 93 years old.

Manning began his acting career at the University of Cincinnati where he performed on WLW radio and in student plays and musicals. He made his Broadway debut not long after graduating when he appeared in JUNIOR MISS in 1941.

Thereafter, he appeared alongside Helen Hayes in HARRIET, directed by Elia Kazan; played Roderigo in OTHELLO starring Paul Robeson, Jose Ferrer and Uta Hagen that same year; played the role of Tweedledee in Eva Le Gallienne's famous adaptation of ALICE IN WONDERLAND in 1947; performed opposite Robert Preston in THE TENDER TRAP in 1954; and was directed by Abe Burrows in SAY DARLING in 1958. He concluded his Broadway career as Mr. McIlhenny in Sondheim's DO I HEAR A WALTZ? in 1965. 

Additional Broadway credits include: THE GREAT BIG DOORSTEP, THE STREETS ARE GUARDED, O'DANIEL, MAN AND SUPERMAN, and BILLY BUD. Manning also appeared in stage productions at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, and the Shubert Theater in Los Angeles and taught acting in New York and in Los Angeles. He directed Shakespeare productions for the Helen Hayes' Repertory Company and additional productions for the Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts in South Bay and the South Bay Light Opera.

Mr. Manning's screen career was established in the 1970s, appearing in the films "Where's Poppa?," "The Owl and the Pussycat," "Melinda," "The Thief Who Came to Dinner," "Herbie Rides Again," "The Great Waldo Pepper," "Gus," and "Frances." His television credits include spots on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Bonanza," "Silver Spoons" and "The Paper Chase," in which he had a recurring role as Dean Rutherford. He also appeared in a daily 15-minute spot in a one man show of "Hamlet" that ran on the Dumont Network for two weeks.

Says Manning's wife, Francie, of 42 years, "He started acting really young." "His parents would take him to these clubs and he would dance at various things and the band started paying him to dance. That got the bug in him to be in front of people and receive applause."

In addition to his wife, Manning is survived by a son, two daughters, three grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Photo courtesy of Press-Telegram, Long Island