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Jack Lemmon
The Actoi
By PEER J OPPENHEIMER
Jack lemmon and I were having lunch at a Mali
bu Beach restaurant and not enjoying it as
much as we usually did.
Our purpose for getting together was not social
this time. Because he seemed a good bet to win
his second Oscar Monday night for his perform
ance opposite Shirley MacLaine in Billy Wilder's
"The Apartment," I had instructions to do a story
on the young actor whom I consider one of my
closest friends.
I have known Jack since he and his ex-wifc,
the' former Cynthia Stone, settled in California
seven years ago. His son Christopher, now six,
plays with my children. I know Jack's mother and
father and most of his friends. Yet I had the feci-,
ing I didn't know Jack at all.
Twice before I had started to write an article
about Jack and both times I destroyed it.
"Why "is it so difficult to do a good story on
you?" I asked. "You're intelligent, you've had an
interesting life, you're popular ..."
"But I don't have an 'angle,' and that's what
every writer wants,"- Jack replied, "I'm just not
good copy."
He Is Impetuous
Ridiculous, I thought to myself. I considered the
reams of anecdotes I had heard about Jack. Like
when he was in Hawaii, sunning himself on a
reef. Suddenly a pal spotted a shark about 20 feet
down in the water and dared Jack to dive in and
punch the shark in the nose.
From where Jack sat, the shark looked about
three feet long. Figuring it was a sand shark,
which is not nearly as dangerous as the tiger
shark, Jack obligingly dove into the water. When
he came face to face with the shark, he realized
it wasn't as helpless as it had appeared from above.
Nevertheless, he clouted it and sped for shore.
If such incidents, characteristic of Jack's impetu
ousness, wouldn't make enough good copy, a writer
could review the highlights of his career: radio
. soap operas, television appearances, and Broad
way plays such as his debut in 1953 in a revival .
of "Room Service," all of which led to stardom.
And, of course, there was Jack's early history:
an only son of well-to-do parents, he was born
in Boston, attended-some of the finest New Eng-
A top candidate for
pensive, the popular
Family Weekly, April 16, 1S61
Who Mystifies Hollywood
land schools, including Harvard, where he was
president of the Hasty Pudding Club. After Naval
ROTC, he went into the Navy and served on an
aircraft carrier as communications officer.
But this was just part of a description of Jack.
It was like saying, "Jack is 35" which he is. It
tells something but doesn't give the full picture.
So I considered . the Jack his friends and ac
quaintances see. For example, I've never been at
a party with, him where he wasn't the most popu
lar guest. Everyone has a word for him, and he
has a comeback joke and a big grin. But then, all
at once, he'll find a piano and run his fingers over
the keys as if listening to someone else play. He'll
get a faraway look in his eyes, while his fingers
drum out the rhythm. His feet can't keep still.
Then he doesn't know if you are with him or if
he's alone on the moon.
This is the Jack no one knows, maybe not even
Jack himself. He seems to be living in an inde
structible bubble far removed from reality.
And when Jack isn't in front of the camera or
on stage, he has to have something to do. Either
he plays the piano, sometimes composing melodies
as he goes along he calls himself a "frustrated
composer," although he has several published al
. bums reads, studies scripts, or putters around
the garden and not necessarily his own garden.
On one occasion, a neighbor of Jack's admired
the beautiful fuchsia bushes in his yard. Jack as
sured him that it wasn't any trouble to make them
look good if they were fed and pruned properly.
One Sunday morning before the neighbor was out
of bed, Jack pruned his bushes, explaining to the
astonished friend who had rushed out to see what
the noise was: "This is the time of year for it."
Jack's Divorce Surprised Everyone
Although after his divorce Jack moved to a
secluded area so he could have some time to him
self, he can't stand being alone. Unless he's work
ing, he goes out every night with friends.
. Jack and Cynthia Lemmon's divorce four years
ago came as a shock to everyone. None of their
friends was prepared for it. They seemed like the
happiest couple in Hollywood.
There was much speculation at the time as to
what brought about the split-up. Neither Jack nor
j an Academy Award,
i bachelor who seems
Cynthia would ever discuss the reason. Possibly
Jack himself didn't know.
One night, about six months after their separa
tion, Jack and I had dinner together, and he con
fessed that he would go back to Cynthia the next
day if she would have him. "
They have stayed on the best of terms, not only
for their son Chris' sake, but because they are still
fond of each other. Also, there's the chance that
Jack's own parents might have set the pattern.
Jack's father, a self-made business executive, and
his wife Millie were separated when Jack was in
his late teens. But they never went through with
, a divorce and today are still good friends.
Three years ago, on the spur of the moment and
uncharacteristic of her usual carefully thought-out
actions, Cynthia married actor Cliff Robertson,
who told me he'd been in love with her before she
married Jack. The marriage broke up a year ago,
after a bitter divorce. They have one child, a
daughter Stephanie.
Will Jack Marry Again?
Lately, there have been hints of a reconciliation
between Jack and Cynthia, which might be based
primarily on wishful thinking of those who still
feel they are, or could be, the ideal couple. Jack
himself inadvertently threw fuel on the fire when
he talked about making a film in England this
summer. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if Cinnie and
Chris could come over and visit me? I just
couldn't stand being separated from Chris for so
many months."
Maybe he won't admit it to himself, but I had
the feeling he couldn't be separated from Cynthia
for long, either.
Still, after the divorce Jack started to date a
talented and beautiful actress, Felicia Farr. Col
umnists have had them eloping a dozen times, but
I frankly doubt that Jack seriously considered the
possibility. When I asked him during our lunch if
he might get married again, he replied, "Definitely
not for the time being."
Since Jack continued to insist that his work is
the most important thing in his life, I asked him
about the Academy Awards. "Do you feel the
Awards are voted strictly for performance or are
they popularity contests as well?"
(Continued on page 9)
he's the life of the party
to think mostly about his
L"" " f ' 43 , 1
V?jsff
Fond memento is photo taken when Jack won on
Oscar for best supporting actor in "Mister Roberts."
who becomes suddenly
ex-wife
Family Weekly, April IS, 1961