Victor E. "Vic" Tayback (January 6, 1930 â€" May 25, 1990) was an
American actor. He is known for his role as Mel Sharples in the film
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and the television series Alice
(1976â€"1985). The latter earned him two consecutive Golden Globe
Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.Tayback was born in
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, to Helen (née Hanood) and Najeeb
James Tayback. His parents were immigrants from Aleppo, Syria. He
moved with his family to Burbank, California during his teenage years
and attended Burbank High School, from which he graduated in 1949. He
also attended Glendale Community College and the Frederick A. Speare
School of Radio and TV Broadcasting.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, The Mary Tyler
Moore Show, All in the Family, Fantasy Island, and The Love Boat. He
also appeared in many films such as Bullitt (1968), Papillon (1973),
The Gambler (1974), The Cheap Detective (1978), and All Dogs Go to
Heaven (1989), 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 theater troupe
Company of Angels.Tayback's most famous role was diner owner Mel
Sharples in both the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and
the television series Alice (1976â€"1985). 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.
American actor. He is known for his role as Mel Sharples in the film
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and the television series Alice
(1976â€"1985). The latter earned him two consecutive Golden Globe
Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.Tayback was born in
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, to Helen (née Hanood) and Najeeb
James Tayback. His parents were immigrants from Aleppo, Syria. He
moved with his family to Burbank, California during his teenage years
and attended Burbank High School, from which he graduated in 1949. He
also attended Glendale Community College and the Frederick A. Speare
School of Radio and TV Broadcasting.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, The Mary Tyler
Moore Show, All in the Family, Fantasy Island, and The Love Boat. He
also appeared in many films such as Bullitt (1968), Papillon (1973),
The Gambler (1974), The Cheap Detective (1978), and All Dogs Go to
Heaven (1989), 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 theater troupe
Company of Angels.Tayback's most famous role was diner owner Mel
Sharples in both the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and
the television series Alice (1976â€"1985). 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.
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