Jack Duffy

For the American silent film actor, see Jack Duffy (actor).

Jack Duffy (September 27, 1926 – May 19, 2008) was a Canadian singer, comedian and actor.

Life and career

Born in Montreal, Duffy grew up in Toronto, dropping out of Central Technical School to become a singer. At age 19, he was hired as a studio singer with CBC in Toronto and in 1948 he started a three-year affiliation with Tommy Dorsey, initially as a member of the vocal group Bob-O-Links. Duffy was performing as a member of the musical act the Town Criers in 1950 and would frequently appear on CBC-TV variety shows through the 1950s. In 1957, he was hired by Norman Jewison to appear as a comedian on the CBC series Showtime. Duffy had his own CBC variety show called Here's Duffy that ran from June 1958 through October 1959.

In 1961, he became a regular on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall, performing as one of the Kraft Music Hall Players, alongside Don Adams, Paul Lynde, Kaye Ballard and others. The show finished its run in 1963.

Duffy battled alcoholism after he started drinking while on the road with the Dorsey band.[1] His first wife left him and he became destitute,[2] living in a $10-a-week attic.[3] He stopped drinking in 1967 and married dancer Marylyn Stuart later that year.

In 1970 he began an 11-year run as captain of the home team on the charades game show Party Game, produced by Hamilton, Ontario-based CHCH-TV. It was through this show that Duffy picked up the nickname "Captain Jack." In 1971 he also hosted the CBC-TV series In The Mood, featuring appearances from some of the biggest names in big band jazz, including Benny Goodman and Count Basie.

Duffy died of natural causes at age 81 in Toronto.

Filmography

Movies

Theatrical

Television

Television series

References

  1. ↑ "A sober Jack Duffy turns killer for TV," Frank Rasky, Toronto Star, March 12, 1977, p. H5.
  2. ↑ 'Party Game' regular, Jack Duffy, dead at 81, Guelph Mercury, May 22, 2008. p. B11.
  3. ↑ "A sober Jack Duffy turns killer for TV," Frank Rasky, Toronto Star, March 12, 1977, p. H5.

External links

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