Jack Carter, Brash Comic of Early TV, Dies at 93

Funeral services were pending today for Jack Carter, a brash comic who rose to stardom during the early days of television and continued performing on television and in films for more than five decades.

Carter died Sunday of respiratory failure at his Beverly Hills home, according to his publicist. He was 93.

A New York City native, Carter originally hosted “Cavalcade of Stars” in 1949 before getting his own show on NBC. “The Jack Carter Show” was part of NBC’s Saturday night lineup in the early 1950s, leading into Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows.”

Carter’s show only lasted one season, but he was a regular guest on variety shows and comedy specials, appearing with Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope and George Burns. He was also a common face on game shows such as ‘Match Game” and “$10,000 Pyramid.”

He appeared on television shows such as “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Make Room for Daddy,” “Batman,” “The Lucy Show,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Fantasy Island.” He also showed up in movies such as Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas,” “Hustle,” “The Amazing Dobermans” and “Alligator.”

Carter most recently appeared on the Showtime series “Shameless.”

He would also make occasional returns to his acting roots in the theater.

He is survived by his wife, Roxanne, two sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.

City News Service

Photo: Wikimedia Commons