Sam Jaffe was a versatile and prolific actor who appeared in many memorable films and television shows throughout his long career. He was nominated for an Oscar, won a Venice Film Festival award, and played roles ranging from a Tibetan mystic to a brain surgeon. But how did he die and what was his legacy? Here is a brief overview of his life and death.
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Early Life and Education
Sam Jaffe was born on March 10, 1891, in New York City, to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. His mother, Ada, was a Yiddish actress who performed in Odesa before moving to the United States. His father, Barnett, was a jeweler. Sam was the youngest of four children and grew up in the Lower East Side.
He graduated from City College of New York in 1912 with an engineering degree and pursued graduate studies at Columbia University. He also taught mathematics at the Bronx Cultural Institute, a college preparatory school, before returning to acting in 1915.
Stage and Film Career
Jaffe began his theatrical career with the Washington Square Players Guild Theater in 1917. He appeared in many New York stage productions, including The Jazz Singer, The God of Vengeance, and A Doll’s House. He also played Shakespearean roles, such as King Lear.
He made his film debut in 1934 in The Scarlet Empress, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Marlene Dietrich. He rose to prominence with his first major role as the mad Tsar Peter III in the film.
He won critical acclaim for his performances in two films made in the late 1930s: Lost Horizon (1937) and Gunga Din (1939). In Lost Horizon, he played the High Lama, a wise and mysterious leader of a utopian society in Tibet. In Gunga Din, he played the title role of a humble and heroic Indian water bearer who helps three British soldiers fight against a cult of assassins.
In 1950, he received an Oscar nomination and a Venice Film Festival award for his portrayal of Doc Riedenschneider, a criminal mastermind who plans a jewel heist in The Asphalt Jungle, directed by John Huston.
He also appeared in other notable films, such as Gentlemen’s Agreement (1947), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Ben-Hur (1959), and The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958).
Television Career and Blacklisting
Jaffe also had a successful television career, especially in the early 1960s when he starred as Dr. David Zorba, a wise and compassionate brain surgeon who mentors a young resident, Dr. Ben Casey, played by Vincent Edwards. The show, Ben Casey, ran from 1961 to 1965 and earned Jaffe an Emmy nomination. His second wife, Bettye Ackerman, also co-starred as Dr. Maggie Graham.
However, Jaffe’s career was also affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the 1950s. He was accused of being a communist sympathizer and was denied work by many studios. He was able to overcome this obstacle with the help of some directors who hired him despite the blacklist, such as Robert Wise for The Day the Earth Stood Still and William Wyler for Ben-Hur.
Personal Life and Death
Jaffe married twice in his life. His first wife was Lillian Taiz, an actress whom he married in 1926. She died in 1941 from cancer. His second wife was Bettye Ackerman, whom he married in 1956. They remained married until his death.
Jaffe died on March 24, 1984, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 93 years old. The cause of death was cancer. He was buried at Williston Cemetery in Williston, South Carolina.
Legacy and Influence
Sam Jaffe left behind a rich and diverse body of work that spanned five decades and various genres. He was known for his intelligence, versatility, and charisma as an actor. He played characters that were often wise, eccentric, or noble.
He influenced many other actors who admired his skill and style. Some of them include John Huston, Edward G. Robinson, Zero Mostel, Ray Bradbury, Igor Stravinsky, and Charlton Heston.
He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to film and television.
Sam Jaffe cause of death may have been cancer, but his life was full of creativity and passion. He will always be remembered as one of the legends of Hollywood.