Jack Aranson (29 December 1924 – 3 January 2008) was an American actor, trained in Ireland and England, noted for acting in many Shakespeare plays and several one-man shows. He was one of the last actor-managers, creating and managing several small companies in California and New York.
Jack played 13 characters in his one-man version of Moby Dick. Time called his performance one of the great (5) one-man shows of all time. This performance was filmed live by producer John Robert, directed by well-known director Paul Stanley. It is the highest ranked movie version of Moby Dick in IMDb.
Career
Born in
Los Angeles,
California, Aranson began his professional career in
England by serving a two-year apprenticeship at the Old Vic Theatre School.. He later toured
Ireland in many Shakespearean roles in a different play every night. He starred in Murder in Eden (film), made at
Ardmore Studios, in 1961. Aranson went to New York City to play in
Moby Dick as Captain Ahab and in
King Lear with
Orson Welles. He was director of Shakespeare at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1976, he guest-starred in two episodes of the American television series
Gibbsville. He died in Sleepy Hollow, New York, five days after his 83rd birthday.
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