Jack Kruschen (March 20, 1922 – April 2, 2002) was a beloved Canadian-American character actor of radio, film, and television, best known for his warm and compassionate, Oscar-nominated performance as Dr. Dreyfuss in the classic Billy Wilder film, The Apartment (1960).
A veteran of the Golden Age of Radio, Kruschen brought a wonderful versatility to the screen. He could be kindly and humorous, as seen in his role as the friendly shopkeeper Jake Birnbaum in the John Wayne comedy McLintock! (1963). He could also be menacing and dramatic, playing the crafty attorney Dave Grafton in the original suspense classic Cape Fear (1962).
He worked prolifically in television for decades, with a career that spanned from the 1950s to the 1990s. He became a familiar face to a new generation with his recurring roles as the beloved Greek grandfathers on two popular sitcoms: Grandpa Papadopolis on Webster in 18 episodes (1984–1989) and Papouli Katsopolis on Full House in episodes Greek Week” (1990) and “The Last Dance” (1994).
