Throughout the long arc of his career Jack Lemmon was the rarest kind of actor ­— an all-American everyman with a profound need to reach the depths of human nature. He made comedy look effortless and tragedy look like something that might happen to anyone. Born John Uhler Lemmon III in Newton, Massachusetts, on February 8, 1925 to John Uhler Lemmon, Jr. and Mildred Noel Lemmon, who was a vivacious presence and an inspiration in his life.

Jack attended Phillips Academy Andover prep school, graduating in the class of 1943. He often spoke of how wonderful his years at Andover were, and he created a still-existing scholarship fund. There that he met Fred Jordan, who remained one of Jack’s dearest friends, and golf mate. Jack continued his education at Harvard University, where he found his passion at the Hasty Pudding Club, the famous theatre group. He formed lasting friendships there too, particularly with John Knowles (who became the head of Mass General and the Rockefeller Foundation), and Richard Humphrey. Rick joined Jack and his son, Chris, on their annual fishing trips to Alaska.

After college, Jack moved to New York where he made ends meet playing piano ­— never learning to read music, he played by ear. He started off by doing live television, and he met his first wife Cynthia Stone. Their son Christopher was born in 1954. After a part in “Room Service” for which he and the show received excellent reviews, a Columbia Studios came to see it, and invited Jack to read for a movie opposite Judy Holliday. Jack landed the part in “It Should Happen to You”, directed by the great George Cukor, and written by Garson Kanin. In 1954, Jack was cast by John Ford in “Mister Roberts” with Henry Fonda, James Cagney and William Powell. Jack won the Oscar for best supporting actor in 1955.