Actor. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants Flora (née Craft) and Leopold Albertson. His older sister was actress Mabel Albertson. Despite a long career in the theater, motion pictures and television that ran from the 1920s to the 1980s, he is best known today for two roles from his career's later days. Born in Malden, Massachusetts, he left home to find work in New York City, New York, and appeared in burlesque and vaudeville before landing theater roles. Becoming a successful and sought after Broadway star, won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 1964's "The Subject was Roses" and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor for his role in 1972's "The Sunshine Boys." He appeared in the 1968 film adaptation of "The Subject was Roses," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Appearing in a total of forty three motion pictures, his best remembered was that of "Grandpa Joe" in the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." From 1974 to 1978 he appeared in the television situation comedy "Chico and the Man" with comedian Freddie Prinze, and was nominated for an Emmy three times for Outstanding Lead Actor – Comedy Series, winning it in 1976, which made him one of only eight performers to win an Oscar, Emmy and Tony. He was the younger brother of actress Mabel Albertson.
Actor. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants Flora (née Craft) and Leopold Albertson. His older sister was actress Mabel Albertson. Despite a long career in the theater, motion pictures and television that ran from the 1920s to the 1980s, he is best known today for two roles from his career's later days. Born in Malden, Massachusetts, he left home to find work in New York City, New York, and appeared in burlesque and vaudeville before landing theater roles. Becoming a successful and sought after Broadway star, won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 1964's "The Subject was Roses" and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor for his role in 1972's "The Sunshine Boys." He appeared in the 1968 film adaptation of "The Subject was Roses," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Appearing in a total of forty three motion pictures, his best remembered was that of "Grandpa Joe" in the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." From 1974 to 1978 he appeared in the television situation comedy "Chico and the Man" with comedian Freddie Prinze, and was nominated for an Emmy three times for Outstanding Lead Actor – Comedy Series, winning it in 1976, which made him one of only eight performers to win an Oscar, Emmy and Tony. He was the younger brother of actress Mabel Albertson.
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