Jack Palance
ActingAbout Jack Palance
Jack Palance (born Volodymyr Palahniuk; February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor. Known for playing tough guys and villains, he was nominated for three Academy Awards, all for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, receiving nominations for his roles in Sudden Fear (1952) and Shane (1953) and winning almost 40 years later for his role in City Slickers (1991). Born in Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, Palance served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He went on to briefly attend Stanford University before pursuing a career in the theatre. He made his film acting debut in Panic in the Streets (1950). Following his roles in Sudden Fear and Shane, Palance starred as Count Dracula in the 1974 television film Bram Stoker's Dracula, and played crime lord Yves Perret in Tango & Cash (1989). He also served as the host of the ABC television series Ripley's Believe It or Not! (1982–1986). In 2006, Palance died of natural causes at the home of his daughter Holly in Montecito, California.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Jack Palance reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Jack Palance's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 68% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Jack Palance remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Monster Mania, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Jack Palance Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Jack Palance's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Jack Palance.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Omen Legacy | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End | John Witting | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Joe D'Amato Totally Uncut - The Erotic Experience | (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo | Beelzebub | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | I'll Be Home For Christmas | Bob Greiser | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Monster Mania | Host | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Joan Crawford: Always the Star | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Buffalo Girls | Bartle Bone | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | The Swan Princess | Lord Rothbart (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics | Dr. Jeremy Wheaton (segment "Where the Dead Are") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | When It Was a Game 2 | Passage Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | City Slickers | Curly Washburn | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Tango & Cash | Yves Perret | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Batman | Grissom | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Imagine: John Lennon | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Young Guns | L. G. Murphy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Bagdad Cafe | Rudi Cox | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Rulers of the City | Scarface' Manzari | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Cop in Blue Jeans | Norman Shelley / Richard J. Russo | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Hatfields and the McCoys | Devil Anse Hatfield | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Dracula | Dracula | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | Oklahoma Crude | Hellman | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Imagine | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Chato's Land | Quincey Whitmore | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Horsemen | Tursen | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Compañeros | John | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Monte Walsh | Chet Rollins | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Mercenary | Ricciolo ("Curly") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Dr. Jekyll/Dr.Hyde | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Torture Garden | Ronald Wyatt (segment 4 "The Man Who Collected Poe") | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Spy in the Green Hat | Louis Strago | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Professionals | Jesus Raza | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Once a Thief | Walter Pedak | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Paparazzi | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Bardot et Godard | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | Contempt | Jeremy Prokosch | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Barabbas | Torvald | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Last Judgment | Matteoni | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Battle of Austerlitz | Gen. Weirother | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Ten Seconds to Hell | Eric Koertner | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Requiem for a Heavyweight | Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Attack | Joe Costa | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | I Died a Thousand Times | Roy Earle / Roy Collins | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Flight to Tangier | Gil Walker | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Shane | Jack Wilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Sudden Fear | Lester Blaine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Panic in the Streets | Blackie | Hit | Similar → |
Jack Palance - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Jack Palance?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Jack Palance is "Monster Mania" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Jack Palance acted in?
Jack Palance has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Jack Palance?
Other notable films include "The Hatfields and the McCoys", "When It Was a Game 2", and "Night of 100 Stars II".