Jack Klugman, star of The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E., died on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Us Weekly reports.

Jack won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe at the height of his career, when he played Oscar Madison, the brash, hard-living, slovenly man who, recently divorced, shares an NYC apartment with his polar opposite: also-divorced Felix Unger (Tony Randall), a fussy, intellectual neat-freak. The hit series was based off of a successful play and film.

Jack reunited with Tony in 1997 for a revival of The Sunshine Boys, however, Jack had to be convinced to return to the stage because he had lost a vocal chord to cancer in 1989.

“My career was over,” Jack told USA Today in 1997. “I couldn’t even swallow: I had to lay on my side. I lived alone, could barely whisper. I cut off everybody.” But when they reunited, ”everybody was crying . . . The cast, the audience, these people who had paid $1,000 a seat.”

Jack is survived by his wife Peggy Klugman and their sons Adam and David Klugman, as well as stepsons Randy Wilson and Phil Crosby Jr. and two grandchildren.

“He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same,” Jack’s son Adam told the Associated Press of his father, who had lost his voice to throat cancer in 1980 and then taught himself to speak again through breath control.

Our thoughts are with Jack’s family and friends during this difficult time.

How do YOU feel, HollywoodLifers?

— Chris Rogers

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