--- name: "Jack Kruschen" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jack-kruschen" fi1m_id: "jack-kruschen" imdb_id: "nm0472816" tmdb_id: 4094 wikidata_id: "Q1374376" roles: ["Actor"] born: "20 March 1922" died: "2 April 2002" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-10-03T07:56:06.192399+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jack Kruschen ## Identity Jack Kruschen - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jack-kruschen - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jack-kruschen - **IMDb ID:** nm0472816 - **TMDB ID:** 4094 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1374376 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kruschen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1374376, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472816/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4094 Actor. Born 20 March 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Died 2 April 2002. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 20 March 1922, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - **Died:** 2 April 2002 - **Active:** 1960–1962 - **Also known as:** Jack Joseph Kruschen - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 3 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Crime 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1 - **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $128m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kruschen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1374376, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472816/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4094 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*The Apartment*](https://film.one/film/the-apartment.md) (91) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Cape Fear*](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1962.md) (82) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jack Kruschen > Jack Kruschen makes a concerned neighbour worth watching: gruff enough to avoid sentimentality, warm enough to matter. We value him most in *The Apartment*, where Billy Wilder gives his familiar fatherly manner something useful to do. In *The Apartment* (1960), Jack Kruschen's Dr. Dreyfuss pays attention to other people. We were moved by his concern for his neighbour, which Kruschen plays without fuss. Alongside Jack Lemmon, he gives Billy Wilder's comedy someone whose decency we can believe in without much persuasion. The film's second half takes longer than it needs, but its patience with people is also what lets a supporting performance like this count. It is the clearest example of what we value in Kruschen. Radio came first, followed by a film debut in *Red, Hot and Blue* (1949) and steady supporting work through the 1950s. His dialect skill found regular employment in Italian and Jewish fathers and neighbours, roles that let him combine gruffness with warmth. Dr. Dreyfuss in *The Apartment* was the breakthrough, and it is easy to see why: the neighbour's concern matters to the film, so Kruschen has something to do with that warmth. In *Cape Fear* (1962), he plays attorney Dave Grafton, another of the professional men who recur through his work. We recommend J. Lee Thompson's thriller for its persistent menace, though the writing gives its villain too little scrutiny. Robert Mitchum is the decisive presence there, helped by Thompson's handling of light and shadow. The lawyer is one of the smaller parts on which Kruschen's reputation for reliability rests; we would not recommend the film principally for him. The later television work, including *Webster* and *Full House*, kept returning him to paternal and comic parts. There is a limit to how often gruffness followed by warmth can surprise us, and that casting could make him too easy to take for granted. We would not claim that every small appearance demands rediscovery. For his particular skill at making concern credible, start next door to Jack Lemmon in *The Apartment*. ## Biography Jack Kruschen was a Canadian-American character actor who appeared in films, television and radio over six decades. Born Jacob Joseph Kruschen in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he began working in radio while still at school and made early television appearances in 1939. He is best known for his role as Dr. Dreyfuss in Billy Wilder's *The Apartment* (1960), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Other film credits include *The War of the Worlds* (1953), *Cape Fear* (1962) and *The Unsinkable Molly Brown* (1964). He also appeared on stage, including the original Broadway production of *I Can Get It for You Wholesale* (1962) and the London staging of *Promises, Promises* (1969). Kruschen had numerous television guest roles, among them appearances in *Batman* (1966), *Full House* (1987) and *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990). He died on 2 April 2002. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, latimes.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Cape Fear* (1962), Fi1m 82, as Attorney Dave Grafton — [page](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1962.md) - *The Ladies Man* (1961), Fi1m 72, as Graduation Emcee Professor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ladies-man.md) - *The Apartment* (1960), Fi1m 91, as Dr. Dreyfuss — [page](https://film.one/film/the-apartment.md) ## Complete filmography (157) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Alice in Wonderland* (2010), as (voice) (archive footage) - *'Til There Was You* (1997), as Mr. Katz - *Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is* (1994), as Mayor Walter Trout - *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Captain Keene - *Living Single* (1993), series, as Mort - *The American Clock* (1993), Actor - *Love & War* (1992), series, Actor - *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Mr. Melville - *Penny Ante: The Motion Picture* (1990), as Isadore Perlman - *Full House* (1987), series, as Iorgos - *She's the Sheriff* (1987), series, as George Bloomgarden - *Matlock* (1986), series, as Judge Ogilvie / Bus Repairman - *Deadly Intentions* (1985), as Alex Livanos - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Dr. John Logan - *E/R* (1984), series, Actor - *Dark Mirror* (1984), as Smithson - *Zorro and Son* (1983), series, Actor - *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Bernie Shatzman - *Money to Burn* (1983), as Pops - *The New Odd Couple* (1982), series, as Judge - *Tucker's Witch* (1982), series, Actor - *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Buddy Brokaw - *Matt Houston* (1982), series, Actor - *Silver Spoons* (1982), series, as Judge Harold S. Nutterman - *Hotel* (1982), series, Actor - *Darkroom* (1981), series, as Sam - *Legend of the Wild* (1981), as Frost-bite Foley - *Under the Rainbow* (1981), as Louie - *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn* (1981), as Judge Thatcher - *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md) - *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Doheny's partner & speaker at the retirement - *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, Actor - *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, Actor - *Sunburn* (1979), as Gela - *The Time Machine* (1978), as John Bedford - *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor - *WKRP in Cincinnati* (1978), series, Actor - *The Incredible Rocky Mountain Race* (1977), as Jim Bridger - *The Incredible Hulk* (1977), series, as Norman Abrams - *CHiPs* (1977), series, as Frank Higgins - *Satan's Cheerleaders* (1977), as Billy the Janitor - *Grizzly Adams* (1977), series, as Metcalf · Frost-bite Foley - *Busting Loose* (1977), series, Actor - *The November Plan* (1977), as Harry Kahn - *Guardian of the Wilderness* (1976), as Madden - *Alice* (1976), series, Actor - *City of Angels* (1976), series, Actor - *The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper* (1976), as Abner Denby - *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, as Gunther Starr - *Switch* (1975), series, as Damon Alexander - *Bronk* (1975), series, as Victor - *Nick and Nora* (1975), as Sergeant Steinmetz - *Barney Miller* (1975), series, as Julius Wittenour, Rudolph Kamen, Benjamin Diamond - *The Log of the Black Pearl* (1975), as Jocko Roper - *Freebie and the Bean* (1974), as Red Meyers - *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as John Koenig — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *Movin' On* (1974), series, Actor - *Little House on the Prairie* (1974), series, Actor - *Assignment: Vienna* (1972), series, as Orloff - *Deadly Harvest* (1972), as Vartamian - *Emergency!* (1972), as Sen. Mike Wolski - *Columbo* (1971), series, as Tomlin Dudek — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) - *The Million Dollar Duck* (1971), as Doctor Gottlieb - *McCloud* (1970), series, Actor - *Nanny and the Professor* (1970), series, Actor - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Doctor Deets - *Medical Center* (1969), series, Actor - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Blumberg - *Istanbul Express* (1969), as Capt. Granicek - *He & She* (1967), series, as Captain Pappas - *The Happening* (1967), as Inspector - *Caprice* (1967), as Matthew Cutter - *Ironside* (1967), series, as Willie Busch - *Batman* (1966), series, as Eivol Ekdal - *The John Forsythe Show* (1965), series, Actor - *Harlow* (1965), as L.B. Mayer - *Dear Brigitte* (1965), as Doctor Volker - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Herman - *The Unsinkable Molly Brown* (1964), as Christmas Morgan - *McLintock!* (1963), as Jake Birnbaum - *Convicts 4* (1962), as Resko's Father - *Cape Fear* (1962), as Attorney Dave Grafton — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1962.md) - *Follow That Dream* (1962), as Carmine - *Lover Come Back* (1961), as Doctor Linus Tyler - *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Bill Ziegler - *The Ladies Man* (1961), as Graduation Emcee Professor — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ladies-man.md) - *Kraft Mystery Theatre* (1961), series, Actor - *Mister Ed* (1961), series, Actor - *Where the Boys Are* (1960), as Max (uncredited) - *Harrigan and Son* (1960), series, Actor - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *The Westerner* (1960), series, as Rigdon - *Seven Ways from Sundown* (1960), as Beeker - *The Bellboy* (1960), as Jack E Mulcher (uncredited) - *The Apartment* (1960), as Dr. Dreyfuss — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/the-apartment.md) - *Hong Kong* (1960), series, as Tully - *The Last Voyage* (1960), as Chief Engineer Pringle - *The Gazebo* (1959), as Taxi Driver (uncredited) - *The Angry Red Planet* (1959), as CWO Sam Jacobs - *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor - *The Man Who Understood Women* (1959), as Mickey (uncredited) - *Law of the Plainsman* (1959), series, as Dr. Pearson - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Giorgio Rossi - *Tightrope* (1959), series, Actor - *The Lawless Years* (1959), series, Actor - *Black Saddle* (1959), series, as Ben Winkleman - *The Decks Ran Red* (1958), as Alex Cole - *Bat Masterson* (1958), series, as Ben Tarko, Patch Finley - *Behind Closed Doors* (1958), series, as Ruchef - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, Actor - *Naked City* (1958), series, as Dean Fairland - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Sheriff Pig Wells, Hunt Willis - *Fraulein* (1958), as Sgt. Grischa - *Cry Terror!* (1958), as Agent Charles Pope - *Zorro* (1957), series, Actor - *Trackdown* (1957), series, Actor - *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Sam Bolt - *Reform School Girl* (1957), as Mr. Horvath - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Max Schilling - *Badlands of Montana* (1957), as Cavalry Sergeant - *Julie* (1956), as Det. Mace - *The Adventures of Jim Bowie* (1956), series, Actor - *Outside the Law* (1956), as Agent Pill Schwartz - *Telephone Time* (1956), series, Actor - *The Steel Jungle* (1956), as Truckdriver Helper - *The Count of Monte Cristo* (1956), series, Actor - *The Benny Goodman Story* (1956), as 'Murph' Podolsky - riverboat band Mgr. - *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Ernie - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Jed - *The Night Holds Terror* (1955), as Detective Pope - *Soldier of Fortune* (1955), as Austin Stoker - *Dial Red O* (1955), as Lloyd Lavalle - *Carolina Cannonball* (1955), as Hogar - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Mike Sharkey - *Untamed Heiress* (1954), as Louie - *Tennessee Champ* (1954), as Andrews - *The Long, Long Trailer* (1954), as Mechanic (uncredited) - *The Great Diamond Robbery* (1954), as Cafe Counterman (uncredited) - *It Should Happen to You* (1954), as Joe (uncredited) - *Money from Home* (1953), as Short Boy - *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Charlie - *A Blueprint for Murder* (1953), as Harold Y. Cole - *Abbott and Costello Go to Mars* (1953), as Harry - *The War of the Worlds* (1953), as Salvatore - *Terry and the Pirates* (1952), series, Actor - *Your Jeweler's Showcase* (1952), series, as The Whale - *Tropical Heat Wave* (1952), as Stickey Langley - *Adventures of Superman* (1952), series, as First Airport Robber - *Confidence Girl* (1952), as Detective Sergeant Quinn - *Dragnet* (1951), series, as Elevator Operator - *The People Against O'Hara* (1951), as Uniformed Detective (uncredited) - *The Lemon Drop Kid* (1951), as Muscleman (uncredited) - *Gambling House* (1950), as Italian Immigrant (uncredited) - *Where Danger Lives* (1950), as Cosey - Ambulance Driver (uncredited) - *No Way Out* (1950), as (uncredited) - *Women from Headquarters* (1950), as Sam - *Red, Hot and Blue* (1949), as Steve ## Gallery - ![Jack Kruschen](https://film.one/media/person/103285/gallery-2e42a22379e7.jpg) Jack Kruschen — Image via TMDB - ![Jack Kruschen](https://film.one/media/person/103285/gallery-93981d45fadc.jpg) Jack Kruschen — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1961: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Apartment* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jack-kruschen