John Pankow is a dependable ensemble actor, especially when a leading player needs someone capable of doubt. We value that steadiness; his more abrasive comedy needs writing that gives him something beyond another objectionable remark.
Fi1m perspective
Beside William Petersen in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), John Pankow makes doubt useful. His John Vukovich gives William Friedkin's thriller a credible moral counterweight. We felt the tension more keenly because Pankow made misgivings seem reasonable, giving us someone whose doubts we could share. It is a good use of an actor who can contribute without having to dominate.
The Secret of My Success (1987), in which he plays Fred Melrose, offers a lighter setting for his supporting work. Herbert Ross supplies the polish, and Michael J. Fox supplies more energy than the jokes deserve. The corporate wish fulfilment remains pleasant company, though the laughs are too uncertain to make it an obvious starting point for exploring the cast. Our recommendation rests chiefly on Fox: Pankow's presence should not raise expectations beyond a modestly enjoyable evening.
Similar limits apply to batteries not included (1987), with Pankow as Kovacs. Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn provide enough feeling to make Matthew Robbins's fantasy worth an evening for the sentimental, helped by the charm of its tiny saucers. Robbins nevertheless asks for more tears than the story earns, which is not a problem a supporting actor can repair. These are useful credits to place beside the stronger dramatic opportunity Friedkin offered, but neither film warrants a detour solely to follow Pankow.
Television gave his ensemble skills a longer outing. From 1993 to 1999, he was a regular as Ira Buchman in Mad About You, alongside Paul Reiser. His familiar wisecracking manner suited the work of sustaining a character through an established comedy ensemble. There is value in an actor who can keep contributing without requiring the programme to be rebuilt around him.
Episodes (2011–2017) gave him the offensive network executive Merc Lapidus, in David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik's Hollywood satire. That part puts his abrasive side to work, though sustained unpleasantness can become predictable when each encounter promises another offence. We prefer him with more room for uncertainty. Start with Friedkin; leave Merc for an evening when a disagreeable executive sounds sufficiently different from work.
Biography
John Pankow is an American actor. Born on 28 April 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri, he grew up in the Chicago area and trained at the St. Nicholas Theater there after being inspired by a production of David Mamet's The American Buffalo. He began his career on stage, appearing in numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway productions including Amadeus, The Iceman Cometh and Twelve Angry Men.
Pankow made his film debut in the early 1980s and gained notice for supporting roles in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987) as Fred Melrose, and The Object of My Affection (1998) as Vince McBride. On television he is best known for playing Ira Buchman, cousin to Paul Reiser's character, across all seasons of the sitcom Mad About You (1993–1999, revived 2019) and for the recurring role of Merc Lapidus in Episodes (2011–2017). He has also guest-starred in series including Law & Order and Lucifer.
