Trivia of Jack Lemmon

Trivia of Jack Lemmon (8 February 1925 - 27 June 2001)

*Jack Lemmon was born in a hospital elevator, in Massachusetts to Mildred Burgess LaRue and John Ulher Lemmon Jr., the president of a doughnut company.

*He was enrolled to Phillips Academy from where he graduated in 1943 and then joined the reputed, Harvard University, from where he graduated in 1947. Here, he was a member of a few drama clubs—the Delphic Club for Gentlemen and the Hasty Pudding Club.

*During his early days as a contract player with Columbia Pictures, studio head Harry Cohn wanted Lemmon to change his screen name to "Jack Lennon." Cohn feared that critics would make use of Lemmon's last name (Jack Lemmon's performance in the film is a lemon."). Lemmon convinced Cohn if he changed his name to "Lennon," everyone would think that he was related to Vladimir Lenin, the founder of Soviet Communism (this was the 1950s, the time of the McCarthy "Red Scare", and years before the appearance of John Lennon and The Beatles). Referring to Vladimir Lenin, Cohn told Lemmon, "No, that's wrong. They pronounce his name 'Len-IN." "No," Lemmon replied, firmly. "It's pronounced 'LEN-in." After making a phone call to a Russian associate, who confirmed that Lenin's name was pronounced "LEN-in",' Cohn agreed to let Lemmon keep his own name.

*Lemmon started his film career with a small appearance in the 1949 movie ‘The Lady Takes a Sailor’.He played his first major role in the film, ‘It Should Happen To You’ in 1954, in which he was cast with Judy Holliday. This film earned him recognition and his fame catapulted.

*He became favorite actor of director Billy Wilder.Billy Wilder directed him in 7 movies, including Apartment (1960), Irma la Douce (1963) and Some Like It Hot (1959).

*In the set of movie, he had a habit of saying to himself before every take: “It’s magic time.”

*Throughout his career, Lemmon often appeared in films alongside actor Walter Matthau. They would go on to be one of the most beloved duos in cinema history. Lemmon was one of the best-liked actors in Hollywood. He is remembered as taking time for people.In his autobiography, My Life, actor Burt Reynolds recalls Lemmon as the quintessential gentleman who never spoke ill of anyone, even if they deserved it.