Renowned soap actor Jack Axelrod, aged 93, passed away in Los Angeles on November 28, 2023, due to natural causes, as reported by Entertainment Weekly and other sources. The news was officially disclosed on December 16 by Axelrod’s representative, Jennifer Garland. In her statement to EW, Garland expressed her closeness to the actor, sharing memories of spending time outdoors with him during his final years. According to her, Axelrod enjoyed sketching, reading news articles, and reciting Shakespearean sonnets during their visits.
Jack Axelrod’s extensive career in television and film began with Woody Allen’s 1971 comedy “Bananas,” and he continued to work steadily in various character roles until 2020. Notably, he is remembered for his portrayal of Victor Jerome on “General Hospital,” a role spanning 40 episodes from 1987 to 1989. His credits also include recurring roles on popular shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “My Name Is Earl,” “Modern Family,” and “NCIS.”
Born on January 25, 1930, in Los Angeles, Axelrod did not have immediate family.
Beyond his television success, Axelrod harbored a deep passion for theater. Despite his television prominence, he also enjoyed a thriving career on the stage. Following a six-year collaboration with Uta Hagen in New York, where he honed his acting skills, Axelrod participated in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including “Macbeth” and “Gandhi.”
In his later years, Axelrod refocused on his love for the stage, becoming a faculty member in the theater departments of various colleges, including CalArts, Boston University, and the University of Michigan. Before his passing, he served as a guest teacher at the Aaron Speiser Acting Studio in Los Angeles, sharing the wealth of knowledge accumulated over his more than half a century in the industry with the next generation of Hollywood aspirants.
Given Axelrod’s ability to maintain a thriving Hollywood career until the age of 90, it’s certain that he had a wealth of valuable advice to offer to those pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.
