Jack lord last photo

Biography of Jack Lord

Jack Lord, whose real name was John Joseph Patrick Ryan, was born in 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, to an Irish-American family. His father, William Lawrence Ryan, worked for a steamship company, and at the age of 15, Jack had the opportunity to travel on merchant ships, visiting Africa, China, and the Mediterranean.

After finishing school, Jack enrolled at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New London, Connecticut. He then went on to earn a degree at New York University, where he studied the arts. Interestingly, Jack received a sports scholarship to attend university, as he was an excellent football player.

After his studies, Jack worked as a car salesman for Ford and Cadillac before pursuing acting. He also attended an acting studio to further his skills. His debut on Broadway came in 1954 in the play "The Traveling Lady," for which he received the prestigious Theatre World Award in 1955. By this time, Lord had already gained experience in front of the camera, appearing in small roles in several TV series.

Throughout the 1950s, Lord was active in both film and television, appearing in series such as "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Letter to Loretta," "Climax!," and "Have Gun - Will Travel." He also had roles in films including "Tip on a Dead Jockey," "God's Little Acre," "Man of the West," and "The Hangman."

In 1968, Jack landed the role that would bring him immense popularity and love from audiences – Detective Steve McGarrett in the crime drama series "Hawaii Five-O." The project soon evolved into the long-running series "Hawaii Five-O," in which Lord portrayed his character for 12 seasons.

Jack Lord's last role was in the 1980 TV drama "M Station: Hawaii." In total, he appeared in over 60 films throughout his career. Lord was married twice. His first wife, Ann Willard, was married to him from 1944 to 1947, and they had one son who tragically died at the age of 13. His second wife was Marie De Narde, whom he was married to from 1952 until his death.

Lord was known for being well-read and educated, often reciting poetry. He was also a philanthropist and patron of the arts. However, he was also a heavy smoker. Jack Lord passed away at the age of 77 from complications of Alzheimer's disease on January 21, 1998, at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. In June 2004, a bronze bust of Jack Lord, created by Hawaiian sculptor Lynn Weiler Liverton, was installed at Kahala Mall. He left approximately $40 million to charity.