# Jack Palance dead at 87 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941 "2006-11-10T22:26:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/1 "2006-11-10T22:26:57Z")
[Link](http://cbs13.com/national/topstories_story_314170808.html) Good actor he was ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/2 "2006-11-10T22:30:16Z")
Bummah. He had a great career and he scared the hell out of me. Great cowboy. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/3 "2006-11-10T22:48:04Z")
No actor has ever done “over the top” better than he did in The Big Knife. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/4 "2006-11-10T22:57:08Z")
He used to go by Walter Jack Palance. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/5 "2006-11-10T22:59:10Z")
Despite all his work in film, to me he’ll always be the sepuchral voice from the Ripley’s TV show. _“Believe it… or not.”_ He projected an avuncular-yet-subtly-menacing vibe, hinting that terrible things would surely happen to anyone who did not believe it. Oh yes, I believe it, Jack. A guy with a candle in his skull? Absolutely, no argument here whatsoever. He seemed indestructible, but then I guess 87 years isn’t too shabby. It’s an impressive accomplishment to have had such a rich career in movies and TV even after having his face blown off in combat. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/6 "2006-11-10T23:04:46Z")
He’s doing one-arm pushups in heaven, now. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/7 "2006-11-10T23:12:00Z")
“So you’re Jack Wilson.” “What’s that mean to you, Shane?” “I’ve heard about you.” “What have you heard, Shane?” “I’ve heard that you’re a low-down Yankee liar.” **"Prove it."** RIP. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/8 "2006-11-10T23:45:04Z")
**RIP** ley Believe it or not! ☹ When Jack was the host of _Believe it or not!_ it was amazing how they had the guts to expose what a fraud Hydrick “the world’s top psychic” was, and they did so right after “_Thats Incredible_” had swallowed his “demonstrations” of telekinetic powers. Far from the joke it became in later incarnations, when _Believe or not!_ had Jack Palance as host he was winking at us at the really weird items on the show, but amazingly, the focus of many excellent recreations on the show was **to explain rationally** how famous hoaxes were done, like the [Cottingley Fairies.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottingley_Fairies) it was my \*Straight Dope \* until I found Cecil. Best unforgettable moment: Jack drinks a cocktail of real snake blood, pauses, swallows… and with a grin that would put the grim reaper to shame say to the camera: “Believe it or not!” RIP ---
**Author:** ![shizaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@shizaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shizaru)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/9 "2006-11-10T23:57:16Z")
I’m ashamed to admit I thought he was laready dead. But heres to you Jack! I loved ya in Shane! ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/10 "2006-11-11T00:19:13Z")
Also loved him in Shane, and his Simon the Magician in The Silver Chalice gave me nightmares. When he was on the screen, you couldn’t look at anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/11 "2006-11-11T00:54:05Z")
Aw, poop. I always liked him. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/12 "2006-11-11T01:01:19Z")
Adios to the retired set painter from _Baghdad Cafe_. What a smile. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/13 "2006-11-11T01:20:31Z")
[QUOTE=shizaru] I’m ashamed to admit I thought he was laready dead. [/QUOTE] I read that as, "I thought he was **largely** dead. I had to admit to myself that I agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/14 "2006-11-11T04:42:04Z")
And, somewhat sadly prophetically, at about 10 p.m. today he was killed by a sword thrust from Barabbas, played by Anthony Quinn, in the movie by that name on TCM. I’ll not forget the several one-handed pushups he did on the stage of the Academy Awards when he was nominated for best supporting actor. ---
**Author:** ![JacksonRoykirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@JacksonRoykirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacksonRoykirk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/15 "2006-11-11T05:03:36Z")
Damn. RIP, Curly. Are they sure he’s dead? In the City Slickers movies it was hard to tell if he died or just stopped moving. I know. Where’s the bus for Hell boarding? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/16 "2006-11-11T06:32:09Z")
Believe it…or _not_! Aw, I really dug Jack. Truly sad to see him go. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/17 "2006-11-11T08:31:59Z")
0h damn he was so good in Shane. So good. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/18 "2006-11-11T10:23:26Z")
Aw, hell. No matter how many times I watch **Shane** , I’m always rooting for Jack Palance to win. _And_ he woulda kicked Jack Nicholson’s arse in **Batman** : “Don’t forget your lucky deck.” “Day ain’t over yet.” Guess it is. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/19 "2006-11-11T10:51:24Z")
I always enjoyed seeing him in any film he turned up in. I loved his push ups at the Oscars when he finally won. And, he always scared the crap out of me. Here’s to you Mr. Palance! Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941/20 "2006-11-11T14:47:37Z")
No mention of my favorite performance (next to the Oscar pushups)- the Dan Curtis production of Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, and he did a pretty cool Dracula (the first film version to show flashbacks of his Vlad days). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-palance-dead-at-87/379941.md?page=2)