Jordan Charney

Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937) is an American character actor known for ''Ghostbusters'' (1984), ''Network'' (1976) and ''Hill Street Blues'' (1981).

Early life and career

Charney was born in Brooklyn, New York,"Mail Bag"
''Waco Tribune-Herald''. August 30, 1964. p. 6-D. Retrieved April 6, 2025. "Brooklyn-born Jordan Charney speaks Hebrew, French and Yiddish and is currently studying Russian. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1960 with a BA degree in speech and theater, and made his Broadway debut in 1961 in 'The Zoo Story.' He is a bachelor." on April 1, 1937, the son of Rose—née Resnick—and Abraham Charney."He Lost Weight, Got the Part"
''Kings Courier''. November 9, 1957. p. 22. Retrieved April 6, 2025. "A temporary job in a New York public relations firm last month accidentally opened the door to the career Jordan Charney, 20, fourth year student at Brooklyn College, has wanted for as long he can remember. Jordan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Charney of 1421 E. 7 St., decided he would like to be an actor on the day he appeared in his first kindergarten playlet. ..Jordan was told that without "going on any diet at all, and without ever feeling hungry, he could accomplish his desired loss of weight. ..Three weeks later, Jordan's weight was down from 200 pounds to 180 pounds, a good weight for a six footer. The drama coach at Brooklyn College was delighted, and so was Jordan; he got the title role in Billy Budd." He is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School and of Brooklyn College, where, in November 1957 and 1958, respectively, he portrayed the title character in productions of Coxe and Chapman's ''Billy Budd''—adapted from Melville's like-named novel—and of Sophocles' tragedy, ''Oedipus Rex''. Majoring in speech and theatre, while also reinforcing his studies via summer stock engagements (primarily with the Woodstock Playhouse), Charney earned his BA in 1960 and made his Off-Broadway debut the following April in Edward Albee's '' Zoo Story'', replacing Peter Mark Richman as Jerry. In 1962, Charney sought to further his education, as part of the Lincoln Center Training Program.

Many of Charney's earliest screen roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Charney created the role of creepy Julian Dark in the early to mid-1960s on the CBS soap, ''The Secret Storm''. He played Sam Lucas, a former convict who became a lawyer, in both '' Another World'' and its spin-off ''Somerset'', playing the role from 1967 to 1974. He also appeared as Lt. Vince Wolek on ''One Life to Live'' (1975–1977). Other roles were on ''Love of Life'' and ''All My Children''.

Charney portrayed newspaper editor Ted Bergman in the 1977 CBS series '' The Andros Targets''. In 1980, he played Capt. Roger Westerby, an old flame of Corabeth Godsey, in a season eight episode of ''The Waltons''. He had a recurring role as Frank Angelino, Jack Tripper's boss, on ''Three's Company'' (1981–1983). He is often cast as a judge, attorney, prison warden, or police officer. He has made appearances on ''Falcon Crest'', ''Dynasty'', ''Night Court'' and '' 100 Centre Street'', among many other series. He can also be seen in the recurring role of Judge Donald Karan on ''Law & Order''.

In 1982, Charney portrayed renowned theatre director and drama critic Harold Clurman in Universal's Frances Farmer biopic (alongside Jessica Lange as Farmer and Jeffrey DeMunn as Clifford Odets); he has also appeared in such films as ''The Hospital'', ''Network'', and ''Ghostbusters'', and acted on the ''CBS Radio Mystery Theater''.

1982 also marked the beginning of Charney's tenure as artistic director of Actors Alley theater in the San Fernando Valley in California. By November 1986 the group's membership had grown from 22 when he arrived to 70. It offered weekly classes for members and presented both free and paid-admission plays for the public.

Family and personal life

Charney has been married to television director / theatrical producer Nancy Cooperstein since November 1966.Wallace, Kenneth G. (October 31, 1966)
"One On the Aisle: Dancer Gets Timely Job"
''The Record''. p. 54. Retrieved April 6, 2025. "And now, romance. Jordan Charney of Brooklyn and Nancy Cooperstein of Fall River, Mass., who knew each other before, have become romantically serious since playing together in 'Viet Rock' and they're going to be married right after the November 10 opening at the Martinique."

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Charney, Jordan
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni
American male film actors
American male radio actors
American male soap opera actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
Brooklyn College alumni
Male actors from New York City
Living people
1937 births