A very few number of guys come to mind when you use the phrase “a mans man”. But always, one of those guys on that list was Jack Palance. Jack Palance died today at the great age of 87. A movie star, an icon, and yeah… a man’s man.
I swear, in the dictionary they should put this guys picture beside the word “gruff”. It didn’t matter if he was 70 or 80 or even 87… it wouldn’t matter if he was in a wheelchair or lying in a hospital bed… if he said to you “Son, I’m going to kick your ass” you would feel fear and somehow believe he was capable of it.
We all know he won an Oscar for City Slickers 15 years ago (wow time flies), and the image of a 72 year old man dropping to the floor with an Oscar in his hand to do one handed push ups on stage will FOREVER be one of the greatest and most memorable Oscar moments in history.
An actor, a star, a man’s man, and from all accounts a good guy. You will be missed Mr. Palance. When I have kids, I’ll tell them tales of how Jack Palance comes back from the grave to kick the asses of little kids who don’t do their homework. That’ll keep em’ straight!