Who was Vic Tayback? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Victor E. Tayback

Died At Age: 60

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Sheila McKay Barnard (m. 1962 – his death. 1990)

father: Najeeb James Tayback

mother: Helen Tayback

siblings: Joe Tayback

children: Christopher Tayback

Actors American Men

Died on: May 25, 1990

place of death: Glendale, California, United States

Ancestry: Syrian American

Notable Alumni: Glendale Community College

City: Brooklyn, New York City

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: Glendale Community College

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Career

Vic Tayback was known for his method acting and was popular for taking up a variety of roles. He established himself as a talented TV actor in the 1960s with roles in shows like ‘Lock Up’, ‘Hotel de Paree’, ‘77 Sunset Strip’, ‘Dr. Kildare’, ‘Arrest and Trial’, ‘The Lieutenant’, ‘F Troop’, ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’, ‘Love on a Rooftop’, ‘Daniel Boone’, and ‘Get Smart’.

In the early 1970s, Tayback appeared in ‘The Silent Force’, ‘The Young Lawyers’, ‘Mary Tyler Moore’, and ‘Bewitched.’ In the series ‘The Streets of San Francisco,’ he appeared as ‘Sgt. Norm Haseejian’ and in ‘The Partridge Family,’ he played the role of ‘Harlan Laws / Ingram / Rocco’. He also appeared in the crime drama series ‘Griff’ alongside Lorne Greene and Ben Murphy as ‘Captain Barney Marcus’. Tayback appeared in the detective series ‘Khan!’ as ‘Lt. Gubbins’.

Tayback made a name for himself in the world of films with his iconic role of ‘Mel Sharples’ in the 1974 romantic comedy-drama film ‘Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore’. When the film was remade as a TV series, he was the only one from the original cast to reprise his role in the show, which was titled ‘Alice’ (1976–1985). The character of ‘Mel Sharples’, a diner owner, earned him three nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, out of which he won two. He also earned a Primetime Emmy Award for his popular role in the series.

In addition to his TV roles, Tayback had also appeared in numerous films over the course of his career. He was known for taking up versatile roles that offered him the chance to challenge himself as a character actor. The best known of his film roles were as ‘Pete Ross’ in ‘Bullitt’, ‘Ralph Negri’ in ‘The Don Is Dead’, ‘Big Joe’ in ’No Deposit, No Return’, ‘Detective Simon’ in ‘Mansion of the Doomed’, ‘Lt. DiMaggio’ in ‘The Cheap Detective’, and ‘Carface’ (voice role) in ‘All Dogs Go to Heaven’. His last film role was in the movie ‘Horseplayer’ as George Samsa in 1990.

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Family & Personal Life

Vic Tayback was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 6, 1930, to Helen Tayback and Najeeb James Tayback. He had a brother named Joe Tayback, who owned ‘KAZM’, the only radio station in Sedona, Arizona for a long period of time. Tayback’s parents had immigrated to Burbank, California, from Aleppo, Syria.

He completed his schooling from the Burbank High School. He briefly served in the United States Navy before making up his mind to follow a career in acting.

He married Sheila McKay Barnard in 1962 and had a son with her. The couple was happily married life until his sudden death. Vic Tayback died of a heart attack in Glendale, California, on May 25, 1990, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

1981	Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	Alice (1976)
1980	Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Television Series	Alice (1976)

Vic Tayback Biography