Sydney Lassick

Sydney Lassick (July 23, 1922 โ€“ April 12, 2003) was an American character actor perhaps best known for his role as Charlie Cheswick in the feature film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Lassick's first name was sometimes spelled Sidney.[1][2]

Sydney Lassick
Born(1922-07-23)July 23, 1922
DiedApril 12, 2003(2003-04-12) (aged 80)
Resting placeMount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesSidney Lassick
OccupationActor
Years active1958โ€“2000
Notable workCharlie Cheswick in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Mr. Fromm in Stephen King's Carrie (1976)
Ernest Keller in The Unseen (1980)
Luke Gutchel in Alligator (1980)
Roscoe in Cool as Ice (1991)

Biography

He was born in Chicago, Illinois,[3] to Russian Jewish immigrants. Lassick, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and afterwards studied drama at DePaul University,[2] began acting in both films and TV shows in the late 1950s.

Lassick is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Charlie Cheswick, a whiny and childish manic depressive patient in the 1975 Academy Award-winning film One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Other memorable roles include a fey Fairy Godfather in the lowbrow Sinderella and the Golden Bra; Mr. Fromm, the spitefully sarcastic English teacher in the 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel Carrie; the perverse and abusive innkeeper Ernest Keller in slasher horror The Unseen; the slimy Charlie P. in the cult film Sonny Boy; and the effeminate lackey Gopher in Deep Cover (1992). Lassick also was the voice of Straycatcher #2 in the 1992 animated feature film Tom and Jerry: The Movie.

In television, Lassick guest starred on such shows as Eight Is Enough, Baretta, Hawaii Five-O, Barney Miller, Matt Houston, Moonlighting, Night Court, Knots Landing, Dream On and The X-Files.[2] While usually a supporting actor, he played the lead in an episode of Amazing Stories called "Remote Control Man".

Though a successful actor, Lassick maintained a steady job as a trucking company's dispatcher throughout his career. He asserted that actors never knew when the acting jobs would stop coming.

Death

Lassick died at age 80 In Midway Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Lassick was buried at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.[2]

Filmography

Lassick's filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1958The Bonnie Parker StoryScout Master
1959Paratroop CommandInterpreter
1959Al CaponeHot Dog VendorUncredited
1964Sinderella and the Golden BraFairy GodfatherAs Sid Lassick
1975One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestCharlie Cheswick
1976CarrieMr. Fromm
1977The Happy Hooker Goes to WashingtonPercy Bowlder
1977The Billion Dollar HoboMitchell
1977BuncoTV Movie
1978China 9, Liberty 37Sheriff's friend
1978Greatest Heroes of the BibleKing AgadizTV mini series
1979The Cracker FactoryErnieTV
1979Hot StuffHymie
1979Skatetown, U.S.A.Murray
19791941SalesmanUncredited
1980AlligatorLuke GutchelAs Sidney Lassick
1980The UnseenErnest Keller
1981History of the World: Part IApplecore Vendor
1982PandemoniumMan in Bus Station
1982PartnersPhoto Shoot AssistantUncredited
1982Fast-WalkingTed
1982Forty Days of Musa DaghOsman
1984Silent MadnessSheriff Liggett
1984Night PatrolPeeping TomAs Sidney Lassick
1984Monaco ForeverAmerican Tourist
1985StitchesSheldon Mendlebaum
1986RatboyLee 'Dial-A-Prayer'
1987Body SlamShapiro
1988Lady in WhiteMr. Lowry
1988The Further Adventures of Tennessee BuckWolfgang Meyer
1989Sonny BoyCharlie P.
1989Out on BailOtis T. Smiley
1989Curse II: The BiteGeorge
1989Tale of Two SistersDad
1989JudgementDr. Henry Silver
1990Pacific PalisadesMr. Beer
1990SmoothtalkerMr. Nathan
1990Wishful ThinkingDr. Harding
1991CommittedGow
1991Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's DeadFranklin
1991The Art of DyingWallie
1991Shakes the ClownPeppy the Clown
1991Cool as IceRoscoe
1992Deep CoverGopher
1992JudgementDr. Henry Silver
1992Miracle BeachTooth Fairy
1992Tom and Jerry: The MovieStraycatcher #2Voice
1993Eye of the StrangerOli
1993Sister Act 2: Back in the HabitCompetition Announcer
1994Future ShockMr. Johnson
1996FreewayWoody Wilson
1996JohnsAl
1996SquanderersPeter Chisholm
1997American VampireBruno
1999Man on the MoonCrystal Healer
2000Something to Sing AboutElderly ManFinal film role

Notable TV guest appearances

  • Serpico as Goldman in episode 1.0: "The Deadly Game", 24 April 1976
  • The Man from Atlantis as Smith in episode 1.7: "The Hawk of Mu", 18 October 1977
  • Eight Is Enough as Mr. Kaminsky in episode 2.6: "Dark Horse", 26 October 1977
  • Baretta in episode 4.8: "Who Can Make the Sun Shine?", 30 November 1977
  • Tabitha as Warlock in episode 1.9: "What's Wrong with Mister Right?", 31 December 1977
  • Kaz in episode 1.7: "Which Side Are You On?", 5 November 1978
  • Barney Miller
    • as Mr. Cummings in episode 5.11: "Toys", 14 December 1978
    • as Victor Carse (as Sidney Lassick, in episode 6.22: "Fog", 8 May 1980
  • Archie Bunker's Place as Sid in episode 3.4: "Harry's Investment", 25 October 1981 and in episode 3.3: "The Date", 11 October 1981
  • Gloria as Dr. Montego in episode 1.20: "Class Struggle", 3 April 1983
  • Matt Houston as Brady in episode 2.5: "Needle in a Haystack", 7 October 1983
  • Night Court as Leo in episode 2.4: "Pick a Number", 25 October 1984
  • Amazing Stories as Walter Poindexter in episode 1.10: "Remote Control Man", 8 December 1985
  • Moonlighting as Neighbor in episode 2.11: "The Bride of Tupperman", 14 January 1986
  • Gabriel's Fire as Liebowitz in episode 1.19: "One Flew Over the Bird's Nest", 17 April 1991
  • On the Air as Mr. Zoblotnick in episodes 1.7 & 1.4, 1992
  • Dream On as Mr. Janovic in episode 4.18: "Martin Tupper in 'Magnum Farce'", 16 February 1994
  • The X-Files as Chuck Forsch in episode 4.22: "Elegy", 4 May 1997

References

  1. "Sydney Lassick". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  2. "Sydney Lassick (Obituary)". Variety. April 17, 2003. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  3. Scott, Vernon. "He's Hoping For Big Break โ€” At 60". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 13.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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