Vic Tayback
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- January 6, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- May 25, 1990
- Active Years
- 1955–1990 (36 Years)
- Total Credits
- 140 credits in database
Biography
Victor Tayback was an American actor and director born on January 6, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York. He lived from January 6, 1930, until his death on May 25, 1990, at the age of 60. Tayback was best known for his role as diner owner and short-order cook Mel Sharples in the comedy-drama film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and the television sitcom Alice, which ran from 1976 to 1985. His work on the television series earned him two consecutive Golden Globe Awards. In addition to these projects, his acting credits included multiple guest appearances on The Love Boat and work on All Dogs Go to Heaven.
Career overview
Victor Tayback was an American actor born on January 6, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He became best known for his role as the diner owner and short-order cook Mel Sharples in both the comedy-drama film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore in 1974 and the television sitcom Alice, which ran from 1976 to 1985. His work on the television sitcom earned him two consecutive Golden Globe Awards as well as a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Throughout his career, Tayback accumulated numerous acting credits in both film and television. In addition to his defining role in Alice and its cinematic predecessor, he made multiple guest appearances on The Love Boat between 1977 and 1987. His other notable acting and voice work credits included appearances in the 1989 animated feature All Dogs Go to Heaven, establishing a diverse body of work across television and film spanning decades.
Tayback passed away at the age of 60 on May 25, 1990, following a heart attack. He was pronounced dead at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California. As a recognized figure in American television and film, he left behind a legacy defined by his memorable character portrayals and enduring television presence.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
140 titles- Horseplayer (1990) as George Samsa
- All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) as Carface (voice)
- Loverboy (1989) as Harry Bruckner
- Criminal Act (1989) as The Exterminator (Greengrass)
- Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989) as Lou
- The Underachievers (1988) as Coach
- The Three Kings (1987) as Harold
- Weekend Warriors (1986) as Sgt. Burdge
- Treasure Island (1986) as Silver
- George Carlin: Playin' with Your Head (1986) as The Bad Guys
- MacGyver (1985) as George Henderson
- Reel Horror (1985) as Smedke (archive footage)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Sal Domino
- Tales from the Darkside (1984) as Tippy Ryan
- Tales from the Darkside (1984) as Alan Coombs
- Finder of Lost Loves (1984) as Thomas Velasco
- Crazy like a Fox (1984) as Mo Scmidt
- The Jesse Owens Story (1984) as Abe Saperstein
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Pete Benedict
- Hotel (1982) as Wallace Egan
- Matt Houston (1982)
- Mysterious Two (1982) as Ted Randall
- Through the Magic Pyramid (1981) as Horembeb
- This Year's Blonde (1980) as Harry Cohn
- The Night the City Screamed (1980) as Morris Brustein
- Gridlock (1980) as Floyd 'Snake' Kraslowski
- Rage! (1980) as Tommy
- Supertrain (1979) as Frank Tuttle
- $weepstake$ (1979) as Sir Yarbrough
- Time Express (1979)
- Portrait of a Stripper (1979) as Harry Parkins
- Vega$ (1978)
- The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978)
- The Cheap Detective (1978) as Lieutenant DiMaggio
- Getting Married (1978) as Burt Carboni
- The Case of the Baltimore Girls (1978) as Capt. Barney Marcus
- The Love Boat (1977) as Harry Stewart
- The Love Boat (1977) as Harry Beluski
- CHiPs (1977)
- CHiPs (1977) as Vic Tayback (uncredited)
- The Choirboys (1977) as Zoony
- Little Ladies of the Night (1977) as Finch
- Alice (1976) as Mel Sharples
- The Practice (1976)
- The Big Bus (1976) as Goldie
- The Shaggy D.A. (1976) as Eddie Roschak
- Special Delivery (1976) as Wyatt
- No Deposit, No Return (1976) as Big Joe Adamo
- Mansion of the Doomed (1976) as Detective Simon
- Dark Victory (1976) as Archie
- Barney Miller (1975) as Mr. Stavochek
- Switch (1975) as Ralph Kabelka
- Bronk (1975)
- On the Rocks (1975)
- Khan! (1975) as Lt. Gubbins
- Report to the Commissioner (1975) as Lt. Seidensticker
- Lepke (1975) as Charles 'Lucky' Luciano
- The Black Bird (1975) as Warren Finley, Police Lieutenant
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) as Mario Pinski
- Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) as Mel
- The Gambler (1974) as One
- Police Story (1973)
- Papillon (1973) as Sergeant
- The Blue Knight (1973) as Neil Grogan
- Griff (1973)
- Emperor of the North (1973) as Yardman
- The Don Is Dead (1973) as Ralph Negri
- The Blue Knight (1973) as Neil Grogan
- Maxie (1973) as Smedke
- The Alpha Caper (1973) as Policeman
- Partners in Crime (1973)
- Honor Thy Father (1973) as Don A. Tirello
- Emergency! (1972) as Driver
- The Rookies (1972)
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- Death Follows a Psycho (1972)
- Columbo (1971) as Sam Franklin
- Cannon (1971)
- All in the Family (1971) as Joe Tucker
- Blood and Lace (1971) as Calvin Carruthers
- They Call It Murder (1971) as Jeff Poland
- The Partridge Family (1970) as Ingram
- The Partridge Family (1970) as Rocco
- The Partridge Family (1970) as Harlan Laws
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)
- McCloud (1970)
- The Silent Force (1970) as Capt. Al Grant
- Medical Center (1969)
- The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969) as Bernie
- The Bill Cosby Show (1969) as Calvin
- My World and Welcome to It (1969)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Parmel
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Martin Lynch
- Land of the Giants (1968) as Hood
- The Outsider (1968)
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- Lancer (1968)
- Bullitt (1968) as Pete Ross
- Ironside (1967)
- Mannix (1967)
- Cimarron Strip (1967)
- Captain Nice (1967)
- Star Trek (1966) as Jojo Krako
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Egan's Goon
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Sgt. Gorte
- Family Affair (1966)
- That Girl (1966)
- The Monkees (1966) as George
- The Monkees (1966) as Rocco
- The Monkees (1966) as Chuche
- Felony Squad (1966)
- Love on a Rooftop (1966)
- Occasional Wife (1966)
- Gambit (1966) as Plainclothes Officer at TWA Counter (uncredited)
- Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966) as Detective Merchant (uncredited)
- Get Smart (1965) as Jamal
- Get Smart (1965) as Popov
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) as Turhan
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Ed Larch
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Neil Parks
- F Troop (1965)
- Bewitched (1964) as Mayor's Chauffeur
- Daniel Boone (1964) as American Soldier
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Hongas Hongas - Huron Indian Chief
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Sergeant
- The Lieutenant (1963) as Cpl. Peter Garth
- Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) as Cye (uncredited)
- Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) as European Agent (uncredited)
- Surftide 77 (1962) as Arms Cooper
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Five Minutes to Live (1961) as Fred Dorella
- Rawhide (1959) as Monte
- T-Bird Gang (1959) as Policeman
- Gangster Story (1959) as Norm (uncredited)
- The Power of the Resurrection (1958) as Simon the Canaanite
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Gaines
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Rawlins
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Dirks
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Bill Hankins
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Man Talking to Cab Driver
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Vic Tayback best known for?
Vic Tayback is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Horseplayer (1990), All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), Loverboy (1989), Criminal Act (1989).
When and where was Vic Tayback born?
Vic Tayback was born on January 6, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on May 25, 1990.
How many credits does Vic Tayback have?
Vic Tayback has accumulated over 140 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1955 to 1990.
What is Vic Tayback's background in cinema and television?
Victor Tayback was an American actor and director born on January 6, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York. He lived from January 6, 1930, until his death on May 25, 1990, at the age of 60. Tayback was best known for his role as diner owner and short-order cook Mel Sharples in the comedy-drama film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymor...
Vic Tayback by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Jesse Owens Story (1984) as Abe Saperstein — aged about 54
- Columbo (1971) as Sam Franklin — aged about 41
- Star Trek (1966) as Jojo Krako — aged about 36
- Occasional Wife (1966) — aged about 36
- Emergency! (1972) as Driver — aged about 42
- Get Smart (1965) as Jamal — aged about 35
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