Jack Donner (born Jake Doner; October 29, 1928 – September 21, 2019) was an American actor whose career in theater, television, and film extended over six decades.
Career A native of Los Angeles, California, Donner worked in television and film since the 1950s including early work on The Guiding Light and As the World Turns. Honing his craft, he performed in seven successive seasons of New York City regional and stock theater.
Beginning in the 1960s he had many guest star and co-starring roles in shows including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Kojak, and The Streets of San Francisco. However, he was probably best known for his role of Romulan Subcommander Tal in the original Star Trek episode "The Enterprise Incident". He later returned as a Vulcan priest in the episodes "Kir'Shara" and "Home" of Star Trek: Enterprise. Along with Joseph Ruskin and Clint Howard, he is one of only three actors to appear in both the original Star Trek series and Star Trek: Enterprise. In 1998 he appeared in the uncredited role of Commander Kinwon in Power Rangers in Space. He had a recurring role on General Hospital as Nikolas and Spencer Cassadine's butler, Alfred.
Donner starred in Peaches Christ's black comedy film All About Evil and in Bryan Moore's adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's Cool Air. He also had a brief but memorable scene as a fire-and-brimstone prosecutor who demands death in the 1971 film The Night God Screamed.
He founded Oxford Theater with fellow actor Lee Delano. Their students included Barry Levinson, Craig T. Nelson, Barbara Parkins, and Don Johnson.
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes1958Invisible AvengerBilly Sanchez1962Hand of DeathCop1963Escape from Hell IslandLyle Dennison1967HotelElliotUncredited1971The Night God ScreamedProsecutor1973The All-American BoyDirectorUncredited1974Black StarletFake Producer1997The Emissary: A Biblical EpicCaptain1997Johnny Mysto: Boy WizardKing Arthur1998GideonMr. Taylor1999StigmataFather Alameida1999Family TreeJoseph1999Retro Puppet MasterAfzelDirect-to-video2000The Adventures of Rocky and BullwinkleAverage Grandpa2001SoulkeeperSmokey2001Island PreyDoctor2002Demon Under GlassDr. William Bassett2003First WatchPaulDirect-to-video2003ExorcismFather John Lansing2004Imaginary HeroesKenny2007The InvisibleMorrisUncredited2007Brotherhood of BloodPaul Cramer2007Safe HarbourMr. Feigenbaum2007Star Trek: Of Gods and MenSpecial Wedding GuestDirect-to-video2007Plot 7Granpa Joe2008Lower LearningOld Curt2008Farm HouseDark One / Dr. Miller2008How to Be a Serial KillerMr. Wilson2008Four ChristmasesGrandpa2009GurdianAbraham2009Michael Jackson's This Is ItGravediggerUncredited2010All About EvilMr. Twigs2010Anderson's CrossDr. Landry2010VampireDr. William Bassett2010PrivilegeRabbiDirect-to-video2011J. EdgarEdgar's Father2011UndergroundGunther2012My Funny ValentineMr. Triffalette2013Night of the TemplarThe Grand Master2013A New York HeartbeatBig Didi2014DumbbellsOld Man Buzz20142 Bedroom 1 BathOld Man Thompson2014Anatomy of DeceptionTravis2018UnthinkableMr. Joseph Stone2020Unbelievable!!!!!Jack DonnerReleased posthumously
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1960Death Valley DaysBilly CraneEpisode: "Pamela's Oxen"1962Dr. KildareDr. John SheaEpisode: "Something of Importance"1962Have Gun – Will TravelTeasing Man at Hotel CarltonEpisode: "Penelope"1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Premier KarimEpisode: "The Secret Sceptre Affair"1965My Favorite MartianMaster of CeremoniesEpisode: "I'd Rather Fight Than Switch"1965Get SmartThe CourierEpisode: "Aboard the Orient Express"1966–1973Mission: ImpossibleVarious roles11 episodes1967The MonkeesDirectorS1:E28, "Monkees on the Line"1968I Dream of JeannieJoeEpisode: "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?: Part 1"1968Star Trek: The Original SeriesTalEpisode: "The Enterprise Incident"1968Judd, for the DefenseMr. ForsterEpisode: "The Gates of Cerberus"1969The Name of the GameNate PearsonEpisode: "The Inquiry"1969The Flying NunLuis PedrosaEpisode: "Dear Aggie"1971, 1973MannixBlair / Norton2 episodes1972Mission ImpossibleJohn DawsonEpisode "Committed"1973GriffFrankie MastersEpisode: "Elephant in a Cage"1973, 1975Police StoryMeeks / Henslowe2 episodes1974The ManhunterCully BarnesEpisode: "The Doomsday Gang"1975KojakKrakauerEpisode: "Sweeter Than Life"1977The Streets of San FranciscoJoseph HessEpisode: "Innocent No More"1996BaywatchMax MuratEpisode: "Liquid Assets"1996–1998Days of Our LivesJudge DuBois / Maurice Renet6 episodes1998Conan the AdventurerBlind ManEpisode: "The Labyrinth"1998Power Rangers in SpaceCommander Kinwon3 episodes1999FrasierMr. HawkinsEpisode: "Taps at the Montana"1999CharmedJudge RenaultEpisode: "The Power of Two"1999Shasta McNastyEvil DoctorEpisode: "The Return of Buster"2000Chicken Soup for the SoulJudge TwigsEpisode: "The Final Show"2000G vs EJudge CodyEpisode: "Portrait of Evil"2000The DistrictMr. BukichEpisode: "The Jackal"2000The PrivateersPresident Cameron LascarTelevision film2001Buffy the Vampire SlayerCleric #1Episode: "Spiral"2001Strong MedicineJosiah / Amish ElderEpisode: "Silent Epidemic"2002Malcolm in the MiddleOld ManEpisode: "Lois' Makeover"2002RoswellClayton Wheeler2 episodes2002The Bernie Mac ShowJeremiahEpisode: "The Sweet Life"20037th HeavenMr. McNeilEpisode: "The One Thing"2003Scare TacticsClayton TwigsEpisode: "Bigfoot Attacks"2004According to JimOld ManEpisode: "The Hunters"2004Star Trek: EnterpriseVulcan Priest2 episodes2005The Michael Jackson TrialJudge Rodney Melville18 episodes2005, 2006Reno 911!Priest2 episodes2006FreddieDonEpisode: "The Search for Grandpa Four"2006Where There's a WillDr. WhitehouseTelevision film2006AliasThe RoseEpisode: "No Hard Feelings"2006Lovespring InternationalOld SoldierEpisode: "Lydia's Last Night"2006–2010General HospitalAlfred55 episodes2007Criminal MindsOld NateEpisode: "Legacy"2007Cold CaseMaurice Habershaw '07Episode: "Boy Crazy"2008RodneyMr. HockerEpisode: "Finale"2008Happy HourDonEpisode: "The Election"2008Lewis Black's Root of All EvilPriestEpisode: "Donald Trump vs. Viagra"2009In Gayle We TrustLloyd AdamsEpisode: "Gayle and the Birthday Call"2009So This Is LoveJack3 episodes2010Ghost WhispererMan in Hospital GownEpisode: "The Children's Parade"2010Hot in ClevelandArthurEpisode: "Who's Your Mama?"2010BonesCrustyEpisode: "The Maggots in the Meathead"2013The Wizards Return: Alex vs. AlexPapa FabrizioTelevision film2013Bad SamaritansFrancisEpisode: "Pilot"2014SuburgatoryHaroldEpisode: "Dalia Nicole Smith"2015Fear the Walking DeadOld ManEpisode: "Pilot"2015–2016Con ManDale3 episodes2016Starship ExcelsiorSubcommander TalEpisode: "Tomorrow's Excelsior"2017OVER & OUTMr. GrossmanTelevision film2017The Guest BookWalter5 episodes
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes1999The Book of WatermarksProspero
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