乔治·席格

George Segal was born on February 13, 1934 in Great Neck, Long Island, New York, to Fannie Blanche (Bodkin) and George Segal, Sr., a malt and hop agent. All of his grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants. After a stint in the military, he made his bones as a stage actor before being cast in his first meaty film role in 杏林春怨 (1961). His turns in Ship of Fools (1965) and the eponymous King Rat (1965) in 1965 heralded the arrival of a major talent. He followed it up with his Oscar-nominated performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), in which he more than held his own against 理查德·伯顿 and 伊丽莎白·泰勒. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) was a cultural phenomenon, the film that wrecked the MPDDA censorship code that had been in place since 1934, and a huge box office success to boot.

By the early 1970s, appearances in such films as 俏冤家 (1970), 热恋中的Blume (1973), 天生大赢家 (1971) and 神偷盗宝 (1972) had made him a major star with an enviable reputation, just under the heights of the superstar status enjoyed by the likes of 保罗·纽曼. He followed up 金屋梦痕 (1973) (a hit film for which his co-star 格兰达·杰克逊 won an Oscar) with his brilliant performance as the out-of-control gambler in 罗伯特·奥特曼's 加州分裂 (1974).

At one time in the early 1970s, it seemed like George Segal would have a career like that enjoyed by his contemporary 杰克·尼科尔森, that of an actor's actor equally adept at comedy and drama. Segal never made the leap to superstar status, and surprisingly, has never won a major acting award, the latter phenomenon being particularly surprising when viewed from the period 1973-4, when he reached the height of his career. It was at this point that Segal's career went awry, when he priced himself as a superstar with a seven-figure salary, but failed to come through at the box office. For example, 黑鹰 (1975) was a failure, although his subsequent starring turn opposite of 简·方达, in 抢钱夫妻 (1977), was a big hit that revitalized 简·方达's career.

At the end of the decade, he dropped out of a movie that would have burnished his tarnished lustre as a star: 布莱克·爱德华兹' 十全十美 (1979). 十全十美 (1979) made 达德利·摩尔 a star, while 亚瑟 (1981) made him a superstar in the 1980s, a lost decade for Segal. It was an example of a career burnout usually associated with the "Oscar curse" (his 一双血手 (1968) co-star 罗德·斯泰格尔, for example, was a great character actor whose career was run off the rails by the expectations raised by the Academy Award). George Segal has never won an Oscar, but more surprisingly, has only been nominated once, for Best Supporting Actor of 1966 for his role as "Nick" in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).

He gave a deft comic performance in 色香味谋杀案 (1978) with 杰奎琳·比塞特 and 罗伯特·莫利, which proved a modest box office success. For all practical purposes, even after the failures of 黑鹰 (1975), and 大老千与傻大姐 (1976), it seemed like Segal, with a few deft career choices, could reorient his career and deliver on the promise of his early period.

That he didn't may be the unintended consequence of his focusing on comedy to the detriment of drama. The comedy 金屋梦痕 (1973) made him a million dollar-per-film movie star, and that's what he concentrated on. Segal began relying on his considerable charm to pull off movies that had little going for them other than their star, and it backfired on him. These films weren't infused with the outrageously funny, subversive comedy of 爸爸在哪儿？ (1970), a success from his first period that he enjoyed along with co-star 鲁思·戈登 and director 卡尔·雷纳.

When Segal first made it in the mid-1960s, he established his serious actor bona fides with a deal he cut with ABC-TV that featured him in TV adaptations of Broadway plays. He also played a very memorable "Biff Loman" in 推销员之死 (1966), shining in performance in counterpoint to the vital presence that was 李·科布's "Willy Loman". It was a good life for an actor, and he took time to show off his banjo-playing skills by fronting the "Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band", with which he cut several records.

While the 1980s were mostly a career wasteland for Segal, he came back in the 1990s, using his flair for comedy as part of the ensemble cast of Just Shoot Me! (1997).

Has two daughters: Elizabeth Segal (born 1962) and Polly Segal (born 1966).

Has three siblings: John Segal, Fred Segal and Greta Segal (died of pneumonia).

Accomplished banjo player. Arranged and performed on "A Touch of Ragtime" (1985) and performed with Canadian Brass on "Basin Street" (1987).

Was the first choice for the 十全十美 (1979) role that ultimately went to 达德利·摩尔. Ironically, he was later cast in the 双面镜 (1996), in the role that 达德利·摩尔 was originally slated to play.

Attended and graduated from George School, a boarding school in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (1951).

Received his Bachelor's degree in performing arts and drama from Columbia University in New York City (1955).

He studied acting at HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.

Before succeeding as an actor, he earned money playing banjo in a seven-man Dixieland band, the Red Onion Jazz Band. When it was Segal who had gotten the gig for the group, its name was Bruno Lynch and His Imperial Band -- Segal being Lynch.

Shortly after his second wife's death, he ran into his high school sweetheart who became his third wife.

Appeared as a delinquent cadet thrown out of West Point in the "Big Picture" Army film "Thayer of West Point" (1964).

Best known by the public for his starring role as Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me! (1997).

Acting mentor and friends with 劳拉·圣吉亚科莫 and 大卫·斯佩德.

His first wife, Marion Segal, died on December 22, 2011 at age 77.

Enjoyed a successful turn as Serge in the award-winning comedy "Art" on Broadway. [June 1999]

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6433 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 14, 2017 (on his 83rd birthday).

Appeared in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: 最长的一天 (1962), Ship of Fools (1965), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and 金屋梦痕 (1973).