Jack Betts has died at 96.
The actor was known for his role as Dr. Ivan Kipling on the soap opera “One Life To Live,” where he appeared from 1979 to 1985 in 20 episodes.
His nephew, Dean Sullivan, shared the news that Betts passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at his home in Los Osos, California.
Betts shared a close bond with actress Doris Roberts, who gained fame in “Everybody Loves Raymond.” They lived together until her death in 2016, and he often spoke fondly of their time together, including his play “Screen Test: Take One,” which Roberts directed.
The two met in 1954 at an acting studio in New York City, and years later, Betts moved from Roberts’ New York apartment to a place in her Hollywood Hills home.
“We were best friends until the end,” Betts said, reflecting on their relationship.
Betts also appeared in the 2002 film “Spider-Man” as Henry Vulcan, a character who finds himself in a tense situation when he fires Norman Osborne, played by Willem Dafoe, who ultimately transforms into the Green Goblin.
In a 2020 interview, Betts revealed how he suggested adding his own flair to the scene with Dafoe. He recalled saying something along the lines of, “You’re fired, you know,” which resonated with the film’s tone.
Originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, Betts moved to Miami at a young age. He earned a theatre degree from the University of Miami and quickly made his way to New York to pursue acting.
His first significant role came in the 1953 Broadway production of “Richard III.” From 1960 to 1962, he starred as Detective Chris Devlin in the CBS series “Checkmate,” working alongside notable actors like Anthony George and Doug McClure.
Betts appeared multiple times on “Perry Mason” in the early ’60s. Interestingly, he gained a leading role in “Sugar Colt” after falsely claiming to know how to ride horses and shoot guns, skills he then hastily learned at John Wayne’s ranch.
He later ventured into soap operas, starring in “General Hospital” from 1963 to 1965, and further extended his career with appearances in many other series, including “Seinfeld,” “Frasier,” and “Friends.”
His last role was in the 2019 series “Good Trouble.”
Betts starred in the spaghetti western genre beginning in 1973, but he felt he never secured the same level of fame as some contemporaries like Clint Eastwood, remarking on how their films reached different audiences.
He is survived by his sisters, Joan, Linnie, and Gale, with Gale expected to turn 100 this year.
