After Years of Speculation, Jack Klugman Reveals A Secret About Norman Fell

[Brian Damage]

http://onepoorcorrespondent.blogspot...ry-softly.html

Jack Klugman Finally Reveals that the alleged 40 Year feud with Mr. Roper aka Norman Fell was a Hoax to have fun with the trade papers at the time.

Here is a synopsis of that "fake" feud...

For over forty years, the one and only Jack Klugman maintained a bitter, nasty feud with none other than Norman Fell. I have no idea what caused the feud, although I do note that they were both from Philadelphia (Jack was two years older), so it may have started there. For his part, in his memoir Tony and Me, Klugman never mentioned Norman Fell. But who would? You wouldn't mention Norman Fell in your autobiography, would you?

I did find this quote from Mr. Roper: "What has he got that I haven't got? What did he do differently? I could have killed as Oscar. I would have been great as Quincy. I wouldn't have been so hammy. Klugman overacted every scene. You want the show to be good, pick me. You want a chain-smoking jackass who ruins any credibility for your project, I'll give you Klugman's number."

Jack Klugman ended up winning this particular battle, because Norman Fell died in 1998, and Klugman didn't. Jack even attended Fell's funeral. "Best funeral I've ever been to," he said. "I've never laughed so hard in years. I had the time of my life."

[steevo]

So they must have been friends in real life, then?

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by steevo

So they must have been friends in real life, then?

I think so