Was Robert Stack a smoker?

[asiy05]

um so, my question is, was Robert Stack a smoker (or a non-smoker)?

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by asiy05

um so, my question is, was Robert Stack a smoker (or a non-smoker)?

I'm sure the man was smokin' if you got him on the dance floor.

[Kane]

I recall him smoking a cigarette while playing Rex Kramer on Airplane. So it can be established that Robert Stack has smoked at least once. But whether he did so frequently or occasionally, I don't know.

[McBevis]

I also remember the scene from Airplane, so I'm inclined to believe that he probably did smoke for a time, but I believe that he probably quit, not only because he was never seen smoking on the show (even in the earliest segments), but also because he seemed empathetic toward the plight of that woman who went to see that "Mad Russian" dude in an attempt to kick her 20year smoking habit.

[ComedyGuy]

I wonder if he smoked on The Untouchables ??

Most if not all actors and actresses did back in the day

[Thiussat]

He smoked a pipe. He would pull out his tobacco from his trench coat and light up when he was scouring the scene for evidence.

[cocytus]

Originally Posted by asiy05

um so, my question is, was Robert Stack a smoker (or a non-smoker)?

Heavy smoker from I have read. He also lit up frequently in a number of his movie roles.

[asiy05]

I was able to view Robert Stack's autobiography Straight Shooting online. From what I've seen, here's part of it:

But did I show up at the preview in a torn T-shirt, a cigarette hanging from my lower lip, walking pigeon-toed, and slurring my words? No sir, old Sam Stupid was there in his all-American-boy outfit, beaming like Pat Boone in a milk commercial. When people see a psychopath onscreen, they expect one in real life. Not a phony substitute.

In my opinion, this is implying he didn't smoke. But I could be wrong though. Cocytus, where did you read he was a heavy smoker?

[cocytus]

Originally Posted by asiy05

I was able to view Robert Stack's autobiography Straight Shooting online. From what I've seen, here's part of it:

But did I show up at the preview in a torn T-shirt, a cigarette hanging from my lower lip, walking pigeon-toed, and slurring my words? No sir, old Sam Stupid was there in his all-American-boy outfit, beaming like Pat Boone in a milk commercial. When people see a psychopath onscreen, they expect one in real life. Not a phony substitute.

In my opinion, this is implying he didn't smoke. But I could be wrong though. Cocytus, where did you read he was a heavy smoker?

I'll look around and see if I can find the name of the book. His was a very good friend of Desi Arnaz and I remember seeing a photo of them standing together and each had a cigarette in their hands. He also smoked in the Untouchables as I remember.

[BobHaystack]

Originally Posted by cocytus

I'll look around and see if I can find the name of the book. His was a very good friend of Desi Arnaz and I remember seeing a photo of them standing together and each had a cigarette in their hands. He also smoked in the Untouchables as I remember.

Stack's book may give us answers. He talks about the aftermath of losing his father at age 9:
"When mother asked the doctor the cause of his passing, he told her that father had died of the period: his Horatio Alger life, his bottle of scotch, twenty cigars a day, his hard work, and harder playing."

So, Stack knows what smoking did to his father. So it would be pretty stupid of Stack to smoke. And Stack isn't stupid.

[tiddlywinks950]

So, Stack knows what smoking did to his father. So it would be pretty stupid of Stack to smoke. And Stack isn't stupid.

I think he did, but I don't think he realized until much later that it was bad to smoke. It was culturally accepted back then, and he probably didn't realize how bad it was for him until he was much older

[BobHaystack]

Originally Posted by tiddlywinks950

I think he did, but I don't think he realized until much later that it was bad to smoke. It was culturally accepted back then, and he probably didn't realize how bad it was for him until he was much older

Ah, but not every celebrity accepted smoking back then.

[Apostapler]

Well if he did smoke he sure made it to a good age anyway...although it would be great if he was 91 now.

[DP1]

It also wasn't smoking that led to his death at 84.