Jack Duffy, an actor and singer best known for playing charades on the popular 1970s TV comedy show Party Game, died May 19. He was 81.
The Montreal-born performer, who spoke publicly about his early battles with alcoholism, started as a studio singer at CBC Radio in Toronto when he was 19.
He became a singer with Tommy Dorsey's swing band in 1948, was a cast member of The Wayne and Shuster Show and by the 1950s had a CBC variety show entitled Here's Duffy.
He hit the big time from 1961 to 1963 as a comic on Perry Como's hit NBC show, but alcohol ended the ride. "I blew it all on booze and high living," Mr. Duffy said in a 1977 interview, adding he stopped drinking in the late 1960s after his first wife left him and he found himself destitute. "I burned the candle at both ends and in the middle. I was a classic two-quart-a-day alcoholic, boozing my way to the bottom."
Party Game, produced by CHCH-TV in Hamilton and syndicated nationally, featured Mr. Duffy, Dinah Christie and Billy Van playing charades. The show ran for 11 seasons.
He went on to do voice work in the 1983 TV series Curious George. He also appeared on the CBC series Upside Town and the show And That's the News, Goodnight with Don Harron. As well, he was a cast member on U.S. sketch comedy series Half the George Kirby Comedy Hour and The Bobby Vinton Show.
Mr. Duffy kept acting through the 1980s and 1990s, winning roles in such films as Silent Partner, The Dream Team, Men With Guns, Ghost Mom, A Holiday Romance and A Killing Spring. Among his last roles were parts in such TV productions as Corner Gas, Queer as Folk and G-Spot.
He is survived by his wife, Marylyn, and by his daughters, Shauna and Janice.