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Jack Webb

Biography

It’s difficult to picture Jack port Webb making a straightforward hearing record or enjoying some great jazz. The acting professional performed a granite-faced law enforcement sergeant called Joe Fri on the tv screen theatre series Dragnet through the 1950s, which is the enduring image that involves mind in the reference to his name. How could the person who portrayed the rigidly managed cop, and who spoke inside a stern monotone, ever become cool plenty of for jazz? As hard to trust as it might become, Webb definitely understood awesome jazz and he do, indeed, record many albums. The genre continued to be one of is own lifelong passions. During his youngsters he devoted limitless hours to training on his cornet. As a grown-up he amassed a lot more than 6,000 albums in his personal collection. He actually wedded sultry voiced torch vocalist Julie London. Furthermore to his focus on Dragnet, which he produced, Webb aimed the film Pete Kelly’s Blues. He also starred for the reason that along with other Warner Bros. films, which resulted in the company’s requesting him through the 1950s to record a set of albums because of its fresh subsidiary, Warner Bros. Information. Rhino Handmade reissued Webb’s albums, You’re My Woman and Jack port Webb Presents Pete Kelly Let us His Locks Down. Both have been unavailable for nearly 40 years. The Rhino Handmade launch, a limited release which combines both albums for the very first time in CD type, is playfully known as Just the Songs, Ma’am: The Warner Bros. Recordings. On You’re My Woman, Webb spoke instead of sang the music lyrics, like the soulful Otis Redding traditional “Get one of these Small Tenderness.” That quantity may also be entirely on Golden Throats: THE FANTASTIC Superstar Sing-Off!. The Rhino collection features stars who aren’t normally known for his or her singing, such as for example William Shatner. However Webb will not sing — or speak — on Jack port Webb Presents Pete Kelly Let us His Locks Down. It really is an instrumental collection performed by music artists who appeared over the film soundtrack, included in this Dick Cathcart, Eddie Miller, Nick Fatool, Matty Matlock, Moe Schneider, Ray Sherman, Jud de Naut, and George Truck Eps. The professional was created John Randolph Webb in Santa Monica, CA, in 1920. His grandmother and mom elevated the asthmatic kid when his dad deserted the family members, and Webb encountered many financial hardships in his youngsters. Among the joys he within his poor community was his closeness to some jazz cornetist who was simply also down on his good luck. Once the musician shifted, he provided his device to Webb, who even while a boy acquired evinced a like for blues and jazz. Webb and London wed in 1947 and elevated two kids, Alisa and Stacey. After their divorce in 1954, she wed Bobby Troup, a jazz composer and musician. Webb wedded three more situations, to Dorothy Towne for just two years from 1955, to Jackie Loughery from 1958 to 1964, also to Opal Wright. His relationship to Wright lasted from 1980 until his transferring two years afterwards. He died of the heart attack.

Quick Facts


Full Name Jack Webb
Died December 23, 1982, West Hollywood, California, United States
Height 1.78 m
Profession Film director, Film producer, Screenwriter, Voice Actor, Television Director, Television producer
Education Belmont High School
Nationality American
Spouse Opal Wright, Jackie Loughery, Dorothy Towne, Julie London
Children Stacy Webb, Lisa Webb
Parents Margaret Webb, Samuel Chester Webb
Awards Edgar Award for Best Television Episode Teleplay, Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama, PGA Hall of Fame - Television Programs, TV Land Coolest Crime Fighting Team Award, TV Land Favorite Crimestopper Award
Music Songs Try a Little Tenderness, You're My Girl, You Are Too Beautiful, Stranger in Town, You're Not in My Arms Tonight, I Thought About Marie, You've Changed, Fire Engine, Do I Love You, You'd Never Know the Old Place Now, When Sunny Gets Blue, The Night Guard, But Beautiful, Opening / Narration, I'm Goin' South, I Never Knew, Nancy, Pete Kelly's Blues, Fat Annie's Place, Albert's Sad Song, Charleston, A Cup of Coffe, A Sandwich and You, I Might Be Your Once-in-a-While, The Riff Song, Turquoise, 1955-05-10 - Big Revision, I'm Gonna Get My Sweetie Now, 1955-06-07 - Big Limp, Intro to 'Sweetie' I'm Gonna Get My Sweetie Now, 1955-09-20 - Big Close, 1955-08-23 - Big Blonde, Intro to 'Hannah' Hard Hearted Hannah
Albums Dragnet - Old Time Radio Show, Vol. Eight, Just the Tracks Ma'am, You're My Girl
Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor Starring In A Regular Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Personality, DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Director - Film Series
Movies The D.I., Pete Kelly's Blues, He Walked by Night, Sunset Boulevard, Dragnet, The Last Time I Saw Archie, Appointment with Danger, Halls of Montezuma, Red Nightmare, Dark City, -30-, The Men, You're in the Navy Now, Star Spangled Salesman, 24 Hour Alert, Operation Cobra, Emergency!, Chase
TV Shows Dragnet, Project U.F.O., Emergency!, Adam-12, O'Hara, U.S. Treasury, GE True, Sierra, Escape, New Dragnet, Chesterfield Sound Off Time


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 He was named production head of Warner Bros. Television, but his tenure only lasted eight months before he was terminated and replaced by old friend William Conrad, whose background was similar to Webb's. Webb relocated his production unit to Universal.
2 It was Webb's hands that were seen dropping the hammer during the Mark VII logo sequence at the end of Dragnet (1951), Dragnet 1967 (1967), Adam-12 (1968) and other series he and is company--Mark VII Productions--produced.
3 Was a Republican.
4 Met 34-year-old struggling actor Harry Morgan while the two were working in Dark City (1950), and they became friends until Webb's death in 1982. They also worked together in Appointment with Danger (1951)--ironically, as a team of professional killers.
5 Met Julie London when she was singing in a jazz club in 1942, when she was age 15.
6 Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet (1951).
7 Before future Emergency! (1972) co-stars Bobby Troup, Tim Donnelly, Ron Pinkard and Randolph Mantooth landed their roles in the series opposite Webb's ex-wife and best friend Julie London, they had all previously worked for him.
8 When he approached young and unknown actor Randolph Mantooth to play the role of Johnny Gage in Emergency! (1972), Mantooth--like his future co-star Robert Fuller--also politely turned down the role. Webb also wouldn't take no for an answer, and told Mantooth what he told Fuller: "Sit down and shut up!".
9 Always showed a lot of seriousness on Dragnet 1967 (1967).
10 He allowed Harry Morgan to show his own sense of humor when he co-starred with him on Dragnet 1967 (1967).
11 Despite his divorce from singer Julie London, the two remained close friends until Webb's death late in 1982. She was his first choice for the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall in his series Emergency! (1972), along with her second husband Bobby Troup as Dr. Joe Early. She and Troup both accepted the roles.
12 When he approached veteran western actor Robert Fuller to play the male lead role of Dr. Kelly Brackett in Emergency! (1972), Fuller politely turned down the role. Webb wouldn't take no for an answer, and told Fuller to "shut up and sit down!".
13 Was best friends with ex-wife: Julie London, Bobby Troup, Harry Morgan, Robert A. Cinader, Robert Conrad, John Smith, Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Tim Donnelly, Marco Lopez, Ron Pinkard, Virginia Gregg, Clark Howat, John Nolan, Martin Milner and Kent McCord.
14 Despite being unhappy with an article Jack Jones had written about "Dragnet", Webb insisted on paying for Barbara Stewart's wedding to Jones after she told Webb that she had just returned from performing for the military in Europe.
15 Father, with Julie London, of daughters Stacy Webb and Lisa Webb. Stacy died in a car accident in 1996.
16 Appears as Sgt. Joe Friday on a 44¢ US commemorative postage stamp, issued 11 August 2009, in the Early TV Memories issue honoring Dragnet (1951).
17 He was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 7040 Hollywood Blvd. and for Television at 6728 Hollywood Blvd.
18 Featured in "Bad Boys: The Actors of Film Noir" by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry (McFarland, 2003).
19 Was a huge baseball fan, and chose badge #714 for Sgt. Friday because it was the number of home runs Babe Ruth hit.
20 Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 851-853. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
21 Was part of the investigation of the infamous "Black Dahlia" murder case in Los Angeles in the 1940s--in which an aspiring actress was murdered, dismembered and left in an open field--which helped to inspire him to create Dragnet (1951).
22 At the height of Dragnet (1951)'s popularity, people would actually call the LAPD wanting to speak to Webb's character, Sgt. Joe Friday. The Department eventually came up with a stock answer to the large volume of calls: "Sorry, it's Joe's day off".
23 Was the basis for the "Brett Chase" character in L.A. Confidential (1997).
24 Was a close friend of Star Trek (1966) creator Gene Roddenberry.
25 He turned down the role of the Dean in Animal House (1978) because he felt it would be poking fun at his straight-laced, law-and-order image; he was closely identified with law and order, in particular police officers, and he felt that the film would be making fun of that, although he claimed he was willing to poke fun at himself--and, in fact, did just that in a famous skit on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).
26 Had just over 6,000 jazz albums in his private collection.
27 Contrary to popular belief, his character, Joe Friday, never said, "Just the facts, ma'am" in any episode of "Dragnet". The actual line was, "All we want "need"] are the facts, ma'am."
28 Not only did the Los Angeles Police Department use Dragnet (1951) episodes as training films for a time, it also named a police academy auditorium after Webb.
29 Was buried with full honors befitting an LAPD detective, including a 17-gun salute.
30 Upon his death, the badge number 714, used by his character Joe Friday in the "Dragnet" TV shows, was officially retired by the Los Angeles Police Department. The badge belonged to Lt. Dan Cooke, his close friend.
31 Performed charity work related to widows and children of police officers killed in the line of duty.


Writer

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Dragnet 2003-2004 TV Series created by - 22 episodes
The New Adam-12 1990-1991 TV Series creator - 12 episodes
Dragnet 1989 TV Series creator
Dragnet 1987 radio and television series - uncredited
Sam 1977 TV Series written by - 1 episode
Adam-12 TV Series created by - 174 episodes, 1968 - 1975 written by - 1 episode, 1968
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury 1971-1972 TV Series creator - 22 episodes
Dragnet 1967 TV Series created by - 98 episodes, 1967 - 1970 written by - 1 episode, 1967
Dragnet TV Series creator - 276 episodes, 1951 - 1959 writer - 3 episodes, 1953 radio play - 2 episodes, 1953 - 1954 original radio play - 1 episode, 1953 radio script - 1 episode, 1953 based on a radio play by - 1 episode, 1952 screenplay - 1 episode, 1952
Pete Kelly's Blues 1959 TV Series teleplay - 1 episode
Noah's Ark TV Series writer - 2 episodes, 1956 creator - 1 episode, 1956 teleplay - 1 episode, 1956
The Ford Television Theatre 1956 TV Series story - 1 episode
Dragnet 1954 screenplay - uncredited / television series - uncredited

Actor

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Project U.F.O. 1978-1979 TV Series Narrator / Announcer
Adam-12 1970-1973 TV Series Announcer
The Partners 1971 TV Series Commissioner Norton
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury 1971 TV Series Narrator
Dragnet 1967 1967-1970 TV Series Sergeant Joe Friday Sgt. Joe Friday
Dragnet 1966 1969 TV Movie Sgt. Joe Friday
Patrol Dogs of the United States Air Force 1968 Short Narrator
Star Spangled Salesman 1968 Documentary short Security Man
The Jerry Lewis Show 1967 TV Series Sergeant Joe Friday
G.E. True 1962-1963 TV Series Narrator / John Burke / Host - Narrator
Red Nightmare 1962 Short On-Camera Narrator
The Last Time I Saw Archie 1961 William 'Bill' Bowers
-30- 1959 Sam Gatlin
Dragnet 1951-1959 TV Series Sgt. Joe Friday Lt. Joe Friday
The D.I. 1957 Gunnery Sgt. Jim Moore
Pete Kelly's Blues 1955 Pete Kelly
Dragnet 1954 Sergeant Joe Friday
Chesterfield Sound Off Time 1951 TV Series Sgt. Joe Friday
Appointment with Danger 1951 Joe Regas
You're in the Navy Now 1951 Ens. Anthony 'Tony' Barbo
Halls of Montezuma 1951 Correspondent Dickerman
Dark City 1950 Augie
Sunset Blvd. 1950 Artie Green
The Men 1950 Norm
Sword in the Desert 1949 Hoffman (uncredited)
He Walked by Night 1948 Lee Whitey
Hollow Triumph 1948 Bullseye (uncredited)
Three on a Match 1932 Boy in Schoolyard (uncredited)

Producer

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The 25th Man 1982 TV Movie executive producer
Project U.F.O. 1978-1979 TV Series executive producer - 26 episodes
Little Mo 1978 TV Movie executive producer
Sam 1977-1978 TV Series executive producer - 7 episodes
Mobile One 1975 TV Series producer
Mobile Two 1975 TV Movie executive producer
The Log of the Black Pearl 1975 TV Movie executive producer
Sierra 1974 TV Series executive producer - 11 episodes
The Rangers 1974 TV Movie executive producer
Adam-12 TV Series executive producer - 102 episodes, 1968 - 1972 producer - 1 episode, 1974
Chase 1973 TV Series producer
Chase 1973 TV Movie producer
Hec Ramsey 1972 TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
Emergency! 1972 TV Series executive producer - 12 episodes
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury 1971 TV Series executive producer - 3 episodes
The D.A. 1971 TV Series executive producer
D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill 1971 TV Movie executive producer
Dragnet 1967 1967-1970 TV Series producer - 98 episodes
D.A.: Murder One 1969 TV Movie executive producer
Dragnet 1966 1969 TV Movie producer
Temple Houston 1963-1964 TV Series executive producer - 26 episodes
77 Sunset Strip 1963-1964 TV Series executive producer - 20 episodes
The Man from Galveston 1963 executive producer
G.E. True TV Series executive producer - 4 episodes, 1962 - 1963 producer - 1 episode, 1962
Red Nightmare 1962 Short producer - uncredited
The Last Time I Saw Archie 1961 producer
Calvin and Clyde 1960 TV Movie producer
-30- 1959 producer
Dragnet TV Series producer - 27 episodes, 1953 - 1959 executive producer - 10 episodes, 1952 - 1956
Pete Kelly's Blues TV Series executive producer - 12 episodes, 1959 producer - 1 episode, 1959
The D.A.'s Man 1959 TV Series executive producer - 7 episodes
People 1957 TV Movie executive producer
The D.I. 1957 producer
Noah's Ark 1956-1957 TV Series producer - 7 episodes
Pete Kelly's Blues 1955 producer

Director

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Project U.F.O. 1978 TV Series
Sam 1977 TV Series 1 episode
Emergency! 1972-1975 TV Series 2 episodes
Adam-12 1968-1974 TV Series 2 episodes
Chase 1973 TV Series
Chase 1973 TV Movie
The D.A. 1971 TV Series
O'Hara, U.S. Treasury 1971 TV Series 1 episode
Dragnet 1967 1967-1970 TV Series 98 episodes
Dragnet 1966 1969 TV Movie
G.E. True 1962-1963 TV Series 4 episodes
The Last Time I Saw Archie 1961
Calvin and Clyde 1960 TV Movie
-30- 1959
Dragnet 1951-1959 TV Series 85 episodes
Pete Kelly's Blues 1959 TV Series 1 episode
The D.A.'s Man 1959 TV Series 2 episodes
The D.I. 1957
Noah's Ark 1956 TV Series 2 episodes
Pete Kelly's Blues 1955
Dragnet 1954

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Emergency! 1978 TV Series segment director - 1 episode

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Hollywood Squares 1976 TV Series Himself
Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special 1974 TV Special Himself
MCRD, San Diego 1973 Documentary Narrator
Escape 1973 TV Series Himself (Narrator) (1973) (voice)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1968-1970 TV Series Himself
The Jerry Lewis Show 1968 TV Series Himself
Today 1967 TV Series Himself - Guest
G.E. True 1962-1963 TV Series Himself - Host
The John Glenn Story 1962 Documentary short Narrator (voice)
The 14th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1962 TV Special Himself - Presenter
Here's Hollywood 1961 TV Series Himself
A Force in Readiness 1961 Documentary short On-Camera Narrator
This Is Your Life 1958-1961 TV Series Himself
Calvin and Clyde 1960 TV Movie Himself (host)
The Jack Benny Program 1959 TV Series Himself
The Jack Paar Tonight Show 1958-1959 TV Series Himself
Some of Manie's Friends 1959 TV Movie Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show 1957 TV Series Himself
24 Hour Alert 1955 Short Himself - Jack Webb
The Colgate Comedy Hour 1953-1955 TV Series Himself - Actor / Himself - Host / Himself
The 26th Annual Academy Awards 1954 TV Special Himself - Presenter: Best Sound
Texaco Star Theatre 1953 TV Series Himself / Sgt. Joe Friday
All Star Revue 1952 TV Series Himself - Actor
Army Information Film AIF No. 7: Code of Conduct - To Resist 1950 Documentary short

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Sixties 2014 TV Mini-Series documentary Sgt. Joe Friday - Dragnet 1967
Greenboy: Prescription for Death 2013 TV Short Joe Friday
Pioneers of Television 2011 TV Mini-Series documentary Sgt. Joe Friday from Dragnet
TV Land Moguls 2004 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself
Inside TV Land: Cops on Camera 2002 TV Movie documentary Himself
Frontline 2001 TV Series documentary Himself
Television: The First Fifty Years 1999 Video documentary Sgt. Joe Friday
JAG 1996 TV Series Sgt. Jim Moore
Hey Folks, It's Intermission Time 1993 Video documentary Himself
The Selling of the Pentagon 1971 TV Movie documentary Himself
The Donald O'Connor Show 1955 TV Series

Won awards

Won awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovieAward shared with
2006 TV Land Award TV Land Awards Coolest Crime Fighting Team Dragnet 1967 (1967) · Harry Morgan
2003 TV Land Award TV Land Awards Favorite Crimestopper in a Drama Dragnet (1951)
2000 PGA Hall of Fame - Television Programs PGA Awards Dragnet (1951)
1973 Bronze Wrangler Western Heritage Awards Fictional Television Drama Hec Ramsey (1972) · Bill Finnegan (producer)
· Daniel Petrie (director)
· Harold Jack Bloom (writer)
· Sharon Acker (actor)
· Rick Lenz (actor)
· Richard Boone (actor)
1960 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Television On 8 February 1960. At 6278 Hollywood Blvd.
1960 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Radio On 8 February 1960. At 7040 Hollywood Blvd.
1953 Edgar Edgar Allan Poe Awards Best Episode in a TV Series Dragnet (1951) · Michael Meshekoff

Nominated awards

Nominated awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovieAward shared with
2005 TV Land Award TV Land Awards Favorite Crimestopper Dragnet (1951)
1956 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Best Director - Film Series Dragnet (1951)
1955 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Best Actor Starring in a Regular Series Dragnet (1951)
1955 DGA Award Directors Guild of America, USA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television Dragnet (1951)
1954 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Best Male Star of Regular Series Dragnet (1951)
1954 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Most Outstanding Personality
1954 DGA Award Directors Guild of America, USA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television Dragnet (1951)
1953 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Best Actor


Looks like we don't have salary information. Sorry!


#Quote
1 [on Julie London] Julie was a hell of an actress--people forget--before she became a singer.

#Trademark
1 Deep gravelly voice
2 Rapid-fire delivery of lines
3 His stories often dealt with complex social issues
4 A buzzsaw flattop haircut. He first wore it for the title role of The D.I. (1957) and kept it for the rest of his career.
5 Best known for his realistic television series featuring supremely professional civil servants such as police officers, police detectives and firefighters.

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