After nearly six decades in the industry, legendary actor Zack Norman is dead, his family confirmed, with no foul play suspected as aย cause of death. The actor, known for his role as Ira, the crocodile-loving antiquities smuggler in the 1884 filmย Romancing the Stone, touched various facets of the art through his decades-long career. After a life spentย impactingย the world through his art, Zack passed away at the ripe old age of 83.
Zack Norman’s Death Confirmed After Six Decades in Hollywood
Zack Norman’s son-in-law, Jeff Briller, confirmed him dead in a statement toย Deadline. Per the statement, the Hollywood legend died of natural causes on Sunday, April 28, at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.
Although best known as Ira onย Romancing the Stone, Zack Normanย wasn’t alwaysย an acting sensation.ย Born Howard Zucker in May 1940, the late icon began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian, performing in Playboy clubs. After spending the sixties building his comedic presence, the icon eventually landed a stand-up comedy gig onย The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, marking hisย TVย debut.
By the seventies, the renowned comedian had already established himself as a household name, starring inย a handful ofย films. Some of Zack Norman’s most notable works includeย Romancing the Stone, Cadillac Man, America, Hollywood Dreams, Ovation,andย Chief-Zabu.ย Additionally, he tried his hands on directing and productionย as well, cementing his prominence. But before embracing the Hollywood dream, Zack trod a different path.
Heย obtained an MBA from Harvard Business Schoolย in the early sixties.ย Zack soon embraced his comedic act, performing with the Temptations in clubs like the Flamingo and Copacabana. He eventually relocated to Europe in 1966 to work theย U.S.ย Army base circuit in Frankfurt, Germany. His opportunity to star onย the Tonight Showย soon came calling, shining a bright light on Zack Norman’s entertainment careerย untilย his deathย in 2024.
Zack left behind his wife, Nancy Norman, hisย sister Jane, his four kids, a brood of grandchildren, and a portfolio of artistic materials that leave their imprint on his legacy.
