The Conversion That Blessed Jack Lord’s Life

By Claudette Evans

Article is from: September 1970 issue of the Movie TV Photo Stars

Jack lord has lived many lives. A New York City boy, he went to sea with the merchant marine, then studied at NYU on a football scholarship, did a hitch in the Navy, somewhere along the way picked up a private pilot’s license and enough art skills so that his paintings and woodcuts have been museum-displayed. He acted in New York when it was the center for the big time TV drama shows, went on to Hollywood at their demise and made his mark in movies and video series. Then came the big break, "Stoney Burke," and when it ended Jack capitalized on his cowboy image by touring for a couple of years as a rodeo star. Now he’s off on a whole new life-and it’s a great one.

A few years back producer Leonard Freeman who like location work ("Route 66" was his show) decided that Hawaii would be a great place to plant a program. He settled on a police story ("Hawaii 5-0’) and Jack was picked for head cop. He and Marie, his wife ("the best thing that ever happened to me:"), went to out fiftieth state in pursuit of his career-and found a whole new way of life.

Jack loves the Hawaiians. "This state could serve as a demonstration laboratory in racial relations," he says. "here we have any race you can think of and there’s not friction. The people of the mainland could learn a lot from us islanders."

Jack’s own life is plush and pleasant half an ocean away from most of his viewers. He and Marie have a 4500 square foot beachfront apartment next door to Waikiki’s Kahala Hilton. On the set "Mick", as Marie calls her husband lives well too. His 30-foot dressing trailer includes a complete kitchen, stereo, a water purifier and dual air conditioners.

Jack works hard (sometimes 18 hours a day in a six day work week) but he finds time to play as well. The apartment is cluttered with his painting equipment, each day includes a wake-up jog around a neighboring golf course. And he’s a gourmet cook. (Asked to name his favorite actress he quickly quipped, "Julia Child,")

The Lords love it in Hawaii and have no plans to leave-ever. Did you catch the wording of his previous quote on race relations - ("us islanders." Says Jack, who figures the show will make him a millionaire within four years so he can think seriously of retirement, "I plan to spend the rest of my life here."

The Hawaiians return his warm affection. It’s only partly a matter of money. (There are 50 technical workers who came over from Hollywood and who draw $700 a month subsistence pay in addition to their basic salaries: all in all the show figures to pour $5,000,000 into the island’s economy in addition to the tremendous tourist lure it provide.) The islanders personally reciprocate Jack’s rapport. His relationship has been likened to that Jackie Gleason has with Miami, Florida.

If there’s a contest to be judged, Jack is first choice as judge. A parade to be marshaled, they call him. VIP visitors to glad-hand; can he do it?

Just recently the Hawaii House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Jack for ‘his outstanding contributions to the state." The motion was made by the Speaker of the House and it was adopted unanimously, the first time in history that this kind of honor has been made to an actor.

When Jack moved to Hawaii, he converted being a Lord to being The King.