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Jack Tornek's life began in Minsk Russia (now Belarus) in 1887. He moved to Liverpool England in 1902, then to New York in 1906.
He's listed as serving in WWI in the New Jersey area. He applied for citizenship in 1918 and for a legal name change to Jack Tornek.
Not much else is known about his life between 1918 and 1932, except that he married Anna (nee Rosenberg), who was also a background player, and they lived in Hollywood, where they had a child in 1928.
From 1932 until 1969, he was employed in motion pictures, and later television, as a background player (extra). Unfortunately, he had a thick accent and reedy voice (similar to Andy Kaufman's Latka on "Taxi"), which made speaking parts impractical. There are only a handful of roles in which he is heard, and most are confined to one or two words.
This limitation didn't daunt Tornek, who learned the art of pantomiming the roles he got. Rather than stand like a statue, as many extras did, Tornek acted out his role, as was appropriate to the scene: miming gestures, speech (silent) and facial expressions to help flesh out detail. Casting directors noticed the hard working Tornek putting a bit more into his tasks. As a result, he was in-demand.
The advent of television meant more need for extras. Tornek could fit into whatever (non-speaking) role was needed: he was seen as a courtroom spectator, businessman, townsman, barfly, juror, man on the street, and even a carnival barker. The proliferation of television westerns in the 1950's and 1960's gave the reliable Tornek constant employment. His trademark mustache and slicked-back hair could be seen in every kind of role, but if an extra was needed to play a "suit-and-tie," Tornek was one of the first in line for it.
Tornek worked into his 80's, with his last known part in 1969's "Support Your Local Sheriff." He and wife Anna, who was an extra in various movies, retired to Yucca Valley in 1968 or 1969.
Tornek died on February 18th 1974.
