Background
Komack also appeared in Frank Capra"s film A Hole in the Head as Julius Manetta, the inept son of Mario (Edward G Robinson) and Sophie (Thelma Ritter).
Komack also appeared in Frank Capra"s film A Hole in the Head as Julius Manetta, the inept son of Mario (Edward G Robinson) and Sophie (Thelma Ritter).
Komack performed in both the film and the original Broadway cast of the musical Damn Yankees. In both productions, he played the role of a baseball player performing the song "(You Gotta Have) Heart". Early in his career, Komack worked as a stand-up comedian and was cast in sixteen episodes as United States Navy dentist Harvey Spencer Blair III, in the Columbia Broadcasting System military sitcom/drama, Hennesey, starring Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton.
Komack made a record album of his comedy routine, James Komack at the Waldorf.
He also recorded a music album on Radio Corporation of America Victor in 1957 titled Inside Maine, under the orchestra direction of Dennis Farnon. In December 1960, Komack appeared as Doctor Franklin in the episode "Emergency" of the Columbia Broadcasting System anthology series, The DuPont Show with June Allyson.
His co-stars were Robert F. Simon and Robert Vaughn. Komack was the guiding force behind several television hits.
In The Courtship of Eddie"s Father, he appeared as Norman Tinker.
He also appeared in Get Smart, created Chico and the Manitoba and helped produce Welcome Back, Kotter. Komack is credited with discovering and launching the careers of John Travolta and Freddie Prinze. He was director of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "A Piece of the Action".
Komack was the creator and executive producer of the short-lived 1978 Columbia Broadcasting System situation comedy Another Day.
Komack died Christmas Eve 1997 of heart failure.
