John D. "Jack" Fletcher (1921–1990): TV and Movie Character Actor

 

Sherman Hemsley and Jack Fletcher

Plot 52D, Lot 129  W 1/2

Jack Fletcher was an American character actor and theater educator whose career spanned stage, film, and television from the early 1960s through the late 1980s.

Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Fletcher became a respected presence in both theater and screen. He was deeply involved with the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco, where he taught acting and directed productions, including Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Richard III. His work at A.C.T. helped shape the careers of emerging performers and contributed to the company’s national reputation for theatrical excellence.

On television, Fletcher was best known for his recurring role as H.L. Whittendale on The Jeffersons, appearing in six episodes between Seasons 4 and 11. His character was the wealthy and eccentric owner of the Whittendale Building, where George and Louise Jefferson’s dry cleaning business was located. Fletcher’s portrayal of the imperious landlord added a recurring dose of corporate satire and class contrast to the show.

Jack Fletcher

Fletcher also made guest appearances on numerous television programs and performed supporting roles in several films. His work was marked by a distinctive presence and versatility across genres.

Television credits include:
The Jeffersons, Bewitched, Chico and the Man, Welcome Back, Kotter, Gimme a Break!, Knots Landing, Charles in Charge, Charlie's Angels, Silver Spoons, Small Wonder, and The Munsters Today.

Film credits include:
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Pennies from Heaven (1981), Any Wednesday (1966), Rabbit Test (1978), Off Beat (1986), and Once Upon a Mattress (1964).

He died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, on February 15, 1990, at the age of 68.