Born in Czechoslovakia, Jack Garfein's life was forever changed by his experiences during World War II, where he miraculously survived the horrors of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
As a young man of 15, Garfein made the bold decision to leave his homeland behind and start anew in the United States, where he would go on to pursue a career in the performing arts.
Following a few years of college, Garfein's passion for the stage led him to become a talented stage actor, before eventually transitioning into the role of director.
His directorial debut on Broadway in 1953 marked a significant milestone in his career, and it was during this time that he joined the prestigious Actors Studio, where he met and married fellow student Carroll Baker.
Throughout his career, Garfein has worked extensively in television and on the Broadway stage, directing numerous productions to great acclaim. Despite his impressive output in these mediums, however, his film work has been relatively limited, with only three feature films to his name since 1957.
One of his most notable films is the 1961 cult classic "Something Wild," which stars his wife Carroll Baker and tells the story of a rape victim who forms a complex and troubled relationship with a man who rescues her from a suicide attempt, only to imprison her in his basement apartment, hoping to manipulate her into falling in love with him.
