Sydney Lassick, a character actor of considerable distinction, was born on July 23, 1922, in Chicago, Illinois, to Jewish Russian immigrant parents. This chubby, antsy, and distinctive individual first began his acting career in the late 1950s, making appearances in both films and television shows.
Portly and bespectacled, with a high-pitched voice and an anxious demeanor, Sydney was often cast in roles that showcased his ability to portray peevish neurotics, obsequious toadies, and fretful everyman types. His most notable performance, however, was as Charlie Cheswick, a whiny and infantile manic depressive mental patient, in the critically acclaimed film "One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
Lassick's other memorable roles include a flamboyant Fairy Godfather in the lowbrow nudie cutie musical "Sinderella and the Golden Bra," a mean and sarcastic English teacher, Mr. Fromm, in "Carrie," a genuinely creepy innkeeper, Ernest Keller, in the potently unnerving slasher horror film "The Unseen," and a slimy character, Charlie P., in the supremely twisted cult oddity "Sonny Boy." He also appeared as an effeminate lackey, Gopher, in "Deep Cover," a jolly trailer park manager, Woody Wilson, in "Freeway," and many other characters in various films and television shows.
Throughout his career, Sydney made guest appearances on numerous television series, including "Family," "Eight is Enough," "Baretta," "Hawaii Five-O," "Barney Miller," "Matt Houston," "Moonlighting," "Knots Landing," "Dream On," and "The X-Files." Tragically, Lassick passed away at the age of 80 on April 12, 2003, in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from diabetes. He was survived by an older sister.
