Zack Norman Dies: ‘Romancing The Stone’, ‘Cadillac Man’ & ‘The Nanny’ Actor Was 83

Erik Pedersen
·2 min read
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Zack Norman Dies: ‘Romancing The Stone’, ‘Cadillac Man’ & ‘The Nanny’ Actor Was 83
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Zack Norman, a veteran character and producer who appeared in films including Romancing The Stone, Cadillac Man and several for director Harry Jaglom along with guested on The Nanny, The A-Team, Baywatch and other series, died April 28 of natural causes. He was 83.

His son-in-law Jeff Briller confirmed the news to Deadline.

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Born Howard Zuker on May 27, 1940, Norman performed as a comedian through the latter half of the 1960s and working the Playboy Clubs, the Flamingo and Copacabana with the Temptations. He made his TV debut in 1969 doing stand-up on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

He made about a half-dozen films in the 1970s before working on a pair of memorable ’80s films: He had a small role in Milos Forman’s Ragtime (1981) before being cast as Cousin Ira in Robert Zemeckis’ Romancing the Stone (1984). His character uttered the oft-quoted line, “Look at those snappers!” in the Michael Douglas-Kathleen Turner comedy adventure.

Zack Norman in ‘Romancing the Stone, 1984 (Everett Collection)
Zack Norman in ‘Romancing the Stone, 1984 (Everett Collection)

Norman starred in Robert Downey Sr.’s 1986 comedy America and co-directed and starred in 1988’s Chief Zabu before beginning a long collaboration with filmmaker Jaglom with Venice/Venice (1992). He appeared in nine of Jaglom’s movies including Festival in Cannes (2001), Hollywood Dreams (2006) and Ovation (2015).

He also co-starred in the 1990 film Cadillac Man opposite Robin Williams, Tim Robbins and Fran Drescher. He reunited with Drescher in The Nanny, recurring as her character’s Uncle Jack in three episodes from 1993-95. He and appeared in the two-part “Judgement Day” episodes of The A-Team in 1985. Norman also was in a 1993 episode of Baywatch.

Norman also appeared in more than 20 stage plays during his long career and produced a number of films, most of those under his real name.

He received an executive MBA from Harvard Business School in his 60s.

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