Jack Lemmon is universally acknowledged as one of the most accomplished actors of his time. This transcendent actor’s career spanned 45 years and was strewn with nominations and awards—all of which proved his tremendous ability to reach out and touch audiences through his performances. Moviegoers from across the world recognize him as the comedian who can make them laugh until they cry or as the acting virtuoso who can move them to tears. Whether playing a desperate young man in high heels, a shift supervisor, a delusional dad, a journalist, or just a grumpy old man, this American star consistently raised the bar for actors in Hollywood. He played the ordinary guy down on his luck so many times that he is often credited with inspiring the character Gil Gunderson on The Simpsons. To many critics, he is one of the greatest comedians of all time; to acting coaches, a benchmark for powerful dramatic performances; to actors, a venerable source of inspiration; to filmgoers, absolute magic. Despite an enormously successful career and a timeless acting legacy, this hardworking actor remained a down-to-earth gentleman and was much loved both on-screen and off-screen.