Born in Malden, MA. Character player of vaudeville, burlesque, Broadway, TV and films. He won Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES (1968), in which he repeated his Tony® Award-winning stage role. He won an Emmy® for a supporting role in the "Cher" TV show (1975) and a Best Actor Emmy for his co-star performances in the series "Chico and the Man" (1976) -- making him one of only three men (along with Melvyn Douglas and Paul Scofield) to win the "triple crown" of Awards. He broke into films with a bit part in THE NEXT TIME I MARRY (1938) at RKO. This continued through the 1950s, when he started getting featured roles. Other notable (non-nominated) film credits include LOVER COME BACK (1961), PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT and DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (both 1962), THE FLIM FLAM MAN (1967), RABBIT, RUN (1970), WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972). He performed mostly on television from the mid-1970s until his death in 1981. His sister, Mabel Albertson (1901-1982) also appeared on TV and in numerous films.  Supporting Actor 1968: THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES 1 nomination, 1 Award