Jack Lord was an American actor and director, best known for his role as Steve McGarrett in the TV series “Hawaii Five-O.” Despite his success in Hollywood, Lord experienced a great deal of personal tragedy in his life, culminating in the devastating loss of his only son and a decline in his own health.
Born in 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, Lord was raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family when he was still young. He went on to attend New York University, where he studied art history and fine arts. After graduation, he worked as a car salesman before turning to acting in the late 1940s.
Lord made his Broadway debut in “Traveling Lady” in 1954, and went on to appear in a number of films and TV shows over the next several years. He landed his breakout role as Steve McGarrett in “Hawaii Five-O” in 1968, which ran for 12 seasons and made him a household name.
Despite his professional success, Lord experienced a great deal of personal tragedy in his life. In 1959, he married Anne Willard, with whom he had one son, John. John Lord was born with a rare genetic disorder called Down syndrome, which can cause intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 1974, John died at the age of 13, a devastating loss for Lord and his wife. Following their son’s death, Lord threw himself into his work on “Hawaii Five-O,” but the show’s cancellation in 1980 left him adrift.
Lord’s health began to decline in the 1980s, and he suffered a stroke in 1993 that left him partially paralyzed. He retired from acting and devoted himself to his artwork, which he had always pursued as a hobby.
Lord died on January 21, 1998, at the age of 77. He was buried in a private ceremony in Hawaii, where he had lived for many years. Despite the tragedy and challenges he faced in his life, Lord is remembered for his talent, dedication to his craft, and the impact he had on the entertainment industry.
Jack Lord was married only once in his life, to Anne Willard. The couple got married in 1949 and remained together until Lord’s death in 1998. They did not have any children together, and Lord was reportedly devastated by the death of his only son, who died at a young age.
Lord was known to be a very private person and kept his personal life out of the public eye. He rarely gave interviews and preferred to let his work speak for itself. However, he was known to be an avid art collector and had an extensive collection of works by both well-known and emerging artists.
In addition to his love of art, Lord was also passionate about the environment and was a dedicated conservationist. He was a founding member of the Hawaii Nature Conservancy and worked to protect the natural beauty of his adopted home state.
Despite his success in Hollywood, Lord was said to be a very down-to-earth and humble person. He was deeply committed to his work and took great pride in his role as Steve McGarrett on “Hawaii Five-O.” He was also known to be a generous person who was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.
