(RightIsRight.co) – Zack Norman, acclaimed for his role as Danny DeVito’s buddy in “Romancing the Stone,” passed away on Sunday in Burbank, California, from natural causes at the age of 83.
His daughter, Lori Zuker Briller, honored her father in a Facebook post:
“Wherever you drifted off to, I know everything just got livelier,” she wrote. “You were the most enigmatic person wherever you went. The best father, husband, grandfather and friend, you brought so many laughs and so much enrichment to all of our lives.”
Born Howard Jerrold Zuker in Boston, Massachusetts, Norman was a multi-talented individual who spanned a six-decade career as a musician, comedian, actor, producer, and art collector.
Following roles in off-Broadway productions during the 1960s and a successful stint as a touring stand-up comedian, he transitioned into film. He notably appeared in director Henry Jaglom’s works like “Tracks” (1977), “Sitting Ducks” (1980), and “Babyfever.”
However, he gained recognition for his portrayal of Cousin Ira in Robert Zemeckis’ “Romancing the Stone” and as Harry in “Cadillac Man” (1990) alongside Robin Williams and Fran Drescher.
Norman also appeared in guest roles on popular shows like The Nanny, in which he appeared three times alongside Fran Drescher and episodes of The A-Team and Baywatch.
During the 1970s, Norman developed a passion for art and amassed a collection that included pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring.
As a producer and financier, Norman contributed to “Hearts and Minds,” the 1974 documentary that won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. This was a peak moment in his extensive and diverse career.
“My most proud movie was 1975’s Academy Award [winner] for the Best Documentary called ‘Hearts and Minds,’ which is really very, very, very important and part of the reason that the Vietnam War was stopped,” he shared on the “Not Real Art” podcast in January 2023.
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