Short Biography

John Randolph "Jack" Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an Emmy Award-nominated American actor, television producer, director and author, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet. He was also the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited. Born in Santa Monica, California, Webb grew up poor in the Bunker Hill slum section of Los Angeles to a Jewish father and a Roman Catholic mother; he was reared Roman Catholic. A sickly child, he studied art as a young man. One of the tenants in the rooming house run by his mother was an ex-jazzman who imbued Webb with a lifelong interest in jazz when he gave him a recording of Bix Beiderbecke`s "At the Jazz Band Ball." Webb was a graduate of Belmont High School in Los Angeles.

The flags in Los Angeles were flown at half mast on the day of his passing and his badge 714 was retired.

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