<Li> George Englund (nephew) </Li> <Li> Wes Studi (son - in - law) </Li> <P> Harold "Jack" Albertson (June 16, 1907--November 25, 1981) was an American actor, comedian, dancer and singer who also performed in vaudeville . Albertson is known for his role as John Cleary in The Subject Was Roses (1968), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Manny Rosen in The Poseidon Adventure (1972); and Ed Brown in the television sitcom Chico and the Man (1974--78). For his contributions to the television industry, Albertson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977 at 6253 Hollywood Boulevard . </P> <P> Jack Albertson was born on June 16, 1907, in Malden, Massachusetts, the son of Russian - born Jewish immigrants Flora (née Craft) and Leopold Albertson . His older sister was actress Mabel Albertson . Albertson's mother, a stock actress, supported the family by working in a shoe factory . Until at least the age of 22, Albertson was known as "Harold Albertson". His father abandoned his mother before Jack was born, and the boy was raised by his stepfather, Alex Erlich, a barber . Albertson's formal education ended after a single year in high school . During a New York Daily News interview (January 2, 1973) with Sidney Fields he reminisced: "I was bright but disruptive . I didn't do homework . To cover, I made wisecracks and funny faces at the teachers . They told me to take my business elsewhere ." For a while Albertson worked at the local General Electric plant and in one of the many shoe factories in the Lynn, Massachusetts, area . He was also a rack boy in neighborhood pool parlors, where he was by his own admission a fairly good pool hustler, although he was always on guard to avoid playing anyone who could "out - hustle" him . Reportedly, at one point he ran away to sea, an undertaking not as romantic as it sounds, since his parents apparently helped him pack for the voyage . His pool hall days provided Albertson with an opportunity to learn a few tap - dance routines from his fellow hustlers, and when he was eighteen he began to be paid for his prize - winning shows . His sister Mabel taught him the first "time" steps in tap - dancing, and he picked up additional routines by watching vaudeville acts that played his hometown . About that time he started singing with a group called "The Golden Rule Four," who held their practice sessions beneath a railroad bridge . </P>

Who played the grandfather in willy wonka and the chocolate factory