Jack Betts, the Hollywood veteran known for a career spanning decades and nearly a hundred film and TV credits, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 19, 2025. He was 96. His nephew, Dean Sullivan, 65, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, noting that Betts died at his home in Los Osos, California.
Originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, Betts discovered his love for performing early on. After moving to Miami with his family, he took part in a talent contest broadcast on WIOD, a local radio station.
He attended Miami Senior High School before enrolling at the University of Miami to study theater. While still a student, he appeared in Light Up the Sky, a play by Moss Hart that took him all the way to Cuba. His Broadway debut came in 1953 with a small role in Richard III.
Before fully breaking into the entertainment world, Betts took on a few odd jobs to stay afloat, including a stint at a lamp factory. It was there that a friend urged him to audition for The Actors Studio. He did—and landed a three-year scholarship to study there.
Betts made his feature film debut in The Bloody Brood (1959), playing the role of Cliff in the Canadian thriller. But it was television where he really found his stride. His portrayal of Chris Devlin in the CBS mystery series Checkmate (1960–1962) brought him widespread attention.
From there, he continued to rack up credits, including appearances on General Hospital as Dr. Ken Martin (1963–1965), One Life to Live in 1982 as Mr. Fisher, and even a role on the iconic legal drama Perry Mason.
Although his appearances became less frequent after the early 2000s, he never truly stepped away. In his later years, Betts popped up in titles like Mardi Gras: Spring Break (2011), About Last Night (2014), The Red Maple Leaf (2016), and Silver Skies (2016).
While his screen presence spanned generations, Betts kept much of his personal life out of the public eye.
Was Jack Betts Ever Married?
Betts never tied the knot. While many actors’ love lives often play out in the spotlight, he kept his private life quiet. Not much is known about any relationships he may have had, especially during his younger days.
One of the most meaningful connections in his life, however, was with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts. The two shared a deep, decades-long friendship that began in 1954 when they met at The Actors Studio.
Their bond only grew stronger over time. In 1988, Roberts invited Betts to move into the downstairs apartment of her Hollywood Hills home. “We were best friends to the very end, we had wonderful times together,” Betts once said.
Roberts had been married twice—first to Michael Cannata, the father of her only son, and later to writer William Goyen, who passed away in 1983. Betts, on the other hand, lived a more private life. Still, their bond ran deep. Roberts even directed Screen Test: Take One, a play Betts had written about a soap opera set behind the scenes of a film.
They stayed close until Roberts passed away at the age of 90 on April 17, 2016.
Family and the Fortune He Left Behind
He was born to John Stephen George Betts and Esther Maj Engstrom. He grew up with one sibling, a sister named Joan Sullivan, who was born in 1925 and, remarkably, is still living at the age of 99.
Though Betts never married or had children of his own, he remained close to his extended family. His nephew, Dean Sullivan—the one who confirmed the actor’s passing—was among those who stood by him in later years. He is also survived by two nieces, Lynne and Gail.
At the time of his death, Jack had an estimated net worth of around $1 million, which likely goes to those closest to him.
