Jess Osuna

Jess Osuna (May 28, 1928 – April 2, 2011) was an American character actor born in Oakland, California, whose career spanned film, television, and stage over several decades. He died at his home in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, at the age of 82, predeceased by his wife, Mary Anne. He is survived by his daughter Tracy, his grandson Sean, and numerous nieces and nephews. Osuna was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens.

Osuna's Broadway career ran from 1968 to 1977 and encompassed four productions. He appeared in Herb Gardner's The Goodbye People at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 1968, followed by Happy Birthday, Wanda June at the Edison Theatre during the 1970–1971 season. His subsequent Broadway credits included That Championship Season and An Almost Perfect Person, the latter staged at the Belasco Theatre in 1977–1978. Beyond Broadway, Osuna appeared in the Berkshire Theatre Festival's 1968 premiere production of A Cry of Players, in which he played the role of Gilbert.

His film work included A New Leaf, Three Days of the Condor, All the President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Taps. On television, Osuna appeared in Columbo, Kojak, NYPD, and Hawk, among other programs.

A significant portion of Osuna's professional life was connected to HB Studios in Greenwich Village. He began there as a student, studying under both Herbert Berghoff and Uta Hagen, and later became an instructor, teaching his own classes. During the final seven years of his life he studied with Austin Pendleton at HB Studios and performed with the HB Ensemble. Among the roles he took on with that company was the title role in Hamlet, which he considered among his most valued work. Osuna was known to ride his bicycle to classes, appointments, and performances throughout New York City well into his eighties.