An actor from HBO‘s groundbreaking drama “Oz” has passed away. The Hollywood Reporter published an obituary for Jon Korkes, who played the recurring role of Tom Robinson in the show, on Sunday, January 4. Korkes’ death was announced on social media by the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, where the HR’s report says he taught from 2008 until this November. The report says there are currently no further details on his passing.
The Studio Where Jon Korkes Taught Acting Released a Statement
The Stella Adler Center for the Arts honored Korkes in a statement on their Facebook page. They wrote:
“We mourn the passing of Jon Korkes, beloved actor, teacher, and longtime member of the Stella Adler Studio community.
Jon began teaching with us in 2008 and continued every single semester through this past November. As a central scene study teacher in our Workshop Program, he brought decades of experience across film, television, and theater into the classroom, meeting each student exactly where they were. He loved teaching, and his students knew it.
Jon’s extraordinary career spanned more than five decades. He made his Off-Broadway debut in Little Murders in 1968 and appeared in films including Catch-22, The Day of the Dolphin, Riding in Cars with Boys, and The Double. His television work included a recurring role on Oz and guest appearances on All in the Family, Maude, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Larry Sanders Show, Homicide, and Law & Order.
Jon’s legacy lives on through the countless actors he inspired… on stage, on screen, and in the classroom. He will be deeply missed.”
In December 2011, actress Simone Soares shared a candid shot of the star.
Jon Korkes Received a Moving Tribute from a Friend
Joe Goskinsci, a Stella Adler faculty member who specializes in voice and speech, per the center’s website, posted a heartfelt tribute to Korkes on January 3.
Goskinsci wrote, “Mourning the loss of a good friend, and gifted artist, Jon Korkes. Jon always greeted me with a welcoming smile and a sarcastic joke or two, followed by stories that came from a career spanning 6 decades.
He went on to share fond memories of his friend, writing, “When Alan Arkin passed away two years ago he told the most endearing and enlightening stories of a friendship that grew out of the first time they worked together. Jon shared his thoughts about the play ‘Marty’ which he loved and thought had great scenes in it for actors, and always had a suggested book for me to read or old movie to watch that ‘he just watched again the other night.'”
The educator also talked about Korkes’ love of sports, reminiscing, “He was an avid Celtics fan, and we’d talk about sports theatre, his belief of what good acting was, his review of the latest sandwich made for him by the ‘guy downstairs’, and anything and everything. And he’d never forget to ask how I was doing. A class act through and through. I reached out to him recently to check up on him when he was sick, and he thanked me and called me a ‘good friend’. And for that title I’m deeply honored. The studio will not be the same without him, and he’ll be deeply missed.”
A Student Touchingly Thanked Korkes Back in 2022
In 2022, actress Dangelyn Vargas warmly acknowledged Korkes for his efforts. In the caption of a photo showing the native New Yorker with a group of students she called him “a brilliant mind” before going on, “Thank you for pushing me. And trusting me with the parts that you gave me. I’m in awe of you. Your wisdom and kindness.”
