Trivia - Jack Scalia

Get Ready to Swoon: It’s the Ultimate Jack Scalia Trivia Challenge!

During the glitzy, over-the-top era of the 1980s and ’90s, few stars lit up the screen quite like Jack Scalia. With his chiseled looks, magnetic charm, and undeniable talent, this Brooklyn-born athlete-turned-model-turned-actor quickly became one of Hollywood’s most beloved heartthrobs—and a staple of primetime TV and movie screens everywhere.

To celebrate my brand-new two-part podcast interview with the man himself (Episodes 117 & 118 of Hollywood Obsessed podcast), I’ve put together a fun, nostalgic Trivia Challenge dedicated to Jack’s unforgettable career.

Think you know your Scalia? From steamy soap operas and iconic miniseries to big-screen thrillers and behind-the-scenes Hollywood legends, this quiz will test your knowledge and take you on a fabulous trip down memory lane.

So channel your inner superfan and get ready to relive the charm, the drama, and the undeniable hunkiness of one of the most iconic leading men of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Let the trivia begin!

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Scalia was born Giacomo Tomaso Tedesco in Brooklyn, New York City, of Italian and Irish descent.

His father was professional ballplayer Rocky Tedesco.

In 1971, Jack was the first team draft pick, and 3rd overall MLB pick, of the Montreal Expos (now known as the Washington Nationals) Major League Baseball club.

Scalia modeled briefs in newspaper and magazine ads for Eminence Underwear in the late 1970s.

He began his career in the entertainment industry as a model for various campaigns before transitioning full-time to acting in the early '80s.

Early in his modeling career, photographer Bruce Weber shot Jack in color for a poster that first brought Bruce’s well-known image of chiseled male beauty into the public spotlight. This poster sold thousands of copies becoming the male equivalent of the unforgettable Farah Fawcett poster.

In 1979 Jack became the face of a massive Jordache Jeans campaign. Everyone knew that the “Jordache Jeans Guy” was Jack Scalia. This type of name recognition led to a primitive use of the term “supermodel” in the world of male models. The likes of Marcus Schenkenberg and Tyson Beckford followed.

Before becoming a model he did brief stints as a construction worker, and as a factory worker at Campbell's.

In January 1980, Scalia made the transition into acting, which led to his first film role in the mini-movie, “The Star Maker“(1981), starring the late Rock Hudson.

Scalia got his first taste of series stardom as an unshaven, rough-and-tough detective who joins forces with his slick and debonair father (Hudson again) in the TV series, “The Devlin Connection “(1982).

The series “The Devlin Connection” was postponed for a year due to Rock Hudson's heart surgery in 1981. Hudson was hit very hard by the failure of the series.

In the film “Fear City” (1984) the killer was played by John Foster, a New York City karateka, in his sole acting role. This was also the feature film debut of both Jack Scalia and Tracy Griffith.

In 1987 Jack was added to the abbreviated fifth and final season of “Remington Steele”, which consisted of three two-hour movies in which he was touted as a rival love interest for star Stephanie Zimbalist against Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan was less than pleased at returning to the show which had first been cancelled, then saved by viewer outcry, because it cost him (temporarily at least) the role of James Bond in “The Living Daylights” (1987.)  Brosnan became 007 in 1995, making his debut in the film “Golden Eye”.

Jack joined the long-running primetime soap “Dallas” in 1987 as one of Linda Gray's love interests ‘Nicholas Pearce.’  He stayed on the show for one season until his character was tossed over a balcony in a struggle with Larry “J.R.” Hagman. His character returned in the series finale in 1991 as part of a fantasy sequence.

Leading man Jack Scalia had just suffered a setback after the sudden shutdown of a film he was shooting in Hong Kong, but received the offer to star in the science-fiction horror film “The Rift” (1990) two days after he got back to the U.S. He was cast after a single meeting with producer Dino De Laurentiis in his office.

In 1992 Scalia was cast as Detective Nico "Nick" Bonetti in the short-lived television series “Tequila and Bonetti.” Scalia replaced another actor in the role during production of the show's first episode. Eight years later, in 2000, Scalia reprised the role of Bonetti in a revival of the series, which was filmed and aired in Italy.

Scalia and Kim Delaney co-starred together in the TV movies “Lady Boss” (1992) and “Tall, Dark and Deadly” (1995)

Jack Scalia and Alyssa Milano (“Who’s The Boss”) starred in the TV movie “Casualties of Love: The "Long Island Lolita”” based on the story of Amy Fisher and Joey Buttafuoco, written and directed by John Herzfeld. It aired on CBS on January 3, 1993, the same night and time as ABC's film “The Amy Fisher Story,” though the latter film was much higher rated in the TV ratings and critically praised.

Scalia’s portrayal of ‘Chris Stamp’ on the soap opera “All My Children” (2001–2003) stands as a career highlight, earning him critical acclaim and a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.

“Hollywood Wives: The New Generation” (2003), based on the Jackie Collins novel, was Farrah Fawcett's final TV role. It aired on CBS on October 19, 2003.

Mr Scalia’s more popular telefilm credits included “I’ll Take Manhattan “(1987), “Ring of Scorpio” (1991), Jackie Collins “Lady Boss” and was nominated as Best male actor in a mini-series by the American Television Awards (1992).

He co-starred in the big screen hit “Red Eye” (2005) starring Rachel McAdams Directed by Wes Craven also “End Game” starring Cuba Gooding ,Jr.  with Director Andy Cheng.

In 2009, while filming “The Black Tulip”, Scalia spent time visiting servicemen and women. Since then he has been a host or speaker for various events on different military bases. He is currently an ambassador for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes.

Some facts are taken from IMDB & Wikipedia.

Don’t miss my captivating two-part interview with the ever-charming Jack Scalia on the latest episodes of the Hollywood Obsessed podcast! Packed with exclusive stories and behind-the-scenes revelations, it’s a conversation you won’t hear anywhere else.

Click the links below to listen now and get inspired!

Episode 117 - HERE

Episode 118 - HERE