Jack Somack (September 1, 1918 – August 24, 1983) was an American chemical engineer,^[1] and actor. He is best remembered for his appearance in the Alka-Seltzer "spicy meatball" television commercial.^[1][2]

Somack was born in Chicago, Illinois.^[3] He began his acting career in 1966, playing the lead role of Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge.^[4][5]

In 1969 Somack appeared in the Alka-Seltzer "spicy meatball" commercial.^[6][5] He also appeared in the Broadway plays Paris Is Out! and The Prisoner of Second Avenue.^[3][7][8]

In the 1970s and 1980s Somack appeared and guest-starred in film and television programs including Barney Miller,^[1] The Rockford Files, Portnoy's Complaint,^[9] Sanford and Son, All in the Family, The Love Boat, Desperate Characters, Laverne & Shirley, The Frisco Kid, Eight Is Enough, The Pursuit of Happiness, Starsky & Hutch, Hero at Large, Kojak, The Main Event, The Jimmy Stewart Show, The Blue Knight and Family Ties.^[4][10] He also starred in the short-lived television series Ball Four^[11] and The Stockard Channing Show.^[12]

Somack died August 24, 1983, of a heart attack at the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles,^[5] at the age of 64.^[1][13] He had been rehearsing for a role in the television series Benson.^[4][5]