# Shelly Novack

Sheldon Lennard "Shelly" Novack (January 10, 1944 – May 27, 1978) was an American college football player for the Long Beach State 49ers. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 15th round (135th pick overall) of the 1966 American Football League draft. After his retirement as a football player, Novack became an actor in both television and film.

## Football career
### Scholastic football

Novack was an all-league and special mention Junior College All-American at Santa Monica City College (class of 1963), and first-team All-American at Long Beach State in 1964 and 1965.

### Professional football

In November 1965, Novack was drafted as a wide receiver by the American Football League (AFL) San Diego Chargers. He was the 135th pick in the 1966 AFL draft, but never played in a regular season game.
After two seasons in San Diego, Novack met Universal Studios acting coach Vincent Chase while playing in a touch football league during the offseason. Chase invited Novack to a meeting at the studios, which led to Novack embarking on an acting career.

## Acting career

In 1968, Novack made his screen debut in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television film A Punt, a Pass, and a Prayer. He went on to appear in guest roles on television shows such as Ironside, Police Story, The Streets of San Francisco, Quincy, M.E., The Virginian and The Love Boat.
Novack was a regular on the Quinn Martin-produced TV shows The F.B.I. (1973–74) and Most Wanted. In addition to television, he performed in a few theatrical film releases, including Johnny Finney in 1969's Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here; and Rolling, the cockpit mechanic who assists in moving the stranded jet, in 1970's Airport.
In 1977, Novack won the very first Toyota Grand Prix pro-celebrity race.

## Death

On May 27, 1978, Novack died of a heart attack in Santa Monica, California at age 34. He is interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1967–1970 | The Virginian | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 1968 | A Punt, a Pass, and a Prayer | Barney | Television movie |
| 1968–1974 | Ironside | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 1969 | The Outsider | Edward Potolski | Episode: "Service for One" |
| 1969 | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | H.P. Leader | Episode: "The Rebellion of the Body" |
| 1969 | Willie Boy | Johnny Finney | |
| 1969 | Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here | Johnny Finney | |
| 1969–1970 | The Name of the Game | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | The Forty-Eight Hour Mile | | Television movie |
| 1970 | McCloud | James Waldron | Episode: "Portrait of a Dead Girl" |
| 1970 | Airport | Rolling | |
| 1970 | Gunsmoke | Adam Bramley | Episode: "Stark" |
| 1970 | The Intruders | Theron Pardo | Television movie shot in 1967 |
| 1971 | Dan August | Matt Lawrence | Episode: "Days of Rage" |
| 1971 | The Mod Squad | Ed Kelton | Episode: "The Sands of Anger" |
| 1971 | The D.A. | | Episode: "The People versus Boley" |
| 1971 | Cade's County | Earl Grimes | Episode: "Inferno" |
| 1972 | Emergency! | Vern Hammond | Episode: "Hang-Up" |
| 1972 | Kansas City Bomber | Fan | |
| 1972 | The Rookies | Cody | Episode: "Concrete Valley, Neon Sky" |
| 1972 | Banyon | | Episode: "The Old College Try" |
| 1972–1975 | Medical Center | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1972–1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Circle of Fear | Art | Episode: "Dark Vengeance" |
| 1973 | The Letters | Sonny | Television movie |
| 1973 | The Delphi Bureau | Carson | Episode: "The Self-Destruct Project" |
| 1973 | Toke | | |
| 1973–1974 | Kung Fu | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1973–1974 | The F.B.I. | Agent Chris Daniels | |
| 1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker | York | Episode: "Horror in the Heights" |
| 1974–1977 | Police Story | Various roles | 7 episodes |
| 1975 | The Desperate Miles | Lou | Television movie |
| 1975 | Cop on the Beat | Henderson | Television movie |
| 1975 | Medical Story | Jerry | Television movie |
| 1975 | Hawaii Five-O | Officer Oliver MacDougall | Episode: "Sing a Song of Suspense" |
| 1975 | Barnaby Jones | Ralph Forester | Episode: "Portrait of Evil" |
| 1975 | Switch | Strayhorn | Episode: "Mistresses, Murderers and Millions" |
| 1976 | Bert D'Angelo/Superstar | Bobby Cox | Episode: "Murder In Velvet" |
| 1976 | Good Heavens | Andy Reed | Episode: "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" |
| 1976 | Vigilante Force | D.O. Viner | |
| 1976 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Wally Siebert | Episode: "Wipe-Out" |
| 1976–1977 | Most Wanted | Sgt. Charlie Benson | 22 episodes |
| 1977 | The Love Boat | Brad Brockway | Episode: "The Captain and the Lady/One If by Land/Centerfold" |
| 1977 | Quincy, M.E. | Ben | Episode: "The Hero Syndrome" |
| 1978 | Superdome | Peter Brooks | Television movie |
| 1978 | Love's Dark Ride | Karl Sears | Television movie, (final film role) |