Date of Birth 18 February 1919, Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, USA Date of Death 10 November 2006, Montecito, California, USA (natural causes) Birth Name Vladimir Ivanovich Palahniuk Height 6' 4" (1.93 m) Elaine Rochelle Rogers (6 May 1987 - 10 November 2006) (his death) Virginia Baker (21 April 1949 - 5 June 1968) (divorced) (3 children Of Ukrainian descent, Palance was born Volodymyr Jack Palahniuk on February 18, 1919, in Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania coal country, to Anna (Gramiak) and Ivan Palahniuk. His father, an anthracite miner, died of black lung disease. The sensitive, artistic lad worked in the mines in his early years but averted the same fate as his father. Athletics was his ticket out of the mines when he won a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina. He subsequently dropped out to try his hand at professional boxing. Fighting under the name "Jack Brazzo," he won his first 15 fights, 12 by knockout, before losing a 4th round decision to future heavyweight contender Joe Baksi on Dec. 17, 1940.