Jack Laird (May 8, 1923 – December 3, 1991) was an American television producer, writer, director and actor who received three Emmy nominations for writing and/or producing the TV series Ben Casey, Night Gallery and Kojak.Laird entered the entertainment industry at a young age. One of his first appearances as a child actor was in an unbilled bit part in the 1934 film The Circus Clown.