Victor "Vic" Tayback (6 January 1930 – 25 May 1990 ; age 60), was an actor of Syrian Arabic descent born in New York City, New York. He portrayed Jojo Krako in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "A Piece of the Action" . He filmed his scenes on Friday 3 November 1967 , Wednesday 8 November 1967 and Thursday 9 November 1967 at Desilu Stage 9 and Stage 11. During the first season of TJ Hooker, Tayback guest starred as Lt. Pete Benedict (with William Shatner, Richard Herd, and Sid Haig) in the episode "Hooker's War". Vic Tayback died of heart failure in Glendale, California.