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Nehemiah Persoff

Nehemiah Persoff (August 2, 1919 – April 5, 2022) was an American actor and painter. He appeared in more than 200 television series, films, and theatre productions, and also performed as a voice artist in a career spanning 55 years.[1]

Nehemiah Persoff
Persoff in 1960
Born(1919-08-02)August 2, 1919
Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine
DiedApril 5, 2022(2022-04-05) (aged 102)
San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Citizenship
  • Israel
  • United States
EducationHebrew Technical Institute[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • painter
Years active1948–2003
Spouse
Thia Persov
​
​
(m. 1951; died 2021)​
Children4
Military career
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1942–1945
Battles / warsWorld War II
Signature

His first acting role was as an extra in The Naked City (1948). Persoff is best known for roles as Leo in The Harder They Fall (1956), as Little Bonaparte in Some Like It Hot (1959), as Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik in The Untouchables (1959–1963), as Rebbe Mendel in Yentl (1983), and as the voice of Papa Mousekewitz in the animated film An American Tail (1986) and its sequels. He also made appearances on episodes of The Twilight Zone, Gilligan's Island, Hawaii Five-O, Adam-12, and Law & Order.

Early life and education

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Persoff was born to Shmuel Persoff and Puah Holman in the city of Jerusalem in 1919.[2][3][4][5] His father, Shmuel, was a silversmith, jeweler, and art teacher born in Chernihiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine).[6] His mother, Puah, was a Palestinian Jew. His father decided that there were better prospects for him and his family in the United States and in 1923 immigrated on his own. By 1929, he had become financially secure in New York City and sponsored the immigration of his wife and three sons (Boaz, Avraham, and Nehemiah himself) and two daughters (Tamar and Geula).[7] At first, the family lived in an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, before eventually moving to The Bronx.[2] The family spoke Yiddish and Hebrew at home.[8] Persoff's parents later returned to Israel.[7]

Military service

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Persoff attended the Hebrew Technical Institute in New York City, graduating as a certified electrician in 1937.[9] In 1942, he was drafted into the United States Army and served for the remainder of World War II; he was assigned to the Special Services for entertainment.[10] After he completed his military service, he took up an electrician's job as a subway signal maintenance worker in New York City.[2]

Career

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Persoff began to pursue his acting career in New York theatre. In 1947, he was accepted into the Actors Studio and was one of the 26 members of the beginners' class taught by Elia Kazan, along with Martin Balsam, Julie Harris, Kim Hunter, Cloris Leachman, and James Whitmore.[2] He began his acting career in 1948.[11][12]

His first role was an uncredited bit part in the film noir The Naked City (1948).[13]

Among his early film roles was as the taxi driver during Marlon Brando's "I coulda been a contender" scene in On the Waterfront (1954);[2] Leo the accountant in The Harder They Fall (1956), with Humphrey Bogart and Rod Steiger;[2] and the gangster boss Little Bonaparte (a parody of Rico/Little Caesar) in Billy Wilder's film Some Like It Hot (1959),[14] and he appeared again with Steiger in Al Capone (also 1959).[2] He also appeared in supporting roles in films such as The Comancheros (1961)[15] and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965).[16]

Persoff, alongside Dean Stockwell and Andrew Bloch, appeared as Darius the Great's wicked Babylonian administrators in the 1978 Greatest Heroes of the Bible episode Daniel in the Lions' Den.[17]

In the film Yentl (1983), Persoff portrayed the father of Barbra Streisand's character.[18] He appeared in the comedy film Twins (1988)[19] and in the American Tail animated-film series as Papa Mousekewitz.[20] His last movie was 4 Faces (1999), the last film to be directed by Ted Post.[21]

His acting career included many appearances in television series, including six episodes of The Untouchables, three episodes of which he appeared as Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik (regarded by many as his signature role),[22] and Gilligan's Island as the title character in the episode "The Little Dictator" (the favorite episode of the show's creator Sherwood Schwartz).[23] Persoff appeared on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Most Toys" and was the oldest living male actor to appear in a Star Trek production at the time of his death.[24]

Retirement and memoir

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Persoff retired from acting in 2003 and pursued painting, specializing in watercolors.[25]

His memoir, The Many Faces of Nehemiah, was published by The Autumn Road Company in July 2021.[26][18]

Personal life

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In 1951, Persoff married Thia Persov, who had served as a nurse with the Palmach, the elite fighting force of the Haganah, during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[2] She died of cancer in 2021. The couple had four children: Jeffrey, Dan, Perry, and Dahlia.[2]

Death

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On April 5, 2022, at the age of 102, Persoff died of heart failure at a rehabilitation facility in San Luis Obispo, California.[1][2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director(s)
1948 The Naked City[13] Smiling Man Departing Subway Jules Dassin
1954 On the Waterfront[2] Cab Driver Elia Kazan
1956 The Harder They Fall[2] Leo Mark Robson
The Wrong Man[27] Gene Conforti Alfred Hitchcock
The Wild Party[16] Kicks Johnson Harry Horner
1957 Men in War[19] SFC Nate Lewis Anthony Mann
Street of Sinners[28] Leon William Berke
This Angry Age[29] Albert René Clément
1958 The Badlanders[30] Vincente Delmer Daves
1959 Never Steal Anything Small[31] Pinelli Charles Lederer
Green Mansions[19] Don Panta Mel Ferrer
Some Like It Hot[2] Little Bonaparte Billy Wilder
Al Capone[2] Johnny Torrio Richard Wilson
Day of the Outlaw[32] Dan Andre de Toth
1961 The Big Show[16] Bruno Everard James B. Clark
The Comancheros[15] Graile Michael Curtiz
John Wayne
1963 The Hook[19] Captain Van Ryn George Seaton
1964 A Global Affair[33] Under Secretary Segura Jack Arnold
Fate Is the Hunter[34] Ben Sawyer Ralph Nelson
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told[16] Shemiah George Stevens
1967 Too Many Thieves[35] Georgi Abner Biberman
1968 The Money Jungle[36] Lieutenant Dow Reeves Francis D. Lyon
The Day of the Owl[37] Pizzuco Damiano Damiani
The Power[38] Professor Carl Melnicker Byron Haskin
Panic in the City[39] August Best Eddie Davis
1969 The Girl Who Knew Too Much[40] Lieutenant Miles Crawford Francis D. Lyon
1970 The People Next Door[41] Dr. Salazar David Greene
1971 Mrs. Pollifax-Spy[42] Berisha Leslie H. Martinson
Red Sky at Morning[43] Amadeo Montoya James Goldstone
1972 Lapin 360[44] Unknown Robert Michael Lewis
1975 Psychic Killer[41] Dr. Gubner Ray Danton
1976 Voyage of the Damned[38] Mr. Hauser Stuart Rosenberg
1977 Deadly Harvest[45] Mort Logan Timothy Bond
1979 In Search of Historic Jesus[46] Herod Antipas Henning Schellerup
1981 St. Helens[47] Mr. Ellison Ernest Pintoff
1982 O'Hara's Wife[48] Dr. Fischer William Bartman
1983 Yentl[2] Rebbe Mendel (Papa) Barbra Streisand
1986 An American Tail[20] Papa Mousekewitz (voice) Don Bluth
1988 The Last Temptation of Christ[49] Rabbi Martin Scorsese
Twins[19] Mitchell Traven Ivan Reitman
1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West[50] Papa Mousekewitz (voice) Phil Nibbelink
Simon Wells
1998 An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island[51] Larry Latham
1999 An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster[52]
2001 4 Faces[21] Unknown Ted Post

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1949 Actors Studio Unknown
1953 Suspense Unknown
1953–1954 You Are There Captain de Sandoval
Goodyear Television Playhouse Papa / Joe Marco
1953–1955 The Philco Television Playhouse Various
1954–1955 The Stranger Unknown
1954–1956 Armstrong Circle Theatre The Man / Jeff Gardell
1955 The Man Behind the Badge Unknown
Appointment with Adventure Various
I Spy Phineas
1955–1957 Producers' Showcase Various
1955–1958 The United States Steel Hour Various
1956 Playwrights '56 Adam
The Kaiser Aluminum Hour Leonard Brill
1956–1957 Kraft Television Theatre Mr. Arnothy
1957 The Alcoa Hour Willie Hauptmann
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ralph Collins Season 3 Episode 4: "Heart of Gold"
1957-1960 Playhouse 90 Various
1958 Climax! Lieutenant Cal Nourse
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Jules Dreise
Shirley Temple's Storybook Ali Baba
1959 The Third Man Sandor Varnezki
Five Fingers Hildalgo
Mr. Lucky El Presidente
The Twilight Zone Carl Lanser Episode: "Judgment Night"[16]
1959–1962 The Untouchables Various 6 episodes
1959–1963 Naked City Various
1960 Startime Prior Andry
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Jeff Jensen Season 5 Episode 17: "The Cure"
Moment of Fear Unknown
The Witness Charles Becker
1961 Thriller Lieutenant Jim Wagner
Wagon Train Tiburcio Mendez
Route 66 Jack / Vladis Dvorovoi
Bus Stop Dr. Emil Kroger
1962 The Dick Powell Show El Valiente
King of Diamonds Frank Goby
The New Breed Louis Morley
Frontier Circus Paco Durando
1963 Sam Benedict Vernon Hill
1963–1964 Rawhide Michob / Domingo
1964–1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Alverian / Martin Vesper
Burke's Law Various
1965 Mr. Novak Henry Selkirk
For the People Stephen Wiseman
Seaway Montagna
Gilligan's Island Pancho Hernando Gonzalez Enriques Rodriguez Episode: "The Little Dictator"
Ben Casey Don Ferando
Convoy Dimitri Federenko
A Man Called Shenandoah Father Rodriguez
1965–1968 The Wild Wild West Major Hazard Episode: "The Night of the Underground Terror"
1965–1975 Gunsmoke[2] Jack Pinto,

Alex Skouras, Driscoll, Ben Rando

Episode: "Ten Little Indians"

Episode: "Blood Mondey"; Episode: "The Mark of Cain"; Episode: "Like Old Times"

1966 The Legend of Jesse James El Carnicero
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Dobbs
Honey West Faustini - Bogus Mystic
The Trials of O'Brien Georgi
The Big Valley General Vicente Ruiz Episode: "Legend of A General, Part 1 & 2"
Jericho Paul Marchand
The Time Tunnel[2] Professor Anton Biraki
1966–1967 I Spy Roop / Coly Collisi
1966 Mission: Impossible Prince Iben Kostas Episode: "Odds on Evil"
1967 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Valandros
Off to See the Wizard El Primero
The Danny Thomas Hour Lew Beckman
Maya Lansing, the Pilot
1967 The Wild Wild West Adam Barclay Saison 2, Episode 25: "La nuit de la mortelle floraison"
1968 Tarzan Chembe Kunji
CBS Playhouse Dr. Salazar
The Name of the Game Ambassador
1968–1972 The Wonderful World of Disney Artie Moreno / Captain Malcione
1968–1979 Hawaii Five-O[2] Various Episode: "Deathwatch"
1969 Mission: Impossible Igor Stravos Episode: "Fool's Gold"
1969 Mission: Impossible Phillipe Pereda Episode: "The Vault"
1969 It Takes a Thief Harry Lavender
Corwin Unknown
The Flying Nun Alonzo Baldazon
The Bill Cosby Show Mr. Byron
Land of the Giants Titus
1969–1972 The Mod Squad Various
1969–1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Various
1970 Cutter's Trail Santillo TV movie
Dan August Leo Cussoni
The High Chaparral Homero José
1970–1973 Love, American Style Carl Colbert / Mr. Stone
Insight Bishop Palmera / Mr. Gennaro
1971 The Chicago Teddy Bears Morris
1972 Adam-12 Angelo Covelli
Cool Million Karinakis
Mannix Anton Wojeska
The Streets of San Francisco 'Papa' Kampacalas
1973 Search Emmett Brugman
Purple Playhouse Dr. Van Helsing
Dr. Simon Locke Mr. John Warren
1973–1977 McCloud Tereshkov / Perry Cicero
1974 McMillan & Wife Clementa Habib
The Stranger Within Dr. Edward Klein TV movie
The Missiles of October[19] Andrei Gromyko TV movie
1974–1979 Police Story Dr. Burke / Fabrizzio
1975 The Invisible Man Dr. Leon Barnard
Ellery Queen Dr. Mustafa Haddid
1976 Columbo Jesse Jerome Episode: "Now You See Him"
Baretta Vittorio Luzianno
1977 The Six Million Dollar Man Major Popov
Wonder Woman Professor Moreno
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II Charles Dietrich
Hunter Sheik Farakbi
Quincy, M.E. Matt Dorsey
Charlie's Angels Anton
Police Woman Como
1978 Logan's Run Asa
Little House on the Prairie Mr. Olaf Lindstrom Episode: "The Stranger"
High Hopes Dr. Aaron Herzog
The Bionic Woman Dr. Philip Jennings
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye Saul Girardi
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women Charles Frohman TV movie
Sword of Justice Carlos
Vega$ The Sheikh
The Word Abbot Petropolous
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Vladimir
1978–1980 Fantasy Island Andreas / Horst Von Stern
1978–1981 Barney Miller[53] Carl Simms / Yacov Berger 3 episodes
1979 Delta House Mayor DePasto
Supertrain Max
Battlestar Galactica Eastern Alliance Leader
The Rebels Baron Von Steuben
The French Atlantic Affair Colonel Schreiner
1980 B.A.D. Cats Unknown
Matt and Jenny Barnabas Bletcher
The Littlest Hobo Lukash
F.D.R.: The Last Year Joseph Stalin TV movie
Condominium Conlaw
1983 This Is the Life Unknown
Sadat Leonid Brezhnev
1984 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Brobich
1985 Magnum, P.I. Rabbi Asher Solomon
Hotel Nicholas Petrovsky
1986 The Facts of Life Sam
Highway to Heaven Deputy Premier Andrey Malinoff
1987 Adderly Unknown
J.J. Starbuck Patul Batulik
1988 American Playhouse Marcus Hoff
1989 MacGyver Sam Bolinski
1990 L.A. Law Rabbi Isadore Glickman
Star Trek: The Next Generation Toff Episode: "The Most Toys"
Hunter Harold Goodman
Murder, She Wrote Constantin Stavros
1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Max Wernick
1993 Reasonable Doubts Klaus Reichel
Law & Order David Steinmetz
1995 Chicago Hope Rabbi Ben Taubler
1996 Tracey Takes On... Grandfather
2003 Angels in America Rabbi Episode: "Millennium Approaches: Bad News"; uncredited

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Evans, Greg (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff Dies: Prolific Actor Of 'Yentl', 'The Twilight Zone', 'Gunsmoke' & Many More Was 102". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Berger, Joseph (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff, Actor With a Familiar Face (and Voice), Dies at 102". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022.
  3. ^ International Television & Video Almanac (2007), pg. 366
  4. ^ This former Hollywood movie star living in Cambria just celebrated his 100th birthday
  5. ^ Schoenberg, Randy (March 12, 2015). "Nehemiah Persoff". GENi. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  6. ^ New York, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1882–1944
  7. ^ a b Persov-Persoff, Thia (December 3, 2014). "Shmuel Persov". GENi. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ^ 1930 United States census
  9. ^ "Hebrew Technical Institute Graduation Program". December 6, 2011 – via Flickr.
  10. ^ Tugend, Tom (October 5, 2021). "Jewish character actor Nehemiah Persoff looks back at ups and downs of his first 102 years". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Shadrak, Herbert (March 26, 2010). "Nehemiah Persoff: From Jerusalem to Hollywood – and Beyond". Cinema Retro. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  12. ^ Staggs, Sam (2005). When Blanche Met Brando: The Scandalous Story of "A Streetcar Named Desire". St. Martin's Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780312321642. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Seibold, Witney (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff, Character Actor Known For Yentl, The Twilight Zone, Some Like It Hot, Dies At 102". Slash Film. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  14. ^ Jeffrey Meyers: The Genius and the Goddess: Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe. University of Illinois Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-252-03544-9, p. 193.
  15. ^ a b Saltzman, Barbara (January 21, 1994). "Star Talk Enriches 'The Comancheros'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d e Evans, Greg (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff Dies: Prolific Actor Of 'Yentl', 'The Twilight Zone', 'Gunsmoke' & Many More Was 102". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "The Story of Daniel and the Lion (1978)". Archived from the original on July 27, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Nehemiah Persoff, one of Hollywood's busiest actors, dies at 102". Washington Post. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Dagan, Carmel (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff, Actor in 'Yentl,' 'Some Like It Hot,' Dies at 102". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Adams, Abigail (April 6, 2022). "Some Like It Hot, Gunsmoke and An American Tail Actor Nehemiah Persoff Dead at 102". Yahoo! News. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Israel, David (April 6, 2022). "Character Actor Nehemiah Persoff Dead at 102, Played in On the Waterfront, Gunsmoke, Yentl". Jewish Press. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  22. ^ "Exclusive! Interview with acclaimed actor nehemiah persoff - Cinema Retro". cinemaretro.com.
  23. ^ Cantor, Paul A. (July 15, 2011). "What 'Gilligan's Island' creator Sherwood Schwartz was saying about democracy". The Washington Post.
  24. ^ Spelling, Ian (April 7, 2022). "Oldest Living Male 'Star Trek' Actor Dies at 102". heavy.com. Heavy Inc. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  25. ^ "Nehemiah Persoff retired from screen to canvas". Senior Voice. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  26. ^ "At 102, SLO County actor and painter Nehemiah Persoff adds a new title — author". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "The Wrong Man (1956) -- Booked for a Holdup". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  28. ^ "Street of Sinners (1957)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  29. ^ Nason, Richard W. (June 26, 1958). "This Angry Age". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  30. ^ "The Badlanders". TV Guide. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  31. ^ Weiler, A. H. (February 12, 1959). "'Never Steal Anything Small' on View". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  32. ^ "Day of the Outlaw". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  33. ^ "A Global Affair". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  34. ^ "Fate Is the Hunter". TV Guide. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  35. ^ "Too Many Thieves (1966)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  36. ^ "The Money Jungle". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  37. ^ "Il giorno della civetta (The Day of the Owl)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 8, 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  38. ^ a b D'Angelo, Bob (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff, actor in 'Some Like It Hot,' 'Yentl,' dead at 102". WFTV-9 ABC. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  39. ^ "Panic in the City". Variety. January 1, 1968. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  40. ^ "The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1968)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  41. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (April 6, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff, Actor in 'Some Like It Hot,' 'On the Waterfront' and 'Yentl,' Dies at 102". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  42. ^ "Mrs. Pollifax-Spy". TV Guide. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  43. ^ Lapin, Andrew (April 7, 2022). "Nehemiah Persoff, Jewish character actor with more than 200 roles, dies at 102". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  44. ^ "Lapin 360 (1972)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  45. ^ "Deadly Harvest". TV Guide. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  46. ^ "In Search of Historic Jesus (1979)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  47. ^ Rosin, James (April 22, 2008). "Nehemiah Persoff". Films of the Golden Age. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  48. ^ "O'Hara's Wife". TV Guide. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  49. ^ "The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  50. ^ Zad, Martie (May 10, 1992). "'Fievel Goes West'". Washington Post. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  51. ^ "An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  52. ^ "An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  53. ^ "The Ghost". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
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