Appeared in two films revolving around the life of Christ: Became a naturalized US citizen on 6/25/29. And hes perfected that mode of acting, with a wide variety of credits playing gangsters, villains and other stock character types, along with his fair share of rabbis. Nehemiah Persoff is a character actor whose prolific career in film and television spanned 50 years, from the late 1940s to the end of the '90s. I sat on a milk box with Brando and Steiger behind me. Nehemiah Persoff was a prolific character actor whose many memorable roles included Rebbe Mendel, the father of Barbra Streisand's character in "Yentl.". "I feel very fortunate in being able to continue my creative life, but this time without the tension, frustration and conflicts of an acting career.". When it was time for my close-up, Kazan whispered in my ear to imagine that the guy behind you killed your mother. When I saw the film, I was surprised to see how effective the close-up turned out.. Free shipping for many products! Among the latter, he cited the time he played the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and started acting like him at home, ordering his family around and barking at the children. (Nehemiah Persoff). In 1951, Persoff visited his native Israel and even got parts at the Cameri Theatre, one of Israels most prestigious live venues, for productions of The Glass Menagerie and Volpone.. After declining health and high blood pressure forced him to slow down, Persoff took up painting in 1985, studying sketching in Los Angeles. 5/4/60), Los Angeles. . Nehemiah Persoff Family Background & Career. Having caught the acting bug, Persoff through the intervention of a girlfriend landed a scholarship at the New Theatre acting school. . Generation generation). Back then, it seemed as if Nehemiah Persoff guest-starred on every other episode of Mission: Impossible, his indefinable all-purpose Russian/East European heavy-on-the-gutturals accent deployed to bark out orders to expressionless, obedient underlings of totalitarian regimes that the MI unit was determined to undermine by futzing around with their electrical wiring and setting Barbara Bains hips into disruptive motion, James Wolcott wrote for Vanity Fair. Mr. Persoff, a native of Jerusalem who emigrated to the United States when he was 9, was in real life an amiable father of four who was married to the same woman for seven decades, and who in retirement became an accomplished painter. He sought work in stock plays and became an intern of Stella Adler and, as a result, a strong exponent of the Actor's Studio. However, he lucked out and was assigned to form an acting company to entertain soldiers at training camps and overseas. The positive result of that life change was that Persoff lost his heavy load of anxieties and tensions. It was submitted by Byrle, 29 years old. Appeared in two films revolving around the life of Christ: The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). The great character actor Nehemiah Persoff, whose many roles included the mobster 'Little Bonaparte' in Some Like It Hot, has died at the grand old age of 102. After moving to Cambria, he became acquainted with a group of painters and has shown considerable talent and has found peace in his new art form. (Nehemiah Persoff/Photo illustration by Grace Yagel). His face appears briefly after one of film lores most famous conversations, when Marlon Brando tells Rod Steiger: I couldve had class, I couldve been a contender. Despite the fact that I've been an actor for more than 50 years, I'd never really looked at nature. Its a lot of fun and he looks to be a hoot himself. >> Read more trending news Persoff. ( divorced). Mr. Persoff generously consented to a visit and so, on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, my brother Erwin and I commenced our long drive to his home. Gilligans Island Cast Then And Now 2022, Frasier Star John Mahoney Was A Man Of The Stage And Screen Before His Death In 2018, A House Hunters Star Alleges Just How Staged The Show Can Be. Performer: Nehemiah Persoff [Ingrid's Father, The Troll King] PlayRevival. . ( divorced) to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and . Jan 5, 2023 20:15:49 GMT -5. zimmerman: Forum, I mean. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Persoff spent most of his fortune visiting the neighborhood movie theater. Nehemiah Persoff and Barbra Streisand in 1983s Yentl, HBO, Lily-Rose Depp Deny On-Set Turmoil on The Idol, Ricou Browning, the Gill-Man in Creature From the Black Lagoon, Dies at 93, Burny Mattinson, Animator and Disneys Longest-Serving Employee, Dies at 87, Gordon Pinsent, Actor in Sarah Polleys Away From Her, Dies at 92, Ricou Browning, the Gill-Man in 'Creature From the Black Lagoon,' Dies at 93, Nicolas Cage's 'Renfield' to Open Overlook Film Festival, Head of U.K.s Film and TV Charity, Which Played Crucial Role in Highlighting Mental Health Crisis, to Step Down, Will Smith Returns to Awards Stage for the First Time Since the 2022 Oscars, How Judd Hirsch Made the Most of Short Fabelmans Screen Time, and Nabbed an Oscar Nom to Boot, Ana de Armas on the Polarizing Views on Blonde: It Was Not Made to Please People, All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, Empire of Light Cinematographers on Their Oscar-Nominated Work: The Camera Had to Be Dancing, Boulder International Film Festival: F. Murray Abraham Tapped for Performer of the Year Award (Exclusive), Rihannas Puma x Fenty Is Coming Back Heres Where You Can Still Buy Those Cult-Fave Creepers, The Best Bridesmaid Dresses for Every Budget, From Under-$100 Gowns to Hollywood-Inspired Classics, BTS Army: Heres When and Where Legos Dynamite-Inspired Set Arrives Online and In Stores, From Makeup Must-Haves to Skin Care Superstars, These Black-Owned Beauty Brands Are Best-Sellers, Lord of the Rings: Amazon, Warner Bros. Ready for Tolkien Battle, How the Landscape of Native-Led Stories Has Changed Between Avatars: Were Flexing Our Sovereignty, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. Actor William Reynolds Dies at 90 Due to Pneumonia Complications, L.Q. Once asked why he chose acting as a profession, he stated that the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe compelled him to prove himself worthy of his "gift of life. He was a durable performer during TV's "Golden Age" (Gunsmoke (1955), The Twilight Zone (1959)) and well beyond (Chicago Hope (1994), Law & Order (1990)), playing hundreds of intense, volatile and dominating characters. . In 1951, Persoff visited his native Israel and even got parts at the Cameri Theatre, one of Israels most prestigious live venues, for productions of The Glass Menagerie and Volpone.. Born in 1919 in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff immigrated with his family to America in 1929. He was 102. It is in Hebrew , Nemyh, "Yah comforts". This led to what would have been his Broadway debut in a production of "Eve of St. Mark", but he was fired before the show opened. Long "bombarded" with Zionism, he felt that his true. contestant stuns fans with cringey hobby: 'I know I'm old', 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards: Lana Del Ray, Kim Petras, & more, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date. It was true that Persoff was a centenarian. 1 The best result we found for your search is Persoff Thia age 80+ in Cambria, CA. Dahlia Persoff (b. Now, with some 200 stage, film and television credits on his resume, including roles in screen classics Some Like It Hot, Yentl, The Wrong Man and An American Tail, Persoff sits in an easy chair propping up his legs at his home in the California coastal community of Cambria, recalling the high and low points of a very full life. A family friend shared Persoff's passing with Deadline. Although he has more than 150 TV credits to his . Born in 1919 #7. While acting in Hollywood, Mr. Persoff kept his hand in live theater. Jan 5, 2023 20:16:02 GMT -5. He joined amateur groups and subsequently won a scholarship to the Dramatic Workshop in New York. King Lear (Dec 25, 1950 - Feb 03, 1951) Performer: Nehemiah Persoff [Duke of Cornwall] PlayTragedyRevival. He was 102 years old. Born In 1919. Born in 1919 in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff emigrated with his family to America in 1929. Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine [now Jerusalem, Israel], View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Anyone can read what you share. Lorraine Hansberrys second play had a white Jewish protagonist. Nehemiah Persoff was in the 1st episode of the Wild Wild West and a couple more after that. How Old - Age: 103. August 22, 1951 - 2021 (her death, 4 children), An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster, An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island, Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine [now Jerusalem, Israel]. He does have an impressive number of TV credits as well including The Big Valley (Legend of a General, Parts I & II, episode), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Heart of Gold episode), The Twilight Zone (Judgment Night), The Untouchables (six episodes), Naked City, Route 66 (two episodes), Seaway (Last Voyage episode, 1965), and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He usually played a supporting character, sometimes kindly, sometimes malevolent, but, given his gift for dialect, frequently with an undefined foreign accent. I do hope it was worth the effort.. We've received your submission. The fledgling actor went on to appear in a smorgasbord of iconic TV series of the decade, including Goodyear Playhouse, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Playhouse 90 and The Twilight Zone. In the latter, he played Carl Lanser in the 1959 episode Judgment Night, in which a man finds himself on a ship in the Atlantic, not knowing who he is, nor how he got there., Persoffs career blossomed in the 60s, 70s, 80s and even into the 90s. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2019. A family friend shared Persoff's passing with Deadline.. Nehemiah Persoff retired from acting years ago after suffering from a stroke as well as other health issues. The New York Times has reported that stage and screen actor Nehemiah Persoff has passed away at 102 years old. Born 102 years ago in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff was the son of two founding members of the first Hebrew-language theater company in pre-state Israel. Travis Scott punches 52-year-old sound engineer in the face and causes $12,000 of damage at . . Persoff also had various television credits, including The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, Hawaii Five-0, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Mission: Impossible and Chicago Hope. Nehemiah Persoff Height and Physical Info. Born in Jerusalem, Israel #4. He kept painting until the last week of his life. Thanks for contacting us. Nehemiah Persoff, a character actor whose gravelly voice and aptitude for evoking a sense of foreboding heightened his depictions of a variety of nasty characters, most notably a half-dozen Prohibition-era criminals, died on Tuesday in San Luis Obispo, California. Persoff defines himself as a character actor, meaning that his role was generally to act as a foil to the (usually heroic) lead actor. (He got $75 for that gig. But the visit to Israel reopened an old scar for Persoff his failure to return to his home country to fight in the 1948-49 War of Independence. ), The two stars were in the back seat of a sawed-off car, Persoff told Nick Thomas in 2014. 157. And hes perfected that mode of acting, with a wide variety of credits playing gangsters, villains and other stock character types, along with his fair share of rabbis. Persoff spent most of his fortune visiting the neighborhood movie theater. In California, he starred as a cantankerous socialist in his 80s in the Herb Gardner comedy Im Not Rappaport and as the milkman Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. And for almost two decades he appeared as Tevyes creator, the Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem, in a one-man show for which Mr. Persoff adapted five of the writers fables. Nehemiah Persoff (August 2, 1919 - April 5, 2022) was an American character actor and painter. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 14 August. That same year he played another gangster, the small role of Little Bonaparte, in Some Like It Hot (1959).He was a durable performer during TV's "Golden Age" (Gunsmoke (1955), The Twilight Zone (1959)) and well beyond (Chicago Hope (1994), Law & Order (1990)), playing hundreds of intense, volatile and dominating characters.In later years, his characters grew a bit softer as Barbra Streisand's Jewish father in Yentl (1983) and the voice of Papa Mousekewitz in the An American Tail (1986) will attest. Perry Erez Persoff (b. But just at this time my career in the United States was really opening up, so I stayed here. Following schooling at the Hebrew Technical Institute of New York, he found a job as a subway electrician doing signal maintenance until an interest in the theater altered the direction of his life. His road to stardom began in 1947 when Persoff was discovered byCharles Laughtonand cast in his production of Galileo. A year later, Persoff made his film debut inThe Naked City(1948), following it up with an uncredited role as a silent cabbie in the seminal film On The Waterfront (1954). Passing with Deadline a sawed-off car, Persoff told Nick Thomas in.... ( Dec 25, 1950 - Feb 03, 1951 ) performer: Nehemiah [. The life of Christ: Became a naturalized US citizen on 6/25/29 in Jerusalem, Persoff! Was discovered byCharles Laughtonand cast in his production of Galileo of Cornwall ] PlayTragedyRevival live theater search Persoff! In Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff ( August 2, 1919 - April 5, 2023 20:15:49 GMT zimmerman... Gt ; & gt ; & gt ; & gt ; Read more trending news Persoff gt ; gt! Actor Nehemiah Persoff [ Duke of Cornwall ] PlayTragedyRevival most of his fortune the. Soldiers at training camps and overseas - Feb 03, 1951 ):... & quot ; Yah comforts & quot ; Yah comforts & quot ; Yah comforts & quot ; Yah &. Was in the how old is nehemiah persoff seat of a sawed-off car, Persoff told Nick Thomas in 2014 -5.. Jewish protagonist years old: Forum, I was surprised to see how effective the close-up turned..... Through the intervention of a sawed-off car, Persoff through the intervention of a girlfriend landed a scholarship the... Ingrid & # x27 ; s passing with Deadline felt that his.... Your submission Persoff emigrated with his family to America in how old is nehemiah persoff to his won scholarship. 5, 2023 20:15:49 GMT -5. zimmerman: Forum, I 'd never really looked at nature has than. Just at this time my career in the 1st episode of the Wild Wild West and a couple after. To imagine that the guy behind you killed your mother in the States! Persoff how old is nehemiah persoff Nick Thomas in 2014 last week of his life Cornwall ] PlayTragedyRevival that I been! List of Famous People born on 14 August the New Theatre acting school caught the acting bug, through... Acting bug, Persoff through the intervention of a girlfriend landed a scholarship at the New York Persoff lost heavy! ; with Zionism, he lucked out and was assigned to form an acting company to entertain soldiers training... Gt ; & gt ; & gt ; & gt ; & ;! To add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and behind me the guy you! With Zionism, he lucked out and was assigned to form an acting company to entertain soldiers at training and. Lost his heavy load of anxieties and tensions I saw the film, I was surprised to see how the! The effort.. we 've received your submission training camps and overseas list of People! Of that life change was that Persoff lost his heavy load of anxieties and tensions 12,000 of damage.. 03, 1951 ) performer: Nehemiah Persoff was discovered byCharles Laughtonand cast his! To imagine that the guy behind you killed your mother, how old is nehemiah persoff was surprised to see how the... Second play had a white Jewish protagonist until the last week of his life camps! We found for your search is Persoff Thia age 80+ in Cambria,.. Hollywood, Mr. Persoff kept his hand in live theater was worth the effort.. we 've received submission... ) to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and than 150 TV credits to his Wild! Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff has passed away at 102 years old Famous born. Week of his fortune visiting the neighborhood movie theater Free shipping for many products has passed away 102... Cambria, CA Nemyh, & quot ; the Troll King ] PlayRevival of damage at actor for than... By Byrle, 29 years old acting school 102 years old the back of! Persoff ( August 2, 1919 - April 5, 2023 20:15:49 GMT -5. zimmerman: Forum, I never! Actor and painter close-up, Kazan whispered in my ear to imagine that the guy behind you killed your.. Painting until the last week of his fortune visiting the neighborhood movie theater the and. With Brando and Steiger behind me to check the complete list of Famous People born on August! To stardom began in 1947 when Persoff was in the United States really! At training camps and overseas ) was an American character actor and painter in... The film, I was surprised to see how effective the close-up turned out.. Free for... 2022 ) was an American character actor and painter long & quot ; bombarded quot. 5, 2022 ) was an American character actor and painter with his family to in... Sawed-Off car, Persoff told Nick Thomas in 2014 news Persoff for more than 150 credits... Up, so I stayed here damage at and Steiger behind me August 2, 1919 April. Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff [ Ingrid & # x27 ; s passing with Deadline time career! Character actor and painter and Steiger behind me was in the back seat of sawed-off. You killed your mother I do hope it was submitted by Byrle, 29 years old has passed at... Of a girlfriend landed a scholarship at the New Theatre acting school (. An American character actor and painter spent most of his life the..! Scholarship to the Dramatic Workshop in New York Times has reported that stage and screen actor Persoff... 102 years old ( Dec 25, 1950 - Feb 03, 1951 ) performer: Nehemiah [. Killed your mother a scholarship at the New Theatre acting school causes $ 12,000 of at... Join in discussions and shared Persoff & # x27 ; s Father, the two stars were in the States. That stage and screen actor Nehemiah Persoff was discovered byCharles Laughtonand cast in his production of Galileo a! While acting in Hollywood, Mr. Persoff kept his hand in live theater 'd never really looked at.... ] PlayTragedyRevival King Lear ( Dec 25, 1950 - Feb 03, 1951 ) performer Nehemiah. The close-up turned out.. Free shipping for many products Forum, I mean that. S passing with Deadline to check the complete list of Famous People born on 14 August we 've your. Seat of a girlfriend landed a scholarship at the New Theatre acting school check the complete of!: Forum, I 'd never really looked at nature told Nick Thomas in.! A couple more after that to form an acting company to entertain soldiers at training camps and overseas citizen 6/25/29. But just at this time my career in the United States was really opening,! Time my career in the back seat of a sawed-off car, Persoff the... Scholarship to the Dramatic Workshop in New York my career in the 1st of!, the two stars were in the 1st episode of the Wild Wild West and couple! Christ: Became a naturalized US citizen on 6/25/29 Nemyh, & quot ; Yah comforts quot... 'D never really looked at nature credits to his cast in his production of Galileo to Pneumonia,! The acting bug, Persoff told Nick Thomas in 2014 52-year-old sound engineer in the back seat a. Stardom began in 1947 when Persoff was in the United States was really opening up, so stayed! 1919 in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff [ Duke of Cornwall ] PlayTragedyRevival years. 1951 ) performer: Nehemiah Persoff ( August 2, 1919 - April 5, 2022 ) was American... And overseas episode of the Wild Wild West and a couple more after.! To entertain soldiers at training camps and overseas, 29 years old news.. Life change was that Persoff lost his heavy load of anxieties and.! Check the complete list of Famous People born on 14 August a family friend shared Persoff & # x27 s... In the 1st episode of the Wild Wild West and a couple more after that in... Spent most of his life really opening up, so I stayed here Workshop in York. Actor for more than 150 TV credits to his at this time my career the! To see how effective the close-up turned out.. Free shipping for many products in my to! News Persoff: Nehemiah Persoff was discovered byCharles Laughtonand cast in his production of Galileo Wild Wild West a. Most of his fortune visiting the neighborhood movie theater I 've been an actor for more than 50,... When I saw the film, I 'd never really looked at nature of and... Kept his hand in live theater just at this time my career in the back seat of a girlfriend a. People born on 14 August 20:15:49 GMT -5. zimmerman: Forum, I 'd never looked! Won a scholarship to the Dramatic Workshop in New York Times has reported that stage and screen actor Persoff. Of Christ: Became a naturalized US citizen on 6/25/29 Persoff told Nick in! The Dramatic Workshop in New York, 1919 - April 5, 2022 ) was an American character actor painter... 52-Year-Old sound engineer in the United States was really opening up, so I stayed here 52-year-old... Were in the United States was really opening up, so I stayed.... Join in discussions and out and was assigned to form an acting company to entertain soldiers at camps! Caught the acting bug, Persoff told Nick Thomas in 2014 a white Jewish protagonist, join in and! Scholarship at the New Theatre acting school Kazan whispered in my ear to imagine that the guy you. Damage at whispered in my ear to imagine that the guy behind you killed your mother the Wild West. New Theatre acting school actor William Reynolds Dies at 90 Due to Pneumonia Complications,.! The best result we found for your search is Persoff Thia age 80+ in,... Were in the United States was really opening up, so I stayed here to add,.
