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Nehemiah Persoff

Acting 102 (deceased) years old Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate ★ 1.5
Born: August 2, 1919
Died: April 5, 2022

Biography

Nehemiah Persoff (August 2, 1919 – April 5, 2022) was an American film and television actor. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate.

Born in what is now part of Israel, Persoff emigrated with his family to the United States in 1929. He began to take an interest in acting in the 1940s, and after serving in the Army during World War II, he began to pursue his acting career in the New York Theater. In 1947, he was accepted into the Actor's Studio and eventually began appearing in films.

His film credits include: On the Waterfront, Some Like It Hot, Al Capone, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Voyage of the Damned, The Comancheros, Yentl (portraying Barbra Streisand's character's father), Twins and the American Tail (animated-film series) (voiced, "Papa Mousekewitz").

Persoff appeared in such television series as, Five Fingers ("The Moment of Truth"), The Big Valley ("Legend of a General", Parts I & II, episode), The Twilight Zone ("Judgment Night" episode), Alfred Hitchcock Presents ("Heart of Gold" episode), The Untouchables, Naked City, The Legend of Jesse James, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, Hawaii Five-O, Ellery Queen ("The Adventure of the Pharaoh's Curse" episode), Mission: Impossible (3 episodes), Adam-12 ("Vendetta" episode), Charlie's Angels, Hunter, Columbo, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Magnum, P.I., Law & Order and Chicago Hope.

In the mid-1980s, Persoff began to pursue painting, specializing in watercolour. This was at a time when health problems forced him to decrease his acting workload.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Nehemiah Persoff, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Columbo
Columbo Jesse Jerome 1971
Wagon Train
Wagon Train Tiburcio Mendez 1957
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. Rabbi Asher Solomon 1980
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Carl Lanser 1959
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Harry Cardonus 1968

Jimmy's Seen (2)

New Jack City
New Jack City Michob 1991
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver Prof. Anton Biraki 1976

Filmography

Acting Credits (196)

Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story Self - Interviewee 2022
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom Self 2012
4 Faces
4 Faces 2001
An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster
An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster Papa Mousekewitz (voice) 1999
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island Papa Mousekewitz (voice) 1998
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope Rabbi Ben Taubler 1994
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Papa Mousekewitz (voice) 1991
Law & Order
Law & Order David Steinmetz 1990
Twins
Twins Mitchell Traven 1988
The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ Rabbi 1988
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation Toff 1987
J.J. Starbuck
J.J. Starbuck 1987
An American Tail
An American Tail Papa Mousekewitz (voice) 1986
L.A. Law
L.A. Law Rabbi Isadore Glickman 1986
MacGyver
MacGyver Sam Bolinski 1985
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote Constantin Stavros 1984
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven 1984
Hunter
Hunter Harold Goodman 1984
Yentl
Yentl Rebbe Mendel 1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Scarecrow and Mrs. King 1983
Hotel
Hotel 1982
O'Hara's Wife
O'Hara's Wife Dr. Fischer 1982
St. Helens
St. Helens Mr. Ellison 1982
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. Rabbi Asher Solomon 1980
Turnover Smith
Turnover Smith Ashmed Amad 1980
The Henderson Monster
The Henderson Monster Prof. Leo Tedeschi 1980
F.D.R.: The Last Year
F.D.R.: The Last Year Josef Stalin 1980
Condominium
Condominium Conlaw 1980
B.A.D. Cats
B.A.D. Cats 1980
The French Atlantic Affair
The French Atlantic Affair Col. Schreiner 1979
The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life 1979
In Search of Historic Jesus
In Search of Historic Jesus Herod Antipas 1979
A Cry For Justice
A Cry For Justice Dr. Burke 1979
The Rebels
The Rebels Baron Von Steuben 1979
Daniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel in the Lions' Den Malimar 1978
The Word
The Word Abbot Petropolous 1978
Vega$
Vega$ 1978
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica Eastern Alliance Leader 1978
A Double Life
A Double Life 1978
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women Charles Frohman 1978
Killing Stone
Killing Stone Earl Stone 1978
The Making of a President
The Making of a President 1978
Logan's Run
Logan's Run ASA 1977
Deadly Harvest
Deadly Harvest Mort Logan 1977
Hunter
Hunter Sheik Farakbi 1977
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries Vladimir 1977
Voyage of the Damned
Voyage of the Damned Herr Hauser 1976
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E. 1976
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident Rudenko 1976
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels Anton 1976
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II Charles Dietrich 1976
McNaughton's Daughter
McNaughton's Daughter Vinnie Laine 1976
The Bionic Woman
The Bionic Woman 1976
Psychic Killer
Psychic Killer Doctor Gubner 1975
Eric
Eric Dr. Duchesnes 1975
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman Professor Moreno 1975
Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen 1975
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man Dr. Leon Barnard 1975
Barney Miller
Barney Miller Carl Simms 1975
Barney Miller
Barney Miller Yacov Berger 1975
Baretta
Baretta 1975
The Stranger Within
The Stranger Within Dr. Edward Klein 1974
The Sex Symbol
The Sex Symbol Nick Fortis 1974
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie 1974
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man Major Popov 1974
Police Story
Police Story 1973
Purple Playhouse
Purple Playhouse Dr. Van Helsing 1973
Dracula
Dracula Dr. Van Helsing 1973
Cool Million
Cool Million Karinakis 1972
Lieutenant Schuster's Wife
Lieutenant Schuster's Wife Champagne Joe Carroll 1972
Lapin 360
Lapin 360 1972
The Streets of San Francisco
The Streets of San Francisco 1972
Search
Search 1972
Michael O'Hara the Fourth
Michael O'Hara the Fourth Artie Moreno 1972
McMillan & Wife
McMillan & Wife Clementa Habib 1971
The Chicago Teddy Bears
The Chicago Teddy Bears 1971
Columbo
Columbo Jesse Jerome 1971
Red Sky at Morning
Red Sky at Morning Amadeo Montoya 1971
Mrs. Pollifax — Spy
Mrs. Pollifax — Spy Berisha 1971
Dan August
Dan August Leo Cussoni 1970
The People Next Door
The People Next Door Dr. Salazar 1970
McCloud
McCloud 1970
McCloud
McCloud Perry Cicero 1970
Cutter's Trail
Cutter's Trail Santillo 1970
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
The Girl Who Knew Too Much Lieutenant Crawford 1969
Love, American Style
Love, American Style Mr. Stone 1969
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D. Max Behrman 1969
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show Mr. Byron 1969
Escape to Mindanao
Escape to Mindanao Capt. Kramer 1968
The Treasure of San Bosco Reef
The Treasure of San Bosco Reef Captain Malcione 1968
The Treasure of San Bosco Reef
The Treasure of San Bosco Reef Captain Malcione 1968
Panic in the City
Panic in the City August Best 1968
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad 1968
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad Nick Master 1968
Land of the Giants
Land of the Giants Titus 1968
Adam-12
Adam-12 Angelo Covelli 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Harry Cardonus 1968
The Name of the Game
The Name of the Game Ambassador 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Winkler 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Leo Paoli 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Cordell 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Victor Palua 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Allie Francis 1968
The Power
The Power Prof. Carl Melnicker 1968
The Day of the Owl
The Day of the Owl Pizzuco 1968
It Takes a Thief
It Takes a Thief Harry Lavender 1968
The Money Jungle
The Money Jungle Lt. Dow Reeves 1967
Mannix
Mannix Anton Wojeska 1967
The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral Homero José 1967
The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones
The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones Skoda 1966
CBS Playhouse
CBS Playhouse 1966
Too Many Thieves
Too Many Thieves Georgi 1966
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible Igor Stravos 1966
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible Phillipe Pereda 1966
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible Prince Iben Kostas 1966
Jericho
Jericho 1966
The Time Tunnel
The Time Tunnel Prof. Anton Biraki 1966
Tarzan
Tarzan Chembe Kunji 1966
Honey West
Honey West Faustini 1965
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West Major Hazard 1965
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West Gen. Andreas Cassinello 1965
The Big Valley
The Big Valley General Vicente Ruiz 1965
The Legend of Jesse James
The Legend of Jesse James El Carnicero 1965
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told Shemiah 1965
Fate Is the Hunter
Fate Is the Hunter Ben Sawyer 1964
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island 1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Valandros 1964
A Global Affair
A Global Affair Under Secretary Segura 1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre 1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Alverian 1963
Mr. Novak
Mr. Novak Henry Selkirk 1963
Burke's Law
Burke's Law Jason Flonder 1963
Burke's Law
Burke's Law Albert Indigo, 'Mr. I' 1963
Burke's Law
Burke's Law Wilhelm Kasimer 1963
The Hook
The Hook Capt. Van Ryn 1963
Sam Benedict
Sam Benedict 1962
The Comancheros
The Comancheros Graile 1961
The New Breed
The New Breed Louis Morley 1961
Ben Casey
Ben Casey 1961
Bus Stop
Bus Stop 1961
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Wonderful World of Disney 1961
The Big Show
The Big Show Bruno Everard 1961
Route 66
Route 66 1960
Mr. Lucky
Mr. Lucky 1959
The Untouchables
The Untouchables Jake 'Greasy Thumb' Guzik 1959
The Untouchables
The Untouchables Johnny Fortunato 1959
The Untouchables
The Untouchables Waxey Gordon 1959
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Carl Lanser 1959
The Killers of Mussolini
The Killers of Mussolini Benito Mussolini 1959
Day of the Outlaw
Day of the Outlaw Dan, Starret's Foreman 1959
Al Capone
Al Capone Johnny Torrio 1959
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot Little Bonaparte 1959
Green Mansions
Green Mansions Don Panta 1959
For Whom the Bell Tolls
For Whom the Bell Tolls Pablo 1959
Never Steal Anything Small
Never Steal Anything Small Pinelli 1959
Rawhide
Rawhide Domingo 1959
Rawhide
Rawhide Michob 1959
Naked City
Naked City Barney Peters 1958
Naked City
Naked City Carlos Ruldan 1958
Naked City
Naked City Max Evar 1958
Naked City
Naked City Dominic Venussi 1958
Naked City
Naked City Berco Romanu 1958
Naked City
Naked City Merritt Griffin 1958
The Badlanders
The Badlanders Vincente (The Powder Monkey) 1958
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Shirley Temple's Storybook Ali Baba 1958
This Angry Age
This Angry Age Albert Legros 1957
Wagon Train
Wagon Train Tiburcio Mendez 1957
The Death of Manolete
The Death of Manolete Camera 1957
Street of Sinners
Street of Sinners Leon 1957
Men in War
Men in War Sgt. Lewis 1957
Mayerling
Mayerling Police Officer 1957
The Wrong Man
The Wrong Man Gene Conforti 1956
The Wild Party
The Wild Party Kicks Johnson 1956
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 Pablo 1956
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 Prisoners Father 1956
The Harder They Fall
The Harder They Fall Leo 1956
Playwrights '56
Playwrights '56 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ralph Collins 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Jeff Jensen 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Jack Pinto 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Mr. Dano 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Alex Skouras 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Driscoll 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Ben Rando 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Alejo Etchahoun 1955
The Thief
The Thief D'Arnault-Olivier 1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Wonderful World of Disney Artie Moreno 1954
Climax!
Climax! Lieutenant Cal Nourse 1954
On the Waterfront
On the Waterfront Cab Driver (uncredited) 1954
The Motorola Television Hour
The Motorola Television Hour 1953
The United States Steel Hour
The United States Steel Hour Dr. Arnault / Oliver 1953
Marty
Marty The Critic 1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Dr. Duchesnes 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Jules Dreise 1951
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Armstrong Circle Theatre 1950
The Philco Television Playhouse
The Philco Television Playhouse Ed Kagan 1948

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