Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Persoff’s son Dan confirmed his father’s death toThe Hollywood Reporter, while a family friend confirmed the news toDeadline. Both outlets reported that the actor died Tuesday at a rehabilitation facility in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Persoff was born in Jerusalem in August 1919, according toTHR. The late actor came to the United States with his family in 1929 and, after showing off his acting chops during his bar mitzvah, spent many summers working in theater before breaking into the film and television industry.
During his time on Broadway between 1949 and 1959, Persoff appeared in 11 shows includingGalileowith Charles Laughton,Peter Panwith Jean Arthur and Boris Karloff, andPeer Gyntwith John Garfield.
Persoff received his first film credit in 1948 for his brief role inThe Naked Cityand his second in 1954 for another small role inOn the Waterfront. In 1956, Persoff appeared in three different films, including Alfred Hitchcock’sThe Wrong Man.
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Over five decades in the industry, Persoff appeared in a variety of films including Humphrey Bogart’s final filmThe Harder They Fall(1956),Some Like It Hot(1959),The Greatest Story Ever Told(1965),The People Next Door(1970),Psychic Killer(1975),YentlwithBarbra Streisand(1983)Martin Scorsese’sThe Last Temptation of Christ(1988),Twins(1988) and4 Faces(1999).
Persoff also voiced Papa Mousekewitz in the 1986 animated filmAn American Tailand its three subsequent films, which were among his final film credits ahead of his 1999 retirement.
Persoff also had various television credits, includingThe Twilight Zone,Alfred Hitchcock Presents,Gunsmoke,Little House on the Prairie,Hawaii Five-0,Star Trek: The Next Generation,Mission: ImpossibleandChicago Hope.
At the time of his 1999 retirement, Persoff called it “a wonderful 60 years” of acting, according toTHR. “But at this time in my life, I love solving problems on the canvas; trying to find the beauty and essence of a subject,” he said. “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.”
source: people.com
