Zero Mostel

Zero Mostel (February 25, 1915 – September 8, 1977) was a Tony Award-winning stage actor. He was born Samuel Joel Mostel.

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Born in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1950s, he was blacklisted on account of his leftist political beliefs, which he later drew upon for his role as Hecky Brown in the film, The Front. He was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee on October 14, 1955. He denied that he was a member of the Communist Party, but refused to cooperate with the committee's investigation. Afterward, he was essentially banned from film roles for several years. His longtime friend (and fellow HUAC target) Burgess Meredith helped him

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land some Off-Broadway theater work to keep his career afloat.

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In 1962, his career recovered with his Tony Award winning performance in the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (a role he reprised in the 1966 film version). In 1964, he joined the original cast of the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof, for which he won a Tony in 1965.

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Mostel won an Obie Award for his 1958 role as Leopold Bloom in Ulysses in Nighttown, a stage adaptation by Marjorie Barkentin of James Joyce's novel Ulysses. He reprised his role in 1974. His most famous film role was probably as Max Bialystock in Mel Brooks' The Producers (1968).

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He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Front, the 1976 film with Woody Allen that presented one perspective of the blacklisting period in Hollywood.

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He guest-appeared on The Muppet Show, and has the macabre distinction of being the only guest to die before their episode aired. His last film appearance was as the voice of Kehaar in the animated adaptation of Watership Down.

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He married Kathryn Harkin on July 2, 1944, and they had two sons: Josh Mostel, also a film actor, born 1946, and Tobias, born 1949.

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February 25: February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 309 days remaining, 310 in leap years....

1915: 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar)....

September 8: September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). There are 114 days remaining....

Zero Mostel related Images and Photos (experimental)

Zero-Nine	Zero Hour (DVD)	Zero Effect	Zero Effect (DVD)
Zero Fog Blaster	Zero Board Game	Zero 7: The Garden CD	Zero 7: The Garden CD
Moon Zero Two	Jack, Sally, & Zero Cutout	Suspect Zero	Apartment Zero