Nehemiah Persoff

Nehemiah Persoff

Acting • Born 1919-08-02 – Died 2022-04-05

Acting2Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate

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.

Filmography

196 credits
Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot

Movie • 1959

Little Bonaparte

For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Movie • 1959

Pablo

The Treasure of San Bosco Reef

The Treasure of San Bosco Reef

Movie • 1968

Captain Malcione

Yentl

Yentl

Movie • 1983

Rebbe Mendel

The Greatest Story Ever Told

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Movie • 1965

Shemiah

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

Movie • 1991

Papa Mousekewitz (voice)

An American Tail

An American Tail

Movie • 1986

Papa Mousekewitz (voice)

The Comancheros

The Comancheros

Movie • 1961

Graile

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island

Movie • 1998

Papa Mousekewitz (voice)

The Wrong Man

The Wrong Man

Movie • 1956

Gene Conforti

Twins

Twins

Movie • 1988

Mitchell Traven

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster

Movie • 1999

Papa Mousekewitz (voice)

The Harder They Fall

The Harder They Fall

Movie • 1956

Leo

Al Capone

Al Capone

Movie • 1959

Johnny Torrio

Day of the Outlaw

Day of the Outlaw

Movie • 1959

Dan, Starret's Foreman

Men in War

Men in War

Movie • 1957

Sgt. Lewis

The Last Temptation of Christ

The Last Temptation of Christ

Movie • 1988

Rabbi

The Power

The Power

Movie • 1968

Prof. Carl Melnicker

Escape to Mindanao

Escape to Mindanao

Movie • 1968

Capt. Kramer

Green Mansions

Green Mansions

Movie • 1959

Don Panta

Psychic Killer

Psychic Killer

Movie • 1975

Doctor Gubner

Deadly Harvest

Deadly Harvest

Movie • 1977

Mort Logan

Fate Is the Hunter

Fate Is the Hunter

Movie • 1964

Ben Sawyer

The People Next Door

The People Next Door

Movie • 1970

Dr. Salazar

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

Movie • 1969

Lieutenant Crawford

A Global Affair

A Global Affair

Movie • 1964

Under Secretary Segura

Street of Sinners

Street of Sinners

Movie • 1957

Leon

The Wild Party

The Wild Party

Movie • 1956

Kicks Johnson

The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones

The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones

Movie • 1966

Skoda

The Sex Symbol

The Sex Symbol

Movie • 1974

Nick Fortis

The Henderson Monster

The Henderson Monster

Movie • 1980

Prof. Leo Tedeschi

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy

Movie • 1971

Berisha

The Big Show

The Big Show

Movie • 1961

Bruno Everard

The Hook

The Hook

Movie • 1963

Capt. Van Ryn

Never Steal Anything Small

Never Steal Anything Small

Movie • 1959

Pinelli

On the Waterfront

On the Waterfront

Movie • 1954

Cab Driver (uncredited)

Panic in the City

Panic in the City

Movie • 1968

August Best

The Death of Manolete

The Death of Manolete

Movie • 1957

Camera

This Angry Age

This Angry Age

Movie • 1957

Albert Legros

In Search of Historic Jesus

In Search of Historic Jesus

Movie • 1979

Herod Antipas

The Making of a President

The Making of a President

Movie • 1978

The Badlanders

The Badlanders

Movie • 1958

Vincente (The Powder Monkey)

Killing Stone

Killing Stone

Movie • 1978

Earl Stone

4 Faces

4 Faces

Movie • 2001

Boris Karloff:  The Rest of the Story

Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story

Movie • 2022

Self - Interviewee

Too Many Thieves

Too Many Thieves

Movie • 1966

Georgi

The Money Jungle

The Money Jungle

Movie • 1967

Lt. Dow Reeves

F.D.R.: The Last Year

F.D.R.: The Last Year

Movie • 1980

Josef Stalin

Red Sky at Morning

Red Sky at Morning

Movie • 1971

Amadeo Montoya

Lapin 360

Lapin 360

Movie • 1972

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident

Movie • 1976

Rudenko

Voyage of the Damned

Voyage of the Damned

Movie • 1976

Herr Hauser

The Stranger Within

The Stranger Within

Movie • 1974

Dr. Edward Klein

A Cry For Justice

A Cry For Justice

Movie • 1979

Dr. Burke

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Movie • 1978

Malimar

Dracula

Dracula

Movie • 1973

Dr. Van Helsing

The Day of the Owl

The Day of the Owl

Movie • 1968

Pizzuco

O'Hara's Wife

O'Hara's Wife

Movie • 1982

Dr. Fischer

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women

Movie • 1978

Charles Frohman

A Double Life

A Double Life

Movie • 1978

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Movie • 2012

Self

Mayerling

Mayerling

Movie • 1957

Police Officer

Eric

Eric

Movie • 1975

Dr. Duchesnes

Cutter's Trail

Cutter's Trail

Movie • 1970

Santillo

Turnover Smith

Turnover Smith

Movie • 1980

Ashmed Amad

The Killers of Mussolini

The Killers of Mussolini

Movie • 1959

Benito Mussolini

Michael O'Hara the Fourth

Michael O'Hara the Fourth

Movie • 1972

Artie Moreno

St. Helens

St. Helens

Movie • 1982

Mr. Ellison

Lieutenant Schuster's Wife

Lieutenant Schuster's Wife

Movie • 1972

Champagne Joe Carroll

The Thief

The Thief

Movie • 1955

D'Arnault-Olivier

Marty

Marty

Movie • 1953

The Critic

Magnum, P.I.

Magnum, P.I.

TV • 1980

Rabbi Asher Solomon

Columbo

Columbo

TV • 1971

Jesse Jerome

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

TV • 1963

Jason Flonder

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation

TV • 1987

Toff

L.A. Law

L.A. Law

TV • 1986

Rabbi Isadore Glickman

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

TV • 1974

The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life

TV • 1979

Mr. Lucky

Mr. Lucky

TV • 1959

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Harry Cardonus

Gilligan's Island

Gilligan's Island

TV • 1964

Quincy, M.E.

Quincy, M.E.

TV • 1976

Route 66

Route 66

TV • 1960

Highway to Heaven

Highway to Heaven

TV • 1984

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

TV • 1972

Marcus Welby, M.D.

Marcus Welby, M.D.

TV • 1969

Max Behrman

Baretta

Baretta

TV • 1975

Land of the Giants

Land of the Giants

TV • 1968

Titus

Naked City

Naked City

TV • 1958

Barney Peters

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

TV • 1976

Anton

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

TV • 1983

Hotel

Hotel

TV • 1982

MacGyver

MacGyver

TV • 1985

Sam Bolinski

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

TV • 1968

The Bill Cosby Show

The Bill Cosby Show

TV • 1969

Mr. Byron

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Jack Pinto

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

TV • 1975

Professor Moreno

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

TV • 1966

Igor Stravos

Adam-12

Adam-12

TV • 1968

Angelo Covelli

Hunter

Hunter

TV • 1984

Harold Goodman

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

TV • 1951

Dr. Duchesnes

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

TV • 1959

Carl Lanser

Chicago Hope

Chicago Hope

TV • 1994

Rabbi Ben Taubler

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

TV • 1955

Ralph Collins

Sam Benedict

Sam Benedict

TV • 1962

Bus Stop

Bus Stop

TV • 1961

Rawhide

Rawhide

TV • 1959

Domingo

Vega$

Vega$

TV • 1978

Police Story

Police Story

TV • 1973

The High Chaparral

The High Chaparral

TV • 1967

Homero José

The Chicago Teddy Bears

The Chicago Teddy Bears

TV • 1971

Search

Search

TV • 1972

McCloud

McCloud

TV • 1970

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

TV • 1951

Jules Dreise

Climax!

Climax!

TV • 1954

Lieutenant Cal Nourse

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

TV • 1963

The Big Valley

The Big Valley

TV • 1965

General Vicente Ruiz

Armstrong Circle Theatre

Armstrong Circle Theatre

TV • 1950

The Word

The Word

TV • 1978

Abbot Petropolous

Tarzan

Tarzan

TV • 1966

Chembe Kunji

The Philco Television Playhouse

The Philco Television Playhouse

TV • 1948

Ed Kagan

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

TV • 1961

Ellery Queen

Ellery Queen

TV • 1975

Mr. Novak

Mr. Novak

TV • 1963

Henry Selkirk

The New Breed

The New Breed

TV • 1961

Louis Morley

CBS Playhouse

CBS Playhouse

TV • 1966

Honey West

Honey West

TV • 1965

Faustini

Playwrights '56

Playwrights '56

TV • 1955

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

TV • 1961

The Legend of Jesse James

The Legend of Jesse James

TV • 1965

El Carnicero

Jericho

Jericho

TV • 1966

J.J. Starbuck

J.J. Starbuck

TV • 1987

Logan's Run

Logan's Run

TV • 1977

ASA

The Bionic Woman

The Bionic Woman

TV • 1976

The United States Steel Hour

The United States Steel Hour

TV • 1953

Dr. Arnault / Oliver

Naked City

Naked City

TV • 1958

Dominic Venussi

Naked City

Naked City

TV • 1958

Max Evar

Naked City

Naked City

TV • 1958

Carlos Ruldan

Naked City

Naked City

TV • 1958

Berco Romanu

Naked City

Naked City

TV • 1958

Merritt Griffin

B.A.D. Cats

B.A.D. Cats

TV • 1980

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

TV • 1963

Alverian

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

TV • 1954

Artie Moreno

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

TV • 1959

Jake 'Greasy Thumb' Guzik

Rawhide

Rawhide

TV • 1959

Michob

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

TV • 1966

Phillipe Pereda

Purple Playhouse

Purple Playhouse

TV • 1973

Dr. Van Helsing

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

TV • 1959

Johnny Fortunato

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Mr. Dano

The Name of the Game

The Name of the Game

TV • 1968

Ambassador

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Alex Skouras

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Driscoll

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Ben Rando

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

TV • 1955

Alejo Etchahoun

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica

TV • 1978

Eastern Alliance Leader

Condominium

Condominium

TV • 1980

Conlaw

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

TV • 1963

Albert Indigo, 'Mr. I'

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

TV • 1963

Wilhelm Kasimer

Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II

Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II

TV • 1976

Charles Dietrich

The French Atlantic Affair

The French Atlantic Affair

TV • 1979

Col. Schreiner

The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man

TV • 1974

Major Popov

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Winkler

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Leo Paoli

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Cordell

Law & Order

Law & Order

TV • 1990

David Steinmetz

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Victor Palua

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

TV • 1968

Allie Francis

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

TV • 1955

Jeff Jensen

The Wild Wild West

The Wild Wild West

TV • 1965

Major Hazard

Playhouse 90

Playhouse 90

TV • 1956

Pablo

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

TV • 1966

Prince Iben Kostas

Hunter

Hunter

TV • 1977

Sheik Farakbi

McMillan & Wife

McMillan & Wife

TV • 1971

Clementa Habib

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

TV • 1968

Nick Master

The Treasure of San Bosco Reef

The Treasure of San Bosco Reef

TV • 1968

Captain Malcione

Mannix

Mannix

TV • 1967

Anton Wojeska

Barney Miller

Barney Miller

TV • 1975

Carl Simms

McNaughton's Daughter

McNaughton's Daughter

TV • 1976

Vinnie Laine

Barney Miller

Barney Miller

TV • 1975

Yacov Berger

The Time Tunnel

The Time Tunnel

TV • 1966

Prof. Anton Biraki

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

TV • 1984

Constantin Stavros

It Takes a Thief

It Takes a Thief

TV • 1968

Harry Lavender

The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man

TV • 1975

Dr. Leon Barnard

Dan August

Dan August

TV • 1970

Leo Cussoni

Cool Million

Cool Million

TV • 1972

Karinakis

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

TV • 1969

Mr. Stone

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries

TV • 1977

Vladimir

Shirley Temple's Storybook

Shirley Temple's Storybook

TV • 1958

Ali Baba

The Wild Wild West

The Wild Wild West

TV • 1965

Gen. Andreas Cassinello

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

TV • 1964

Valandros

Playhouse 90

Playhouse 90

TV • 1956

Prisoners Father

The Motorola Television Hour

The Motorola Television Hour

TV • 1953

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

TV • 1959

Waxey Gordon

Wagon Train

Wagon Train

TV • 1957

Tiburcio Mendez

McCloud

McCloud

TV • 1970

Perry Cicero

The Rebels

The Rebels

TV • 1979

Baron Von Steuben