Posted: 4/6/22 at 9:49pm
Actor Nehemiah Persoff , who acted in dozens of films and television shows as well as Broadway plays, passed away yesterday at 102, according to his daughter. The actor is probably best known to audiences for playing "Papa" in Barbra Streisand's movie "YENTL" nearly 40 years ago. Other films include "On the Waterfront", and "Some Like It Hot". His television appearances include roles in 'Gilligan's Island' and 'Mission Impossible'.
Persoff, who was born in Jerusalem and moved to the US when he was 10, made his Broadway debut in 1947 opposite Charles Laughton in 'Galileo'. In that same season, he starred in 'Sunset Beach', directed by Elia Kazan. From 1947 - 1959 he starred in a dozen Broadway plays, including 'Peter Pan' (opposite Jean Arthur), 'Peer Gynt', and 'Tiger at the Gate'.
“When I was onstage I felt at home, as if I belonged there,” he said. “I always felt I could match or even better any actor I worked with, whether it was Steiger, Bogart, [James] Cagney, Greer Garson or whoever.”
Updated On: 4/6/22 at 09:49 PM
