Nehemiah Persoff
Acting Born Aug 2, 1919 Died Apr 5, 2022 Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate 203 credits
Biography
Nehemiah Persoff was an American film and television actor. He emigrated with his family from Palestine to the United States in 1929. Persoff began taking an interest in acting in the 1940s, after serving in the Army during World War II, he pursued his acting career in the New York Theater. In 1947, he was accepted into the Actor's Studio and eventually began appearing in films. Persoff was born in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate on August 2, 1919, and passed away on April 5, 2022. He is known for his work in numerous films, including On the Waterfront, Some Like It Hot, and The Greatest Story Ever Told, among others.
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Career overview
Nehemiah Persoff began his acting career in the 1940s, after serving in the Army during World War II. He started pursuing his acting career in the New York Theater. In 1947, he was accepted into the Actor's Studio, where he eventually began appearing in films.
Persoff's film credits include On the Waterfront, Some Like It Hot, Al Capone, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Voyage of the Damned, The Comancheros, Yentl, and the American Tail animated-film series. In Yentl, he portrayed the character of Barbra Streisand's father. He also voiced the character of Papa Mousekewitz in the American Tail animated-film series.
Persoff's extensive acting career spanned many years, with a total of 173 known credits. He appeared in a wide range of films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. His contributions to the film industry have been well-documented, with his work appearing in numerous notable films.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Angels in America
4 Faces
An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
Chicago Hope
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
Law & Order
Doogie Howser, M.D.
TwinsThe Last Temptation of Christ
Star Trek: The Next GenerationJ.J. Starbuck
L.A. LawAn American Tail
MacGyver
Murder, She WroteHunterHighway to Heaven
Scarecrow and Mrs. KingYentl
American PlayhouseHotelO'Hara's WifeSt. Helens
Magnum, P.I.CondominiumThe Henderson MonsterB.A.D. CatsF.D.R.: The Last Year
The Facts of LifeSupertrainThe French Atlantic AffairThe RebelsIn Search of Historic Jesus
Fantasy IslandBattlestar GalacticaVega$The WordDaniel in the Lions' Den
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew MysteriesLogan's RunHunterDeadly Harvest
Charlie's AngelsQuincy, M.E.The Bionic WomanRich Man, Poor Man - Book IIVoyage of the Damned
BarettaBarney MillerBarney MillerEllery QueenWonder Woman
Little House on the PrairieThe Six Million Dollar ManThe Sex SymbolThe Stranger Within
Police StoryDraculaPurple Playhouse
The Streets of San FranciscoSearchCool MillionLieutenant Schuster's WifeMichael O'Hara the Fourth
ColumboMcMillan & WifeThe Chicago Teddy BearsRed Sky at MorningMrs. Pollifax — Spy
McCloudMcCloudDan AugustThe People Next DoorCutter's Trail
Love, American StyleMarcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D.The Bill Cosby ShowThe Girl Who Knew Too Much
Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-O
Full Filmography
203 titles- Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story (2022) as Self - Interviewee
- Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom (2012) as Self
- Angels in America (2003) as Rabbi (uncredited)
- 4 Faces (2001)
- An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster (1999) as Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
- An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998) as Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
- Chicago Hope (1994) as Rabbi Ben Taubler
- An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) as Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
- Law & Order (1990) as David Steinmetz
- Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989) as Max Wernick
- Twins (1988) as Mitchell Traven
- The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) as Rabbi
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Toff
- J.J. Starbuck (1987)
- L.A. Law (1986) as Rabbi Isadore Glickman
- An American Tail (1986) as Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
- MacGyver (1985) as Sam Bolinski
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Constantin Stavros
- Hunter (1984) as Harold Goodman
- Highway to Heaven (1984)
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983)
- Yentl (1983) as Rebbe Mendel
- American Playhouse (1982) as Marcus Hoff
- Hotel (1982)
- O'Hara's Wife (1982) as Dr. Fischer
- St. Helens (1982) as Mr. Ellison
- Magnum, P.I. (1980) as Rabbi Asher Solomon
- Condominium (1980) as Conlaw
- The Henderson Monster (1980) as Prof. Leo Tedeschi
- B.A.D. Cats (1980)
- F.D.R.: The Last Year (1980) as Josef Stalin
- Turnover Smith (1980) as Ashmed Amad
- The Facts of Life (1979)
- Supertrain (1979) as Max
- The French Atlantic Affair (1979) as Col. Schreiner
- The Rebels (1979) as Baron Von Steuben
- In Search of Historic Jesus (1979) as Herod Antipas
- A Cry for Justice (1979) as Dr. Burke
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Horst Von Stern
- Battlestar Galactica (1978) as Eastern Alliance Leader
- Vega$ (1978)
- The Word (1978) as Abbot Petropolous
- Daniel in the Lions' Den (1978) as Malimar
- A Double Life (1978)
- Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women (1978) as Charles Frohman
- Killing Stone (1978) as Earl Stone
- The Making of a President (1978)
- The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977) as Vladimir
- Logan's Run (1977) as ASA
- Hunter (1977) as Sheik Farakbi
- Deadly Harvest (1977) as Mort Logan
- Charlie's Angels (1976) as Anton
- Quincy, M.E. (1976)
- The Bionic Woman (1976)
- Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) as Charles Dietrich
- Voyage of the Damned (1976) as Herr Hauser
- McNaughton's Daughter (1976) as Vinnie Laine
- Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976) as Rudenko
- Baretta (1975)
- Barney Miller (1975) as Carl Simms
- Barney Miller (1975) as Yacov Berger
- Ellery Queen (1975)
- Wonder Woman (1975) as Professor Moreno
- The Invisible Man (1975) as Dr. Leon Barnard
- Eric (1975) as Dr. Duchesnes
- Psychic Killer (1975) as Doctor Gubner
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Mr. Olaf Lundstrom
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) as Major Popov
- The Sex Symbol (1974) as Nick Fortis
- The Stranger Within (1974) as Dr. Edward Klein
- Police Story (1973)
- Dracula (1973) as Dr. Van Helsing
- Purple Playhouse (1973) as Dr. Van Helsing
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- Search (1972)
- Cool Million (1972) as Karinakis
- Lieutenant Schuster's Wife (1972) as Champagne Joe Carroll
- Michael O'Hara the Fourth (1972) as Artie Moreno
- Lapin 360 (1972)
- Columbo (1971) as Jesse Jerome
- McMillan & Wife (1971) as Clementa Habib
- The Chicago Teddy Bears (1971)
- Red Sky at Morning (1971) as Amadeo Montoya
- Mrs. Pollifax — Spy (1971) as Berisha
- McCloud (1970)
- McCloud (1970) as Perry Cicero
- Dan August (1970) as Leo Cussoni
- The People Next Door (1970) as Dr. Salazar
- Cutter's Trail (1970) as Santillo
- Love, American Style (1969) as Mr. Stone
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) as Max Behrman
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) as Nick Kolinski
- The Bill Cosby Show (1969) as Mr. Byron
- The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969) as Lieutenant Crawford
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Harry Cardonus
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Winkler
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Leo Paoli
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Cordell
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Victor Palua
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Allie Francis
- Adam-12 (1968) as Angelo Covelli
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Ambassador
- Land of the Giants (1968) as Titus
- It Takes a Thief (1968) as Harry Lavender
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- The Mod Squad (1968) as Nick Master
- The Power (1968) as Prof. Carl Melnicker
- The Day of the Owl (1968) as Pizzuco
- Panic in the City (1968) as August Best
- Escape to Mindanao (1968) as Capt. Kramer
- The Treasure of San Bosco Reef (1968) as Captain Malcione
- The Treasure of San Bosco Reef (1968) as Captain Malcione
- Mannix (1967) as Anton Wojeska
- The High Chaparral (1967) as Homero José
- The Money Jungle (1967) as Lt. Dow Reeves
- The Time Tunnel (1966) as Prof. Anton Biraki
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Igor Stravos
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Phillipe Pereda
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Prince Iben Kostas
- Tarzan (1966) as Chembe Kunji
- CBS Playhouse (1966) as Dr. Salazar
- Jericho (1966)
- Too Many Thieves (1966) as Georgi
- The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones (1966) as Skoda
- The Wild Wild West (1965) as Major Hazard
- The Wild Wild West (1965) as Gen. Andreas Cassinello
- The Big Valley (1965) as General Vicente Ruiz
- Honey West (1965) as Faustini
- The Legend of Jesse James (1965) as El Carnicero
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) as Shemiah
- Gilligan's Island (1964)
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Valandros
- Fate Is the Hunter (1964) as Ben Sawyer
- A Global Affair (1964) as Under Secretary Segura
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Alverian
- Burke's Law (1963) as Jason Flonder
- Burke's Law (1963) as Albert Indigo, 'Mr. I'
- Burke's Law (1963) as Wilhelm Kasimer
- Mr. Novak (1963) as Henry Selkirk
- The Hook (1963) as Capt. Van Ryn
- Sam Benedict (1962)
- Ben Casey (1961)
- The New Breed (1961) as Louis Morley
- Bus Stop (1961)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1961)
- The Comancheros (1961) as Graile
- The Big Show (1961) as Bruno Everard
- Route 66 (1960)
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Carl Lanser
- Rawhide (1959) as Domingo
- Rawhide (1959) as Michob
- The Untouchables (1959) as Jake 'Greasy Thumb' Guzik
- The Untouchables (1959) as Johnny Fortunato
- The Untouchables (1959) as Waxey Gordon
- Some Like It Hot (1959) as Little Bonaparte
- Startime (1959) as Prior Andry
- Mr. Lucky (1959)
- Green Mansions (1959) as Don Panta
- Al Capone (1959) as Johnny Torrio
- Day of the Outlaw (1959) as Dan, Starret's Foreman
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (1959) as Pablo
- The Killers of Mussolini (1959) as Benito Mussolini
- Never Steal Anything Small (1959) as Pinelli
- Naked City (1958) as Barney Peters
- Naked City (1958) as Carlos Ruldan
- Naked City (1958) as Max Evar
- Naked City (1958) as Dominic Venussi
- Naked City (1958) as Berco Romanu
- Naked City (1958) as Merritt Griffin
- Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958) as Ali Baba
- The Badlanders (1958) as Vincente (The Powder Monkey)
- Wagon Train (1957) as Tiburcio Mendez
- Men in War (1957) as Sgt. Lewis
- The Death of Manolete (1957) as Camera
- This Angry Age (1957) as Albert Legros
- Mayerling (1957) as Police Officer
- Street of Sinners (1957) as Leon
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Pablo
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Prisoners Father
- The Wrong Man (1956) as Gene Conforti
- The Harder They Fall (1956) as Leo
- The Wild Party (1956) as Kicks Johnson
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Jack Pinto
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Mr. Dano
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Alex Skouras
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Driscoll
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Ben Rando
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Alejo Etchahoun
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Ralph Collins
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Jeff Jensen
- Playwrights '56 (1955)
- The Thief (1955) as D'Arnault-Olivier
- Climax! (1954) as Lieutenant Cal Nourse
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Artie Moreno
- On the Waterfront (1954) as Cab Driver (uncredited)
- The United States Steel Hour (1953) as Dr. Arnault / Oliver
- The Motorola Television Hour (1953)
- Marty (1953) as The Critic
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Dr. Duchesnes
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Jules Dreise
- Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Ed Kagan
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Nehemiah Persoff best known for?
Nehemiah Persoff is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Angels in America (2003), An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster (1999), An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998), Chicago Hope (1994).
When and where was Nehemiah Persoff born?
Nehemiah Persoff was born on August 2, 1919 in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate. They passed away on April 5, 2022.
How many credits does Nehemiah Persoff have?
Nehemiah Persoff has accumulated over 203 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2022.
What is Nehemiah Persoff's background in cinema and television?
Nehemiah Persoff was an American film and television actor. He emigrated with his family from Palestine to the United States in 1929. Persoff began taking an interest in acting in the 1940s, after serving in the Army during World War II, he pursued his acting career in the New York Theater. In 1947, he was accepted int...
Nehemiah Persoff by the numbers
203credits
71films
132TV series
1948–2022active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Dr. Duchesnes — aged about 31
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Carl Lanser — aged about 39
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Toff — aged about 67
- Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) as Charles Dietrich — aged about 56
- Hunter (1977) as Sheik Farakbi — aged about 57
- Columbo (1971) as Jesse Jerome — aged about 51
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