Person
Zero Mostel
Acting · 1915–1977 · Brooklyn, New York, USA
Biography
Samuel Joel “Zero” Mostel (February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of comic characters such as Tevye onstage in Fiddler on the Roof, Pseudolus onstage and onscreen in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Max Bialystock in the original film version of The Producers. He was blacklisted during the 1950s, and his testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities was well-publicized. He was a Tony Award and Obie Award winner.
Known for
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star
The Electric Company
Spell Binder (voice)
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
The Flip Wilson Show
Self
Watership Down
Kehaar (voice)
Filmography
- 2024Remembering Gene WilderSelf (archive footage)
- 2018Mel Brooks: UnwrappedSelf (archive footage)
- 2013Mel Brooks: Make a NoiseSelf (archive footage)
- 2007Hitler: The Comedy YearsMax Bialystock (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2005Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsPseudolus ("A Funny Thing Happened on the ...") (arch. foot.)
- 2003Broadway's Lost TreasuresTevye (segment "Fiddler On The Roof")
- 1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsSelf (archive footage)
- 1985Muppet TreasuresSelf
- 1979Best BoySelf
- 1978Watership DownKehaar (voice)
- 1977Ride of the Valkyrie
- 1976The Little Drummer Boy: Book IIBrutus (voice)
- 1976The FrontHecky Brown
- 1976MastermindInspector Hoku Ichihara
- 1976The Muppet ShowSelf - Special Guest Star
- 1975Journey into FearKopelkin
- 1975Fore PlayPresident / Don Pasquale
- 1974Once Upon a ScoundrelCarlos del Refugio
- 1974RhinocerosJohn
- 1973MarcoKublai Khan
- 1973Saga of SonoraHeavy Harry
- 1973Old FaithfulRanger Zeppel
- 1972The Hot RockAbe Greenberg
- 1971The Electric CompanySpell Binder (voice)
- 1970The Flip Wilson ShowSelf
- 1970The Angel LevineMorris Mishkin
- 1969The Great Bank RobberyRev. Pious Blue
- 1968Great CatherinePotemkin
- 1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
- 1968The ProducersMax Bialystock
- 1968Red, White, and Zero
- 1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf
- 1966A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumPseudolus
- 1966Carol + 2Self
- 1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1961Waiting for GodotEstragon / Gogo
- 1959The World of Sholom AleichemMelamed / Maxel
- 1956Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee
- 1951The Model and the Marriage BrokerGeorge Wixted
- 1951The Guy Who Came BackBoots Mullins
- 1951Mr. Belvedere Rings the BellEmmett
- 1951SiroccoBalukjiaan
- 1951The Enforcer'Big Babe' Lazich
- 1950Panic in the StreetsRaymond Fitch
- 1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
- 1943Du Barry Was a LadyRami / Taliostra
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